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"I a that Lady Maitland has turned tofor her husband"

"And because she desires you," Rafe said with a faint, twisted smile

"I am certain that you are as aware as I a on such an een on the subject, it would make no difference to her determination to seduce you," Rafe said Even he could hear the raw raggedness in his voice "Dammit!"

"Yes," his brother said, his eyes amused

"Don’t look at me like that I’m not quite brokenhearted"

"Just a bit touched," Gabe said after a moment’s consideration

"Not even"

"Overco that he was enorlared at him balefully froo in ht Stick on the mustache, cloak, etc"

"Don’t be an ass!"

"Would you rather that she is humiliated by my rejection? Because while I would not want to spurn her, I am not--"

"Not what?" Rafe said fiercely

"Not interested"

"Rubbish There’s no en"

"I don’t wish to marry her"

Rafe’s eyes visibly darkened "Then--" he stopped

Gabe stood up "Bring a carriage to the orchard gate at nine o’clock toht"

"I won’t"

Gabe paused at the door "If you don’t," he said gently, "Iine that she will be humiliated by my nonappearance I suppose you could comfort her"

Rafe just stared at hi all those stories of Cain and Abel and just howinto his pocket "I forgot this" A long black h the air and landed on Rafe’s bed like a limp mouse skin "Just in case you decide to spare your ward the huate You are taking her to Sil-chester to see a singer from London, by the way I think her na "Are you quite certain?"

Gabe shrugged "I saw so nailed to a tree The wo cat"

"You’re a professor of divinity, and you proen is not a child," Gabe said, opening the door

"If you allowed yourself to see Ien as a woht truly surprise you" The door closed quietly behind hient Conversation About Intelligent Subjects