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“That too, is not like you,” the duke returned quietly and gritted his teeth For no discernable reason he wanted to plant Reinhart into the ground Odd that, since they had often enjoyed a wild evening in one another’s company

“No, not like ht add, Felicia is not like any other woman I have ever encountered She is a breath of fresh air”

“Youand not quite up to snuff,” the duke cautioned, his fingers folding into his palms as they formed fists

“I am aware … the question is, are you?”

Right then, the sas looking for a facer The duke nearly brought up his fist but ed to control himself

“Hallo!” Felicia said, tying her blue velvet cloak with its pretty white ribbon at her neck as she stood in the open doorway

The duke thought her the most beautiful woman he had ever clapped eyes on Whenever she entered a roolowed Her smile absolutely took his breath Her eyes twinkled and took his thoughts and got them all coiled into a knot, and her lips … ether in his bed

Reinhart bent his arers, and as the duke watched the devil lead her away, he cursed under his breath

“I don’t like him,” Scott said as soon as they heard the front door close and the duke turned to walk over to the coffee pot at the sidebar

“He ood sort of fellow,” Becky said “But he is not at all the thing for Felicia”

“No, he is not,” the duke agreed

“The trouble is,” Becky added “I do think Reinhart is in earnest He may be smitten with her, and Felicia, when she discovers this, will feel very badly and worry that she led him on”

Lady Daphne ca eye said to her brother, “Well, as to that, Reinhart is a perfectly wonderful irl Don’t you think, Glen?”

He missed the tease and the twinkle in her eyes and snapped, “No, no I do not”

“It is of no matter,” Scott put in reasonably “She won’t choose him I know her, and while he may be smitten with her, she is not smitten with him”