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“Please, Douglas,” she begged again He had to help her

“No,” Douglas barked, and Mary knew better than to protest again She turned away

Dispirited, Mary sank down onto the chaise, ignoring her brother’s conversation with Mr Worth as they discussed theanother event that would undoubtedly exclude her too She should have known better than to ask, but she had to try

She was losing faith In men, and in her own appeal Her red hair was herfeature, and her skin was flawlessly pale She enjoyed the outdoors and exercise, but the older she got, the ested she should not She was afraid that her already full figure was in danger of becouile an ar to flutter her lashes a bit for the right ht make an honest woman of her in the end

She would have to find another way to attend She could not risk going alone That would be madness and lead to her ruin, and yet…

The ht, on the eve of Valentine’s Day, and she had everything she needed already to attend A hooded cloak, her old crowns required for the entrance fee by the hosts

Yes, she could still go even without Douglas’s approval or protection, but she would have to be very brave and discreet

“Whatever you’re thinking, stop,” Ellis Worth said suddenly,her jump

She took a deep breath, praying she’d not been talking out loud, and looked at hientleh not to fall for his char?”

“To go without your brother’s protection,” he suggested in a soft voice that often caught her off guard “I would not defy him on this”

She lifted her chin and smiled with as much frost as she could muster “I did not ask for your opinion Mr Worth Should you not be withto bother ether”

Mr Worth sat forward, staring hard at M

ary “If you had been listening, you would have heard hiht where I am until his return at any moment You’ve never complained about my company before”

True Mary’s family had never been far ahen Mr Worth came to call He was so very wicked, but she’d always felt protected in this fa “You have never stuck your nose where it does not belong before either”

His eyes darkened “Going to the Fenwick Masquerade won’t solve your problem”

She frowned at her brother’s friend “I don’t have a problem”

“The husband problehts too high”

Douglas should have kept his opinions to hi in a rake like Ellis Worth Mary straightened her spine “No ested, my requirements for a husband are very reasonable I a women in a similar situation”