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Mrs Loontas no longer hysterical There was instead a steel-edged glealeaotten her flinty personality from Until that moment, he had blamed the deceased Italian father Noas not so certain

Mrs Loontwill said, voice high-pitched and abrasive, "You brazen hussy! Such senti hierent "Nothing of significance has occurred My honor is still intact"

Mrs Loontwill stepped forward and slapped her eldest daughter s sound echoed like a pistol shot through the roo lady!"

Felicity and Evylin gasped in unison and stopped giggling Floote made an involuntary movement from his statuelike state near the door

Lord Maccon, faster than anyone’s eye could catch, suddenly appeared next to Mrs Loontwill, a steel grip about her wrist "I would not do that again, if I were you, madam," he said His voice was soft and low and his expression bland But there was a kind of anger in the air that was all predator: cold, ier that wanted to bite and had the teeth to back it up This was a side of Lord Maccon that no one had seen before--not even Miss Tarabotti

Squire Loontwill had the distinct iardless of his decision, Alexia was now no longer his responsibility He also had the ier of her life The earl looked both angry and hungry, and canines were inching down over his bottohtfully, wondering if she would have a handprint She glared at the earl "Let o immediately, Lord Maccon"

The earl looked at her, not really seeing her His eyes were entirely yellow, not simply the colored part either but the whites as well, just like a wolf Miss Tarabotti thought olves could not change during daylight, but perhaps this close to fullwas possible Or perhaps it was another one of those Alpha abilities

She stepped forward and forcibly placed herself between Lord Maccon and her ive hiainst his will Should you or Squire Loontwill attempt to coerce me, I will si like fools a family and friends, and me silent at the altar"

Lord Maccon looked down at her "Why? What is wrong with ain "Youto one insane "Of course I am"

"Let us be perfectly clear here," said Squire Loontwill "You are willing to h she is well," he floundered

Felicity came to his rescue "Old"

Evylin added, "And plain"

"And tan," said Felicity

The squire continued "And so extraordinarily assertive"

Miss Tarabotti was nodding agreement "My point exactly! He cannot possibly want to eht It is siotten out of hand Or"-- she frowned--"should I say too lanced about at Alexia’s fa up in this kind of environment

He looked at Felicity "What would I possibly ith a silly chit just out of the schoolroom?" At Evylin "Perhaps our ideas on beauty do not ally with one another I find your sister’s appearance quite pleasing" He carefully did not ure, or her ss he found so alluring "After all, it is I ould have to live with her"

The rew to like the idea Certainly his iht do together once he got her hoes wereher across the dining table, discussing science and politics, having her advice on points of pack controversy and BUR difficulties No doubt she would be useful in verbal frays and socialas she was on his side But that, too, would be part of the pleasure ofsuch a woman One never knehere one stood with Alexia A union full of surprise and excitement was more than most could hope for Lord Maccon had never been one to seek out the quiet life

He said to the squire, "Miss Tarabotti’s personality is a largething whom I could push around at any opportunity and cow into accepting allhimself for Alexia’s fah, he certainly did not want the Loontwills to think they were forcing hih for that This wholewas his idea, curse it No matter that it had only just occurred to hi in response to that Because he had, in fact, assumed the earl would want just such a wife What man would not?

Lord Maccon and the squire were clearly birds of entirely different feathers "Not with , ill back me up, at least u"