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"Lady Anne Hayworth, gentlemen What shall you bid to be the first to waltz with this lovely lady this evening?" As she spoke, she sers "Fifty pounds"

A few gasps resounded Hisaents into the spirit of things Or perhaps it was because her son wasthe ae--

"One hundred"

Anne felt her breath leaving her body as she recognized the voice What was he doing here? Surely Chetwyn had not invited hiently against a white entleerous If at all possible he’d grown more devilishly handsoun to think he’d left England, and she’d been deter but to carry on But here he was

Anne’s h she’d sed sawdust

"One fifty," Chetwyn challenged

"Two hundred"

Gasps floated through the roo htened "Two hundred and fifty"

She looked at Tristan and tried to convey with pleading eyes, Please don’t bid any more Let Chetwyn have this moment But either he couldn’t read or he didn’t care

"Five"

"Two hundred and sixty," Chetwyn announced

"My apologies,clearer," Tristan said, his voice boo through stor two hundred and fifty-five, but rather five hundred"

Let it stop here, dear God, let it stop here She could see Chetwyn hesitate and then he seehten himself up "Six hundred"

"One thousand," Tristan responded with no hesitation He was not a , and she knew he had no intention of losing here

Chetwyn acknowledged the bid with a slight nod as he stepped back Anne’s heart went out to him She wanted to leap fro was all right She was his But duty forced her to stand and bear the hu all eyes on her filled with speculation First the garden party, and now this Her reputation was likely to be torn to tatters

"Well, sir," Lady Chetwyn said, her ss and your generosity is much appreciated Next, we have Lady Herlare Lady Hermione bestowed upon Anne as they passed each other would have surely seen her on her way to the grave

In long strides Tristan ate up the distance separating them and offered Anne his hand as she stepped off the dais Her e it She walked to an e and the beginning of the music Tristan took up his place beside her