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Chapter 5

The next evening, in the drawing rooe reason, there are twigs attached to the piano And a sirl has a horn on her head

“People will think you’re courting me,” Hyacinth said, when Mr St Clair walked directly to her side without any pretense of glancing about the room first

“Nonsense,” he said, sitting down in the empty chair next to her “Everyone knows I don’t court respectable women, and besides, I should think it would only enhance your reputation”

“And here I thought modesty an overrated virtue”

He flashed her a bland sive you any ammunition, but the sad fact of it is—oes, the rest will follow And didn’t you say you wished to be married?”

“Not to someone who follows you as the lead sheep,” she replied

He grinned at that, a devilish sions of woe in so surreptitious, and leaned in

Hyacinth couldn’t help it She leaned in, too “Yes?” she murmured

“I a”

Hyacinth tried to s her laugh, which was a ant splutter

“How fortunate that you weren’t drinking a glass ofback in his chair He was still the picture of perfect composure, drat the man

Hyacinth tried to glare at him, but she was fairly certain she wasn’t able to wipe the humor out of her eyes

“It would have co

“Hasn’t anyone ever told you that’s not the sort of thing you say to iained her voice