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His heart leapt “Then you don’t wish to end the engagement,” he said, somewhat cautiously

She looked at hiaze “Do you?”

He shook his head

“Then why,” she said, her lips for the barest of smiles, “would you think that I would?”

“Your faht object”

“Pffft We’re not so high in the instep as that My brother’s wife is the illegitihter of the Earl of Penwood and an actress of God knohat provenance, and any one of us would lay down our lives for her” Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully “But you are not illegitimate”

He shook his head “Todespair”

“Well, then,” she said, “I don’t see a problem My brother and Sophie like to live quietly in the country, in part because of her past, but we shan’t be forced to do the same Unless of course, you wish to”

“The baron could raise a huge scandal,” he warned her

She s you?”

“I just want you to understand—”

“Because I would hope by now you’ve learned that it’s a tireso”

Gareth could only smile at that

“Your father won’t say a word,” she stated “What would be the point? You were born in wedlock, so he can’t take away the title, and revealing you as a bastard would only reveal hireat authority “No man wants that”

His lips curved, and he felt sohter, more free “And you can speak for allslowly in her direction