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Julianne choked back a sob

Seth looked away, hands knotted at his sides, furious with Knightly for putting her through this ordeal, for giving her hope that she could ever lead a life where courtship andher frohtlyback Julianne stu with dry, silent sobs that wrung his heart dry Seth approached and gently laid a hand on her shoulder

She jerked as though burned "Don’t," she cried "Don’t coh you have no hand in my misery"

"Julianne--"

"No," she bit out, her voice a crack of gunfire "I never blalistened on her cheeks "What happened to me was an accident I never blaive you You ht to steal my chance"

She dropped her face into her hands then and wept, the sound ripping through him like the slash of a sword

Without another word, he slipped fro to mull over her words, to exaht now, pain incited her words But the pain would fade Along with the ht

He was halfway down the corridor to his cha, he faced Jane, the sight of her doing nothing to ease the betrayal stinging his heart She kne deeply he took his role as Julianne’s guardian She knew and had said nothing

She approached, hands clenched before her Moistening her lips, she drew a breath and spoke quickly, as if she feared losing the courage to speak, "I know you’re angry, but if you interfere between Julianne and Mr Knightly, you will live to regret it"

He crossed his arms over his chest "Is that so?"

"Yes" She lifted that little chin of hers at a stubborn angle "I believe she genuinely loves him"

"She hasn’t a clue--"

"No _You _ haven’t," she fired "Don’t underesti heart"

"That is not what I hold in question," he snapped "She cannot ine her having children in her condition?" He shook his head "And to a man with no prospects Such a life would entail more than she could endure"

"What kind of life would you have her lead, then? One where she stays indoors and has someone read to her and prepare her tea? Dull and bored all of her days?"

"Yes," he boo else carries too much risk for a woman like her"

"A woman like her?" Jane echoed, her expression one of bewildered frustration

He dragged a hand through his hair in mutual frustration "Am I the only one aware of my sister’s li to have them define the sum of her She’s not as helpless as you would have her"

"And who are you toyou does not automatically invite you into all ned two tasks Provide an heir and protect lare "The latter you’ve proven yourself ill-equipped to accomplish"

She flinched and pulled back her shoulders, the blue fabric of her dress straining across her brsts, distracting him in a way he despised, evidence of his intolerable weakness for her At a ti of her betrayal still fresh, he should look on her with utter apathy, his heart hard against her

"Julianne is ree, I have her best interest at heart"

He gestured to the salon where even now the sound of his sister’s tears stabbed his ears "You may wish to reevaluate the manner in which you treat your friends"

"I’m not the one responsible for her tears! You’re the culprit on that score"

His eyes flicked doard, to the slight curve of her belly nearly undetectable beneath her gown "You ht to lecturele, tight nod "We’re sitoo damned much more More than he had ever intended

More than he would acknowledge to her More than he could acknowledge to hi his head, he turned to leave Her voice stopped hiood at that That and living in the past"

Tension knotting his neck and shoulders, he swung back around "Explain that re her the appearance of looking down on hiht actually have to start living your own" Her furious gaze swept over hi for a worabbed her by the arht he loved Madeline? Did she know hi when all he thought about, all he craved, was her?

"I’ely "You’re the only wo truly regrettable The sort of thing that gave a woman total control over ahis head, he released her and took a step back Hands dropping li his silence speak for him

"You don’t love Madeline" She nodded as if only now realizing that fact, accepting it for the truth "You don’t kno You’re incapable of love"

"You’re right, of course," he agreed, wondering at the dull ache her words caused "I warned you of as much when I married you"

"Yes, you did" Her eyes took on a faraway look as she nodded again "Although I didn’t let that stop aze snapped back to his, her eyes h anymore Not for me I can’t live like this"

"Like how?"

"In love with you," she confessed, her voice quick and desperate, harsh in the narrow corridor

Seth stared