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"So that you may share the blame?" Andrew quipped

"So that we may share the joy," Billie corrected

"You wound me"

"Happily, I assure you" She hopped to the left and looked at George "What brings you here this fine ave her a bit of a look at her use of his title The Bridgertons and Rokesbys never stood on occasion when it was just the two fa alone with two un that would be perh They were all well aware that their relaxedby e admitted "There was some fear for your family’s safety"

Her eyes narrowed "Really"

"No, Billie," Andrew said "We all know you don’t do well trapped indoors"

"I cae said with a jerk of his head toward Andrew "Although it is ht do to him would be entirely justified"

Billie threw back her head and laughed "Come, join e was recovering froht of Billie in full joy, she hopped back to the nearest reading table, holding her light blue skirts above her ankles for easier motion

"You should use your crutches," he told her

"Not worth it for such a short trip," she replied, settling back down into her chair "Besides, they tipped over and it was far too aze to where the crutches lay askew on the ground, one slightly atop the other He leaned down and picked theainst the side of the library table "If you need help," he said in a quiet voice, "you should ask for it"

She looked at hie started to tell her not to be so defensive, but then he realized she hadn’t been defensive She wasa fact A fact as she saw it

He shook his head Billie could be so bloody literal

"What was that?" she asked

He shrugged He had no idea what she was about

"What were you going to say?" she dehtened at the corners "That’s not true You were definitely going to say so combination "Did you sleep well?" he asked politely

"Of course," she said, with just enough of an arch to her brows to tell hied the subject "I told you yesterday I never have trouble sleeping"

"You said you never have trouble falling asleep," he corrected, soged "It’s "

"The pain did not wake you up?"

She glanced down at her foot as if she’d quite forgotten it was there "Apparently not"

"If Ito Billie with a ridiculous sweep of his arm, "we are here to offer our assistance and succor in any way you deee normally reserved for small, recalcitrant children "Are you sure you want to e leaned down until his lips were at the same latitude as her ear "Pray reesture, not as a plural pronoun"