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He had thought she genuinely cared for his sister She had promised to call, and he had believed her Believed that she wouldn’t hurt his sister But she had failed Failed to keep her prouard with her, never considered that she ht be different from her family Better

Still, he had caved to his sister’s demands and permitted her to call on Jane More than that, he had accompanied her on her call For the life of him, he could not fathom why

"So what has kept you so occupied you could not accept a single one of my sister’s invitations?"

he inquired, his voice surly even to his own ears

"Seth," Julianne repriht," Jane assured Julianne Such assurance only further rankled hilared at her It was not her place to soothe his sister She had sho little she cared for Julianne by ignoring her these last weeks

Jane suffered his glare, her expression cool as frost She paused to , "I should have ies, Julianne"

Seth studied her in silence, noticing that her bottohtly The only hint of ehty reserve

Several times over the years, he had stared off the ship’s deck at a quiet sea, reflecting over the hoyden that had chased him about the countryside, curious over what had become of her Now he saw that she had beco bit of starch in her eeds Disappointing

And yet he devoured the sight of those lips, the full mouth that promised passion even as the rest of her hid behind ladylike diffidence It was only that which reirl, he adrown into a woman he would like to thaith the heat of his s and spread ned on his bed

The unwanted thoughts brought an uncohtness to his breeches He reached for a biscuit, intent on distraction Chewing, he forced himself to think about his hunt for a bride

About chits like Fiona Manchester Prospective wives that would do nothing to ignite his ardor

The sort of ladies whose drawing roos strode into the rooe," Billings exclai middle in a self-important air

They stared at each another for a heavy s," he returned, inclining his head, recalling the bastard’s atte here?"

Jane rose "Lord St Claire and Lady Julianne were kind enough to call upon ether"

"Ah," heto Seth

Aard silence fell

Jane cleared her throat and motioned to the tea service "Would you care for refreshs dropped to the chair next to Jane, his gaze drifting to Julianne, staring overly long at the bodice of her dress Seth’s hands curled into fists at his sides

Billings leaned forward to select a biscuit "You ive my sister-in-law" The delicate wood frame of his chair creaked as he settled back and popped the biscuit whole into his mouth

Jane stiffened in her chair but looked resolutely forward, hands clasped tightly in her lap

Billings glanced sideways at her and s stretch of lips over uneven teeth "I fear Jane has been re?" He stretched an arers a hairsbreadth froive us," Julianne murmured, cheeks pink, her aardness apparent as she fumbled for Seth’s ars’s eyes danced Seth’s jaw tensed The bastard was enjoying their discoers brushing the top of Jane’s shoulder, grazing the crisp fabric of her sleeve Back and forth, back and forth, his fingers crawled, encroaching like a white own

Seth watched, a strange tightening in his gut as he considered the slight ht, he knew Knew that Billings pulled the strings and controlled her as he would a puppet

Anger flooded hi peacock speak for her? Did she not possess a voice, a shred of autonoain," Billings mused with an idleness that made Seth’s already clenched jaw ache The bastard lifted both brows, daring hi about his sister-in-law’s skirts and needed to be set in his place like soain and iued hiht not be far off in his concern

Seth could not deny there was soeable eyes, the rich nut brown hair The hint of a girl he reed at soed Desmond’s hand off her with a twist of her shoulder "You’re mistaken, Desmond

I am quite able to receive social calls"

Desaze flicked to Seth, then back to Jane

"Perhaps you did not realize it has been over a year," she added in a firh coht a smile, pleased to see that soaze, and a familiar spark in her eyes reminded him of the Jane he had known The Jane, he ad, he took Julianne’s elbow With a bow, he er than it should on Jane before turning and leading his sister from the room

As he departed, he told hi fascination and put Jane far fro a bride The sort of woman ould not muddle his head and twist him into knots

Chapter 15