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"So do you"

Lucy smiled, but the smile failed to reach her eyes "I had all I ever I wanted once It was enough, it was…" She paused, a faraway look entering her eyes that pinched at Jane’s heart because she knew precisely where her friend was, kneho filled her heart, her head, her very soul

"I had enough joy for a lifeti her attention back to Jane’s buttons Finished, she helped Jane step froown

A luhter, a sweet-faced little girl that had loved to chatter, loved to laugh… loved life She had only known Lucy six hter to fever--about the saun to cru ain If I didn’t believe that, I could never go on"

Jane nodded mutely She’d known pain, emptiness, but not loss in the way Lucy had Seth had never been hers to lose And at least he had not died At least he lived on, breathing in air, even if not beside her

"Allow me my concern, Jane You’re not one of those frivolous ladies to engage in affairs You cannot separate your heart froown fro herself Lucy rong

Years ago, she had been infatuated with Seth Tonight was simply an exercise in freedom, a chance to live the dream of her youth

"It was one time, Lucy Once does not constitute an affair"

"Oh" Her friend’s lips twisted in derision "That hed as she stepped into her dress "You’re such aat her ill-chosen words

Lucy’s face paled

"Lucy, I didn’t mean--"

"I know" She waved a hand and motioned Jane around With deft rooet not everyone needs "

"I do" Shemanner

"I’ll only say this--you should let hily about him, perhaps there could be a future--"

"No," she broke in Seth would never see her as anything other than sister to the woman who broke his heart

"Hlanced at the discarded gown, the gold a glea reminder of all that had occurred Sadness welled in her chest as she gazed at the borrowed gown, realizing she would never have need of it again

Seth stor his cravat from his neck

The scent of her still filled his senses, playing with his mind, his heart He stopped hard in thehis head to the left and right, searching for what he didn’t know It wasn’t as if Aurora lurked in the shadows of his chaaze flew about the roo over the seas

"Lieutenant," Knightly greeted, e room "You’ve returned early Was the lady not up to your expectations?"

Seth stared at his for only that Aurora had surpassed every expectation… and wondering how Knightly knew of her True, there was little the forether for so long, the men knew each other as well as any two souls could

Seth hadn’t treated Knightly as the other coe to shine their boots And although Seth had never expected anything for such courtesy, Knightly had always looked out for hientleman

Lessons that had saved his life onhis head "How did you know--"

"Colonel Manchester’s sister?" Knightly prodded "Is she as lovely as rumored?"

"Oh, Miss Manchester," he otten about Miss Manchester Forgotten everything save the feel of Aurora in his arainst his She kissed hih of hihtly answered, looking at hiely, "Miss Manchester"

"No, Miss Manchester did not meet my expectations"

How could she when his masked lady had been within twenty yards?

For sohts turned to Jane just then The sweet taste of her throat beneath his ress like Aurora, but the tremble of her neck beneath his lips, soft as the flutter of a er… but no less intoxicating

Shaking off the unwelco if he were hly satisfied with Aurora, he vowed to put Jane fro his ain A woman more suitable for him to pursue

Aurora had coain After tonight he would never get her out of his blood, "

Seth’s head snapped back in Gregory’s direction "Looking?" he echoed, wondering how Knightly had read his thoughts

"For your bride"

"Oh" Realizing Knightly discussed Miss Manchester, he lowered hiivehis last boot, Seth fell back into the chair and looked Gregory steadily in the face "I met someone"

"Did you? Who is she?"

The scent of her swirled around hi the scent of apples deep within hiive her nahtly’s brows rose

Seth stared broodingly across the roohtly with his fist "I will find her"

Knightly bent to collect his discarded boots "Generally, people are only found when they wish to be"

"Ia bride you like half as ed yourhe could quit the whole notion of matrimony But he couldn’t All he had to do was think of his cousin, and the risk he presented to Julianne Seth had to wed, and hopefully, beget an heir or two to keep Harold well in his place