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“Mr Lutterel will see to Miss Delleson She is none of o before hiarments

Sassy was stunned by his statement and thrown into a state of confusion At her back, Percy and Sophy weresounds to one another, and she, therefore, made no objection as the e

As he helped her up, she turned and looked at hi to mention, “I … ah … my portmanteau is in the Delleson curricle”

This elicited another oath before he sent the lackey to fetch it frolance her way, and she kept her gaze averted in the uncomfortable silence of the moment She felt like a child Here she was, on her own, a tutor—supposed to set a good example—and what had she done? Oh, but she could not believe it After all, she was one and twenty! A veritable ‘old maid’ who should not have romantic notions and allow one’s friend to talk her into so

The marquis hoisted her up onto the seat of his neat vehicle He diser and ju the phaeton in the direction of the main road, while Sassy wondered mildly whither they were bound

He was in a te she had not really experienced fro to do under the circumstances was to sit very still and not offer his wrath any further fuel However,

she asked herself, why he should be so angry with her? After all, what had this to do with him?

“I could wring that little fool’s neck!” he exclaied to convince you, with your normally level head, to fall in with her wild scheht you did not have a want of sense, ma’am!”

“I have also never thought I wanted sense,” she agreed, trying to maintain an even temper “Do people with sense never err?”

He pulled on the strings and the horses slowed to a stop Turning to face her, he sighed, put out his gloved hand, and took her chin to lift her face to his Their eyes ain and fling herself into his arms She loved him With all her heart, she loved hih a rosebud inside her had burst open all at once

“Freely, you admit your mistake? You are a marvel, Miss Winthrop for I do not think I have ever encountered a woman ould do so” He shook his head, but clearly his temper had abated as he said softly, “Tellthe course of true love? A very silly notion, ain”

She was in love with a rake, a libertine, a man ent from woman to woman, a marquis whose station was quite above that of a tutor—a vicar’s daughter These thoughts, not his words, occupied her h, and she said, “Er … yes … you are quite right I shan’t do such a thing again, but you are being very solicitous, my lord”

He hurriedly stuck in, giving her a naughty grin she found irresistible, “Am I? Yes, to be sure I am”

“But you have insinuated that I ree to be your … your … to …”

“What are you trying to say?”