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Gin emitted a whoop of pleasure "No That one I missed I'll be a son of a…"

"Gin" Julian's reprimand sliced the air

"'Cuse onna be thrilled I'll get 'er"

"By all means And Gin—" Aurora held up her hand to delay his exit "Thank you for your thoughtfulness and your attention to detail To answer your questions, Mrs Merlin is a perfect form of address and Emma, as you just heard, is indeed my choice for lady's maid I have but one request: now that we're even, would it be possible for you to refrain fro any surprise appearances in my bedchamber—or Julian's for that matter—just in case I happen to be in a state of undress?"

Gin's dark eyes sparkled with humor "It'd be more than possible And I'd better stop those surprise appearances in more than just yer bedchambers, if my visit to the sittin' room this afternoon is any indication Yup, I think I'll start knockin' on all the doors froot nothin' to worry about I h and through—and that alone will keepat the warning look in his employer's eyes "That, plus the fact that if I walked in on ye Merlin would kill me"

"You look lovely, ma'am" For the fifth time Emma curtsied, this time as she slipped the final pin i

n Aurora's hair "Can I do anything else? Get you gloves? A fan?"

Aurora rose fro table and smiled "No, thank you, Eme dress—no one would ever know this was your first day as a lady's loves and a fan, they're too for"

"Very good, m'lady Thank you" Another curtsy

"Eentle hand on her shoulder "'Tis I who should be thanking you I'm as new at—" A twinkle "—Merlin Manor as you are to the duties you just perfor woe hair so beautifully I'iven what I've told you about y for extricating "

The young girl nodded vigorously "Thank you, e own "Would you like to wear a necklace? Sohten up this dress"

"No, I think not" Aurora glanced down at herself and shook her head "Givendrab is appropriate—and inconspicuous Jeould only hinder things But I do need my reticule" She walked over and scooped up the s "This is a necessary adornment"

"Of course You never knohen you'll need a handkerchief or some hair pins"

"True" Aurora ran her fingers over the reticule's shtly closed, tucking the bag securely against her side "A handkerchief, hairpins … or so her chin, she assessed herself in the looking glass "You just never knohat you ht need"