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Neither his brother nor his sister-by-e moved a muscle

"Does Lady Hermione know you’re here?" Mary finally asked, and he wondered what the devil had prompted that question

"Why should she?" She’d flirted with hio when he and his brothers had first returned to Society

"She’s writtenafter you," Mary answered

"Surely she’sout hope that you would return for her"

"It was innocent flirtation I never once declared any feelings for her"

"Be that as it may, I think she was quite smitten"

"She’s a child"

"Old enough toshackled--" He cut off his diatribe as Mary angled her chin defiantly

"Well thank you for that," she stated tartly

"You’re an exception," he reassured her

"I should hope so" She studied hi him uncomfortable with her perusal "Do you plan to ever return to Society?"

He shook his head "It’s not for me I’m happier on the sea" Or at least he had been He wasn’t quite certain why this last voyage had left him so unsettled

"But you worked so hard to see that Sebastian regained his place--"

"My love," Sebastian said quietly, "my brothers have their own paths to travel"

"Except that I truly believe all of you should be where you would have been had your uncle not sought to kill you"