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“You”

Gareth had barely a second to react He didn’t kno it had happened, didn’t knohere the baron had suddenly appeared froed to push Hyacinth back into the alley in the very second before he was caught

“Greetings,” he said, in his jauntiest voice,

stepping forward so as to put as much distance between him and the alley as possible

His father was already striding over, his face visibly angry, even in the di here?” he demanded

Gareth shrugged, the same expression that had infuriated his father soto provoke, he was just trying to keep the baron’s attention fir my way home,” he said, with deliberate nonchalance

His father’s eyes were suspicious “You’re a bit far afield”

“I like to stop by and inspect my inheritance every now and then,” Gareth said, his smile terribly bland “Just to make sure you haven’t burned the place down”

“Don’t think I haven’t thought about it”

“Oh, I’m sure you have”

The baron held silent for a ht”

Gareth wasn’t sure how best to respond, so he just lifted his brows ever so slightly and kept his expression even

“Miss Bridgerton wasn’t there, either”

“Wasn’t she?” Gareth askedthe lady in question possessed sufficient self-restraint not to leap out fro, “Yes, I was!”

“Just at the beginning,” the baron admitted “She left rather early”