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The Duchess of Shillington heartily seconded the toast

Seth sat utterly still for a hter

Hands gripping the aruests

The reverend and his wife exchanged uneasy glances, clearly uncertain whether to raise their glasses at the one-sided toast

Jane’s cheeks pinkened

Her friends held their glasses high, gazes burning into hilass Idly, he traced the edge of his glass in slow circles Jane followed theover her eyes

Shrugging, he lifted his glass in salute

Jane’s cheeks glowed brighter Her hands relass as he saluted her

As they neared the end of the htly appeared at his side "All is in readiness You best leave now if you wish to arrive by nightfall"

"Thank you, Knightly" Seth rose to his feet "If you will excuse us Jane and I htly to hi?"

"It’s a surprise," Julianne chih I did have a hand in it" She s one peaches-and-cream cheek "You can thank me upon your return"

Seth shook his head at his sister’s naïveté She sees As though hisJane were an anticipated event

Even when he had reminded Julianne that Jane had beenstarry-eyed bride, it failed to reed

"Co out his hand "Let us be off"

He watched, his gut tightening as the tip of her tongue wet her lips "But e"

"I see" Squaring her shoulders, she gave a brisk nod, re the uneasy, Jane accepted his hand, her palainst his Small, he realized Souests followed them to the foyer, their steps a busy clatter on the parquet floor He waited patiently as she made her farewells

"Tell Anna not to fret," Jane said, shooting a quick glance Seth’s way as she slipped on her cloak

"Let her know I aaze on hiray depths that he did not mistake "Have a marvelous time Be sure to send hen you’ve returned I , she allowed hie

Settled against the velvet squabs, she busied herself with arranging her crow-black skirts and repeated her earlier question "Where are we going?"

He waited until she reaze before answering

"Julianne wouldn’t wantto her, it wouldn’t be romantic if you knew"

"Don’t mock," she whispered, those luminous eyes of hers so bloody wounded that he felt like an utter ass With a shake of her head, she turned to stare out the"Let’s cease the charade, shall we? Your sister is not here And you’ve already schooled e I have no expectations of ro the hard set to her mouth

"Does that disappoint you, Jane?" The retted the question It did not e hat it was It could be no more He could not allow it

"Not at all" Her clipped words fell like shards of ice "I know you don’t believe me, but I never intended to trap you" That round little chin of hers lifted stubbornly "I never intended for you to… find out it was me Never wanted to become a complication in your life"