Page 9 (1/2)

“Lord Strauss, come, let’s enjoy first,” the viscount insisted

“I’m afraid my appetite is rather hter and yourself has weighed heavily on my mind,” Lawrence responded

“It won’t be quite so muted should you take a taste of this soup!” the viscount exclai a spoonful of it himself

“I apologize deeply for distracting from the festivities, m’lord, but I wished to ask you - have you spoken to the lady about your intentions? About e ell, it was perhaps not the bestfoolish “I think it would be best to involve her”

“She shall learn soon enough who I’ve chosen - and I’ible and available here, she’d choose you hts you spoke of in our last ,” the viscount explained

“Do you think it wise not to involve her, or ask her feelings on the uarded This finally convinced the viscount to break froed a deep and elance with the duke

“Lord Strauss, hter is a wonderful woman, but she would sooner abandon title and wealth and live a pauper than she would sube the hand of ahis chest “I do not blame her - I blame myself, but such is her nature, and I would not love her more should she be any other way But circumstance demands—” the doors creaked open as the viscount concluded his sentence and his expression shifted fro,” he announced with a pained sweetness A weight dropped heavy in Lawrence’s sto in the doorway, her pretty face vexed in that sanation he had seen upon her face weeks before, as they stood across froes

“What was that you were just discussing, father? And… with hiray eyes re at her, even as his heart pounded a hard rhyth her with the saated social expectations he rose to his feet, standing aardly between Anne and her father; she regarded him with skepticism “We’ve met before, haven’t we? Lord Strauss, of Amhurst?” she recalled; he could feel conflict in her voice, just as the conflict burned inside of him

“Yes, h, if I recall correctly,” he said with a nod of his head Of course, he recalled correctly He had not been able to chase that naue, the top of his head or the dae of his dreams since they had shared that moment of warmth, and the cold that followed

“You do recall,” Anne said haughtily, ree they’d had - and the circuht I ask why you’ve invited him, of all people, to have dinner with you?”

“Of all people? Co of more kindness than that,” the viscount insisted in his rattle of a voice “I taught you better than to be so rudely bold”

“M’lady,” Lawrence tried to interject “If—”

“I’ve seen carriages cohts, father,” Anne interrupted “You fear eable, certainly I have told you—”

“Ladybug, please - I wish only the best for you and for the future of our fauish “This man, he’s a lovely man, and he understands you”

“He understands rily “Is that what you’ve told him, Lawrence Strauss, Duke of Amhurst?” she bit with venom at the title he carried; Lawrence stammered back in his own defense