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He matched her smile with one of his own, equally bland "Just that I aht have ave her a sideways look

Which she returned with a secret sht with the world again Or at least all was right with this ht now, Billie was s secretly…

And he was content

"May I claierton?" Sir John asked Billie

"And me as well," Freddie iain so prettily that George wanted to gag She didn’t sound like herself

"She has already promised her first to arded him with some surprise, since she had not promised him the supper set, but she did not contradict

"Nevertheless," Freddie said with smooth amusement, "there are hted to dance with both of you," Billie said She looked about the roo "I don’t believe there are dance cards this evening…"

"We can survive well enough without them," Freddie said "All we must remember is that when you are done with Kennard here, you will dance with al nod

"And then you’re on to Sir John," Freddie noted "But I’ll warn you, he’s an atrocious dancer You’ll want to watch your toes"

Billie laughed at that, full and throaty, and once again she becae was half-tempted to throw a blanket over her, just to stop anyone else froe her this moment in the sun He knew that She deserved to be adored and fêted, to have her much-deserved moment as the belle of the ball But by God, when she smiled at Sir John or Freddie, it looked as if she actuallyit? Did she have any idea what a s to think she was interested George had a sudden vision of bouquets filling the front hall of Manston House, of young gentle her hand

"Is so?" Billie asked quietly Sir John and Freddie had been distracted by another acquaintance and had turned slightly away, so her words were for George alone

"Of course not," he said, but his voice was somewhat more clipped than usual

Her brow pleated with concern "Are you certain? You --"

"I’m fine," he snapped

Her brows rose "Clearly"

He scowled

"If you don’t want to dance with an