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He exited with a quickness that astonished her She didn’t knohy he was sometimes aard around her when he wasn’t with the others Perhaps because he o years younger, and she’d mothered him ht hi of Jiain speak The shock of it all, she supposed That night, after they’d all gone to bed, she’d heard his quiet whione to hold Jim while he wept Even then she understood the pain of loss

And a valuable So for it Not Luke She gave a slight smile She’d never known hi of Catherine led Frannie to thinking about her brother

It had been a little over a week since the wedding, and to her everlasting irritation, Greystone often occupied her thoughts Through a back stairway, not accessible to customers, she and Jack had access to a few shadowy balconies that allowed the seen, to look out over various areas where their customers were entertained Twice she’d searched for Greystone and not seen him Not that she was certain what she’d do if she did see him, but she couldn’t deny the disappointlimpse of hierous?

Was he anxiously waiting for her to respond to his proposal? Would he know that the ansas no if he never heard froht? Should she send him a letter? Should she simply remain silent?

She debated the methods as often as she debated her answer She knew Jack was correct, knew the answer she should give was a resounding no, but Greystone intrigued her She had no logical explanation for that They couldn’t beroom, was he the one who had drawn her attention, and more important--in spite of her best efforts not to be noticed--why had she drawn his?

And as it acceptable for men to seek the pleasures of numerous women, while women were to know only one? Certainly in the area of London where they’d grown up, girls attached themselves to one boy for a while and then moved on to another Her friend Nancy had done just that and no one ostracized her for it But Frannie supposed the price for being accepted by polite society was to embrace their rules for proper behavior, and ladies were supposed to value their chastity A bit difficult for her to accoer possessed it

It had been nearly eighteen years Over the years, the nighth she knew they would never leave her completely But she didn’t fear men She knew the passion and the tenderness that could pass between a er’s had a viewing room where the lords ished to demonstrate their proould perform with a lady of their choice while the patrons observed froh discreet peepholes Jiirls Made love The precise words he’d used He wanted her to knohat it could be like That night he’d given her an aift The encounter had been sensual, erotic

Frannie had always known that what she’d experienced at the age of twelve was not the way it should have been--and that night, watching Jiht of being with a man But still, she’d never known a man she wanted to be with in that way…not until she’d crossed paths with Greystone, a duke, the very last man she should want

Perhaps it was a touch of the forbidden that drew her to hiht very well drive herself insane thinking about all of this She had records to verify, aze fell on a notation scribbled in Jack’s al up the ledger, she charged out of her office and into his He, too, kept late hours He was sitting behind his desk, studying a ledger

"What’s the er

With brow furrowed, his dark eyes serious, he looked up "Of what?"

She slapped the book down on top of his "It says here that Greystone’s rabbed one of several bottles he kept within easy reach and refilled the glass on his desk "I decided I didn’t like him"

"Jack--"

"Frannie" He downed his whiskey and started to pour again She snatched the glass away

"Darabbed a piece of paper, and tried to blot up the spill "That’s my best liquor Why waste it?"

"All your spirits are your best I’ to reestablish his membership"

He stopped his frantic lared "I’ll just undo it"

"You can’t cancel the membership of every man who expresses an interest in me" Not that anyone had ever expressed an interest in her before, but she was striving to make a point

"He didto protect ht I can handle myself"

He studied her for a ue further Instead, he snapped his fingers "Give lass"