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She flapped her pristine white handkerchief “Well, where did you go?”

“Does it matter?”

“Matter? Good heavens You left your betrothed in the coentleman, of course it matters” She placed her hand to her chest “I fear my heart cannot stand the strain”

He was suddenly grateful he had not sat down To ju on one of her raines

“Miss Smythe is not my betrothed Whilst she is quite a a wo”

“Sewing! The lady is accos I’ an entire evening in her company you would discover that her talents know no bounds” Hiswith a comment he had yet to make “Yes Yes You must spend the afternoon with her Take her for a ride in the park, to Gunter’s or wherever you young people go for ae it on your behalf”

Tristan sighed, purely to suppress a smirk “I’m afraid my afternoon with Miss Smythe will have to wait I ency”

“Keone?”

Tristan shrugged “Three days, assuer” He considered journeying to France and saying to hell with it all

“Three days?” Her handkerchief slipped froers as she flapped her hands in annoyance “Can’t Mr Henderson deal with things? What do you pay the man for if he cannot cope with simple problems?”

“Whatever the proble to distrust one’s mother, but he chose not to reveal his time of departure for fear he would wake to find his wrists and ankles tied to the bedposts

“But you can’t go You’re needed here Our situation is dire I cannot cope without you”

He refused to let hisas a means to control him “I am needed at Kempston Hall,” he reiterated firmly It crossed his mind to broach the subject of Lord Fernall’s death, but he did not wish to rouse her suspicions

“And what am I to tell Miss Smythe when she calls tomorrow afternoon to take tea?”

Tristan coughed into his fist to suppress a chuckle before feigning a serious expression “Tell her you’re interested in the alterations she has made to her bonnet That way I doubt she’ll even notice my absence”