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“Do I detect a hint of huave hi to sound more like your old self by the minute”

After witnessing an exchange of nods and odd hand gestures, Tristan watched the footman return to his post “I assume you could make sense of his ticks and twitches”

Chandler nodded “Of course We have an interloper at the door A lady seeking ad beauty for so an invitation”

“How do you know she’s a ravishing beauty?” Tristan asked somewhat baffled

“It is sier to his cheek, that means she is beautiful When he pats his chest, that means she has the assets required to tempt a man to sin”

“Good Lord” Despite the licentious nature of the conversation, Tristan found it far iven Dodson permission to let her in?”

“You should knoould never want a lady to leave here dissatisfied” Chandler raised an arrogant brow “It would be disastrous for aze away from the stairs Our beauty is about to ht be my lady love, my heiress come to save me from a life as a dissolute rake”

Tristan did not envy anyone forced to ht of stairs whilst a hundred pairs of eyes searched for every flaw or

ie

He stood next to Chandler and watched with interest The blood puh his veins at far too rapid a rate The hairs at his nape jumped to attention He felt excited, alive

It felt so daood

As the h the double doors at the top of the stairs, Tristan sucked in a breath Dressed in a close-fitting black silk gown, her face obscured by a black jewelled

“Most people believe black to be a morbid colour,” Chandler said, his eyes fixed on the lady before the But I say it creates an air of wickedness, an eleue that speaks to the hearts of men”

Tristan stared “Hearts? Are you certain that is the word you wished to use?”

“Watch how she scans the crowd,” Chandler said, his rich tone conveying the fact he found the sight highly sti to those who dare to question her right to be here”