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’Twas an error only by the standards of the ton—a society she disdained even more than Rob had her father A society, she realized, she could not i

She recalled Sapphira’s beautiful, deceitful face, the fawning gallantry of the gentle looks down long noses cast her way by overdressed, pluowned and bejeweled daughters Anger fla away some of her misery

Only her delusions of a future with Rob had h later, when it didn’t hurt soto see her respectably settled, right now all she wanted was to escape both the ton and the Lyntons

She was truly alone in the world now But not entirely, she told herself, steendered Will would stand her friend

That was it, she thought, a bubble of excite She could marry Will, have her country ain

But no, she couldn’t Will needed a bride with a dowry he could apply toward his estate’s restoration Rob had just confirive her funds to which Will reement so he could pursue someone who really was an heiress

Then as she to do?

Another wave of anguish and fear threatened, but she pushed it back “The fierceness of an Antinori,” she re her with his pride and utter confidence in her ability to prevail

Angrily she wiped away a tear Tience” for which he’d praised her She would siled before her the illusion of a future that had proven no ician’s trick

Rob thought she ithout talent or prospects, destined to become a perullible gentleman She would show hi whose feed and ated to provide

She would show them all

At her desk she pulled out pen, paper and ink

She didn’t wish to reer than absolutely necessary under Rob’s roof, nor could she bring herself to consider speaking with hiain, lest she rant at him like the undisciplined child he so She would leave hi to see her settled, but infored his responsibilities toward her Nor did he need fear she would apply to hiain

However, she ain with Will face-to-face Noto be to reveal the truth to him

After scribbling two otherthat he ency, though ’twas already almost dusk

Fortunately, she need no longer concern herself with society’s rules about where she went and when Pleasant to discover one cheering thought in the midst of this debacle

Ringing for a footive him the folded notes with a coin and a command that he deliver them without delay

After his departure, she went to the wardrobe and pulled her battered trunk from its depths Swiftly she packed the owns

A nurse would have been paid a certain salary, she reasoned, a welco her raw erudge her the gowns she was taking as recompense for her labors

That task complete, she fished out the letter froh the door and trod silently down the hall to the service stairs

FROWNING, WILL READ through the note in his hand onewith hilanced at thedown the card, he called for Barrows to have his horse saddled and put on his coat

Obviously Allegra—how he loved the sound of her naraceful as the lady herself— with Lynton She’d wasted no time He’d not even had the chance to call on her and try to talk her out of confronting her guardian before he did

Had she requested this sudden, alranted him permission to pay his addresses? Or would she announce that she’d received the offer for which she longed?