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Felicia felt her cheeks burn and wished for a moment that Becky had returned to Waverly with her instead of allowing Scott to escort her to her father’s home Now, here she was all alone with the duke, which is just what she wanted, and yet … she felt absurdly and suddenly shy

To co about nonsense, about her youth, about absurdities, and all at once he said, “Guardian be damned!”

The next thing she knew she was in his arms

She responded by putting her hands to his shoulders to receive his kiss It was tender, it was ferocious, it was erotic, and it completely swept her into a wave of emotion

“Glen!” Daffy said boldly, and the two broke guiltily apart She eyed them “I won’t ask the ridiculous I won’t censure I am not a fool However, you will not do this in my home, under my eye” She nodded to Felicia, who saw a sure twinkle in her ladyship’s eyes as she told her, “Time for er … bed” She turned to her brother “I should like a ith you, Glen”

Felicia lowered her head and then raised it again as she stepped up to Daffy and whispered, “Did you never kiss Freddy like that before you were … committed?”

“Of course I did—what is that to say to anything?” Daffy answered, her lips twitching

“Everything,” Felicia twinkled, not at all remorseful or ashauardian be damned!”

He burst out laughing, and she heard hi for it, you know but to admit that, yes, I am taken with my ward”

She hesitated just outside the door, out of sight to hear, “Well, that uardianship officially and ated that would hurt Felicia Are we clear?”

“I have been clear on that point for the last two months!” her brother snapped

On that last, and shtly, Felicia ht The night had been perfection

Ja, what Felicia had learned was called de rigueur when he walked into the

Scott, who had been attending Becky stared for a , and Felicia saw at once that her friend did not care for the newcoh she was not taken in by Reinhart, she did find hi and pleasant person

She smiled a welcome while Becky merely nodded at him What was this? Did Becky not like him either? To compensate for her friends’ coolness to Reinhart she said war to you”