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“More entertaining, I think, than Mr Langdon did When he ca the Thirty Years’ War single-handedly I wish you would not plague him so, Delilah He is supposed to be our ally”

“I—plague hie—”

Her father raised an eyebrow

“I certainly did not encourage him,” she said hotly

The door opened and Bantwell entered to inform Mr Desmond that Lord Wemberton had arrived

“We’ll pursue this discussion later, Delilah,” said her papa as he rose from his chair “Werey He has a taste for ill-behaved beasts Takes it as a challenge, I suppose”

While her papa was occupied with Lord Wemberton, Delilah decided to work off her irritation with a walk into Rossingley No wonder her brain was fuddled She was not used to being so inactive Gad, but ladies had a dull life of it

She knew she ought to take Joan along, but the abigail alhined if she had to stir more than a few yards Instead, Miss Desmond strapped her knife sheath to her calf and tucked her ser, these tould do her a deal ood than Joan would

Delilah had walked scarcely half ain the opposite direction As soon as he caught sight of her he brought his curricle to a halt and offered to take her up

“I will take you out of your way,” she said as she took in the dashing picture of snug blue coat, nankeen breeches, and gleaave hielic blue eyes stoutly contradicted He was a devastating coerous masculinity and boyish innocence—and he knew it

“That is impossible, since it was you I ca smile

Miss Desmond was not in a humour to be won so easily She pointed out that she’d already outraged propriety by going out without herwith hier

“I had not thought we needed bodyguards, Miss Deshwayman has been seen in these parts in over a decade”

“My reputation can bear a highwayman, My Lord A libertine is another matter” She offered a brilliant smile and proceeded on her way

The viscount proain

“If you ley, I shall be cross with you,” she said “You raise a deal of dust and my frock will be spoiled”

“I can’t help it I’m curious”

She paused “About what?”

He glanced at the cushioned seat of his equipage, then at the floor, then turned round to study the ser would normally be perched

“About how I can possibly seduce you in the curricle without relinquishing the reins,” he answered ingenuously “With, in fact, any degree of safety and comfort”

His baffled glance met an amused one

“Clearly, I ainative as you are, Miss Des is to be accomplished?” he asked

“Certainly not” She went on walking, and the curricle went on beside her After five minutes of silence, she swore to herself, stopped, and looked up at him

“You are very obstinate,” she said “Do you really intend to follow me all the way into town and make a spectacle of me?”

He nodded