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Sitting with an ankle crossed over his knee, Nick braced hientleman

"Meredith, have a seat" Teddy pulled her down beside hiut cra into Havernautt’s fist How could she still encourage Havernautt? The bastard let her drown Was that the kind of man she wanted by her side for the rest of her life?

"I hope you don’t mind, but I asked Lord

Brookshire to join us" Havernautt’s voice penetrated Nick’s lance at where he sat, and Nick read the question in her eyes In response, he lifted his shoulders in a slight, bored shrug that belied the tension coursing his blood

Havernautt continued, "I felt that as your guardian--"

"He’s not e"

Nick could have guessed she would set to rights that misapprehension He smiled, then scowled

Why must he know her so well?

"Well… yes," Havernautt floundered, his eyes flitting back and forth between Nick and Meredith "But he is your only ain

"Er, yes, of course" Teddy tugged at his cravat miserably, and Nick aliven the impression that he is not, er, in prime health…"

Her face flushed, and Nick knew she was e what gossip Havernautt had heard about her father It could not have been complimentary Gossip never was

He decided to spare the If per this out until tomorrow "Get to the point, Havernautt What is this about?"

A flicker of annoyance crossed Teddy’s face, then disappeared in a flash He squared his shoulders, and with a faint cracking of his knees, knelt before Meredith "Lady Meredith, will you honorforward, hands braced on the ar to hear her answer

She bowed her head, the line of her profile elegant and graceful in the dihtly in his chest, he studied the sweep of lashes veiling her downcast eyes Her gaze fixed on the hands holding hers He watched as she turned her pal Havernautt’s hands as if she would find the answer carved on his flesh

Noise roared through his head with the increasing fury of a stor the noise was a single word reverberating through his ether like so uishable No, no, no, no

He didn’t want her to wed Havernautt Or anyone else for that , he wanted to hear her refuse He wanted her to tell Havernautt he could take his proposal and stick--

The soft sound of Meredith’s voice slipped past the roaring in his head "Yes"

Yes? She actually said yes?

He should have been relieved The bloody husband hunt was at an end As well as his forcedwith the ton In ain Free to resu wo Only fury Fury and desperation The sight of Havernautt pulling her into his arms jarred Nick He lurched froid tin soldier

Havernautt detached hi a proprietary arrin on his face "I requested your presence, "

Nick looked only at her

She stared back in cold silence Not a warested she felt anything for hih the silence, a touch of anxiety in his voice "Do we have your blessing?"

Nick opened his , but no sound would come forth

"Come now, Teddy" She touched Havernautt’s ar" She released a thin, vacant laugh, continuing to stare at Nick in that cold, infuriating way "He is no blood kin to hty tones, eyes still on Nick, waiting

"But of course he approves," she sighed, and gave Nick a quelling look When he still said nothing, she cut her gaze to Havernautt "He is no doubt ecstatic you offered He has encouraged our courtship from the start Is that not so, , but the words seemed to come from somewhere buried deep inside because his brain marveled to hear hi" As he delivered this announcement, he could swear he saw a flash of relief cross her face before indignation took over

"What?" she deed past her and advanced on Nick, hands lifted in supplication "I don’t understand,to offend you?"

Before he had a chance, Meredith answered for hiry, bewildered glare at Nick, hissing none too discreetly, "What are you doing?

This is what you wanted"

"I thought so" He nodded in agreeh hih with this"

She stepped past an astonished Havernautt, disregarding hier "Well, I find that I’so, ree of spirit,

"but if you cannot givethiswon’this erous shift

Meredith’s eyes widened at histone and she stumbled back a step

Nick continued in that lethal voice, "Would the fact that I have coh reason?"

She covered her face with her hands and would have fled the roorabbed her hand and forced her to his side Satisfaction swelled inside him at Havernautt’s stunned expression A deep, primal satisfaction