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At present, he was more amused and curious than offended by her reticence The new Greville could even concede, given his disreputable appearance upon arrival, that Miss Neville was probably justified in feeling ti else

Mindful of that, Greville said, ‘Your coht, but as Miss Holton pointed out, I iency than supervising a gimpy old sailor on a promenade over the terrace’

To his surprise, another blush coloured her cheeks So she’d understood his mild jab at her disinclination for his company

‘I should never wish to neglect a guest of Papa’s,’ she murmured

‘I shall not feel neglected, I assure you,’ he replied ‘Miss Holton seeyour cousin that disturbs you?’ he guessed

Her startled gaze shot back to his, confir that suspicion

Torn between ah you may still feel it necessary to provide Miss Holton with a chaperon, I assure you, I have no intention of ravishing her in full view of the house—or anywhere else I adood reason to doubt it, but I do in fact possess the entleman’

Nor was he yet physically up to the challenge of ravishing anyone Though if the luscious Miss Neville were the prize, he ht be forced to test the limits of his endurance

But perhaps he’d been too blunt He was thinking how he ht soften that bald statey If I appeared to give less credence to your scruples than you felt proper, please note that er a child, but still a year or , a young lady in such a position must take extreme care not to compromise her reputation And so I feel I must protect her—whether she wishes me to or not’

Greville nodded ‘Point taken Though I confess, I have difficulty seeing Miss Holton, with her enthusias lady ready to embrace London society’

Miss Neville gave a rueful gries, I doubt she will be very enthusiastic about e it But that’s not all Let me further confess that, distressed by your…appearance when you first arrived, I did not greet you with the waruest I do hope that, during the rest of your stay, you will allow rettable lapse’

Of all the things she y was perhaps the enerally too complacent about her oorth and too absorbed by her own concerns to notice or care about the feelings of lesser beings

Had soic loss of her mother the previous summer?—spurred her to this unusual sensitivity? Whatever the cause, the perception and e as her beauty

A beautiful lady of gentle birth and sterling character as already fully capable of e Mart this spring The ht each other to vie for her hand

A pang of sadness flashed through him that in neither wealth nor title would he be considered worthy to enter that contest

But then, he wasn’t in the er to plunge herself into the London society, he now disdained Shrugging off that stab of regret, Greville said, ‘Shall we exchangepardon for not initially appearing worthy of your hospitality’

‘Very well, reed with a smile

Greville caught his breath Frowning, Miss Neville had been lovely; uninterested, she was the handso lips curved upwards, the s softness to her countenance, she was nificent

The warmth of her expression flowed likeit with sweetness Slanced into her eyes and was captivated

Ah, howwith highlights like a white-capped sea under a blustery fair sky! Greville could cast himself adrift in them for ever