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Right after his father had taunted him about her

What the hell else was he expected to do?

And it hadn’tIt was enjoyable—certainly ined, but it hadn’t

But wos badly, and her expression when she broke it off had not been terribly inviting

If anything, she

had looked horrified

Which had usted a woman with his kiss before

And it had all beenher about hi that she couldn’t possibly have refused to dance with hirandmother

Which was true, and he certainly understood that she was atte to save face, even if she hadn’t known that he could hear, but all the same, it was too close an echo of his father’s words for him not to feel it

He let out a sigh There was no putting it off any longer He lifted his hand, intending to grasp the knocker—

And then quite nearly lost his balance when the door flew open

“For heaven’s sake,” Hyacinth said, looking at hi to knock?”

“Were you watching for me?”

“Of course I was My bedrooht above I can see everyone”

Why, he wondered, did this not surprise him?