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She had laughed it off and told hi I think I would like In fact, the for would leave me quite blue-deviled”

His eyes had gone dark for a longan answer, but he said only, “No, we cannot have you blue-deviled, ever, but you know, your sentiments are what make you perfect for such a title”

Perfect? He had repeated this to her over and over during the course of their love, but she wasn’t—was she?

No, she was a liar

She still had not told him the entire truth She still had not even told her him her real surname What would he think of her? Oh, she would have to confess the whole … soon Very soon, but for now, for thisher to drift into the ht, well, that was all she wanted to think about

Lady Daphne was not enjoying the lovelyor the promise of a ‘new day’

She pushed her breakfast aith soust, for she had just sustained another visit fro Scott’s father The squire had been in a terrible mood, she was at a loss as to what to do next, and the hour was not even ten o’clock yet

He had ranted and raved and told her this problem had to be dealt with but offered no clue as to how they should handle it He said if he didn’t knoas a bad idea, he would send off the Bow Street Runners to find and return the ard children home

Bow Street Runners, indeed! She had snorted at such a suggestion and advised hi could produce a scandal more than such action

It was time, she believed, to send for her dear Freddy He would knohat to do He always took things in stride and handled them to perfection It was, however, entirely possible that he would tell her to wash her hands of the miserable affair Not their problem to worry about, after all, and if he did tell her that, he would have a very good point She had better not write hiht just take her home, and for all her irritation she was loathe to allow a scandal to attach itself to her despicable brother

What, then?

Drat her brother and her loyalty to him, and damn the love she felt for him Drat, drat, and double drat!

It was at this auspicious moment that the Easton butler arrived with a silver salver upon which rested a note

He bent and apologized, saying, “My lady, I am very sorry, but it appears that this arrived for you yesterday and was somehow set aside”

She thanked him and took the sealed envelope She saw her brother’s handwriting at once and asked, “Hoas it waylaid?”