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Her chest hurt with the effort to remain unaffected “No…you do not know my mother…of her kindness, of her loyalty, and that when she loves, she does so with her entire heart It hurts that you would judge her so unfairly and by the standards of other wo to entrap the earl Never that”

She vibrated with indignation, took a deep breath, and continued, “I…I could see the tendre Lord Deerwood and my mother have for each other Ma, that it relieves my heart she still can love and yearn for more from life My h she is a bit enamored of scandal sheets, she is not mean-spirited at all! But she can be painfully shy, which soht to help her along, and it angers me you would try to take away the cheerful sance and vanity Your father is an earl…a man of maturity and excellent sense I daresay he does not need you to decide whom he should shoith his attentions!”

He lowered his hands and studied her as if she were an unusual creature

“You are very decided with your tongue, aren’t you?”

Now he sounded as if he admired her

“I agree, Miss Middleton, I do not know yourher to others I should also trust ment and not meddle in his affairs I will endeavor to do so if you promise no more mischief”

She frowned “I…”

He held up a hand “If there is a genuine attachment between the pair, they will discover it for theree?” he queried in a s her face “They’ve received a proper nudge just now…I am certain you also witnessed that passionate kiss”

She flushed, recalling the wicked eht, but Callie knew her es, and while Callie’s and Letty’s encouragement were meant to be helpful, this dratted rowl at hireed

“And if love,” he said with skepticism, “were to arrow its way into their hearts, it is up to the earl and Lady Danby to discover it with no one conspiring to set the situation that would lead to a forced uests here After all, there are st this set”

Oh!

A revelation blooh her “You do not believe in love,” she said with soft surprise

He jerked in surprise “I lovenecessary to protect them”

“There is also romantic love”

He grimaced “I am sure there is,” he said flatly “It is not only his father who has been the recipient of n with my family I still recall how unpleasant their cries of love were”