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~ Eleven ~

LUNCHEON AT THE Delleson hoer sisters who attached thehout the aze reatly amused at her predicament

At long last Mrs Delleson banished her youngest daughters to another part of the house and sent her husband off with his crony to play chess in the library This done, she announced that she had to speak with cook and left the salon with one steady look at her Sophy

Sophy and Sassy exchanged glances, and Sophy whispered, “She is leaving us unchaperoned?”

“I aested Sassy, which caused theh

Lord Grey put down his elass of port and moved to flank Sophia Percy, not to be undone, inched his way closer and glared at his rival

Sassy sighed and moved away only to find the marquis at her elbow “Ah, you have been put upon this day Are your ears still operating?”

She laughed “They did have an awful lot to say It was fortunate they did not require much more than, ah, as a response”

He reached for her ungloved hand, and she thought she would swoon froh her What was this? Why such extre, and a feminine voice in her head whispered, The one … the only … the one …

He looked at her ring and would have touched it had she not withdrawn her fingers froaze intent as he said, “An unusual ring I have only seen that stone once before”

She nearly put her hands behind her back but controlled herself “I think I’ll just sit for a bit”

He saw her seated on the sofa and sat close, perhaps too close to her She tried to bring the conversation away fro “Indeed, I aes”

“Did they make your head spin?” he asked casually

“Yes, Iin and a pinch of self-control, and they’ll do” Sassy smiled ruefully

“A bit? I wanted to box their ears” His blue eyes glittered with amusement “I don’t suppose you allow such behavior from your students?”