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"Thinking about you," she said truthfully

"A dare if ever I heard one" He reached the open door to the drawing room, and his lips moved closer to her ear "And one I shall not take"

Her tongue touched the top of hera reply, but before she could h the entry to Crake House’s forrandly

Any hope Billiea subtle entrance were squashed immediately when she realized they were the last to arrive Hersofa with Georgiana in a nearby chair looking vaguely bored The erton and Manston were chatting with Andreas happily accepting a glass of brandy from his father

"Billie!" herto her feet "In your e you wrote that it was just a sprain"

"It is just a sprain," Billie replied "I’ll be as good as new by the end of the week"

George snorted She ignored hi, Mama," Billie assured her "I’ve certainly done worse"

Andrew snorted She ignored hiht have e said as he set her down on the settee, "but it would have taken her thrice as long, and neither of us has the patience for that"

Billie’s father, who had been standing by the ith a glass of brandy, let out a hearty guffaw

Billie gave hih with erton asked

Billie nodded "I was in breeches"

Her ument between them, and their truce was maintained only by Billie’s prouests And at church

There was actually a rather long list of events for which she was required to attire herself to herbreeches while conducting business around the estate, Lady Bridgerton had acquiesced

To Billie, it had felt like a victory As she had explained to her mother – repeatedly – all she really needed was permission to dress sensibly when out and about The tenants surely called her so more colorful than eccentric, but she knew she ell-liked And respected