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"Reginald," he called, pausing on his way toward Gray and Joss "May I beg your company for a moment?"

"Yes, of course" With a polite bow to Isabel, his brother-in-law joined their group "What is it, Toby?"

"Do you remember that I told you Isabel’s brother is interested in studying law, as it affects his shipping business?"

"Yes, of course"

"And do you re to take him as a pupil in your offices?"

"Certainly"

Toby nodded toward the corner "Allow inald murmured, as they walked in that direction "The other week, at Lord Fairleigh’s dinner party"

Toby’s s," he said smoothly, as they reached the Graysons "Gray, I know you’ve been introduced to inald Tolliver"

The inald," Toby continued, "allow me to introduce Isabel’s other brother, Captain Josiah Grayson Joss, this is reed to supervise your legal studies"

To his credit, Reginald refused to display the slightest hint of surprise that his new pupil was part African After all, he hadn’t beco easily rattled He did, however, shoot Toby a look that told hiinald knew he’d been manipulated, he didn’t appreciate it, and it would be his and Augusta’s turn to su

"A pleasure to inald said "I’ve heard so inald and Joss the space to discuss particulars The step brought him closer to Gray, not entirely by accident

"Thank you," Gray muttered, in a tone that told Toby to expect no further coh If all the re to howthem to Toby--Toby suspected the list would be topped with "I only wish I could kill you twice" and end with so or two above that last would be "Thank you"

"You’re welconified that Gray had already left His chest swelled with victory, until he da at his sleeve yanked him back to earth

"Toby?" Isabel’s low voice was resonant with e?" He turned to her, prepared to receive an outpouring of gratitude and affection

"May I please go have ave a little laugh He’d just secured England’s land’s most successful barrister, and Isabel’s opinion of hirateful in the least Because she wasn’t surprised She simply expected heroics of him He couldn’t decide whether that response wasin so was certain It was intiths to which he felt prepared to go, to win his lady’s favor He half wished soh the frescoed ceiling, just so heit for her

"Off with you, then," he said, kissing her hand "But don’t be long"

"I don’t kno much time it will take," she said ruefully "Why don’t you find another partner for the next set?"

"At a ball held in honor of our engagement? No, no Until you return, there’s no other lady for me"

"But my dear Miss Grayson, surely you don’t expect Toby to be faithful to you" Reclining carefully, Lady Violet shucked her slippers and propped her stockinged feet on the araze in an atteust Between the offense of Lady Violet’s rereat toe, Hetta’s fingers itched for a scalpel

Froave a huff of shock Lady Violet flicked it aith her gilt-edged fan

A blunt scalpel, Hetta amended

"Co her teeth in a predatory smile "Of course ould not speak so frankly in the ballroo room is our feminine sanctuary Here, we must be honest with one another And honestly, we all know Toby to be the ible flirt" She looked around the assembled ladies "Is there any lady here who could claim she has never fallen under his spell?"

Forbidden toher he from woman to woman Sophia and Lucy--and every other lady in the room--developed a sudden interest in the plush blue carpet Well, Lucy was presu the carpet, if she could spy it around her enornant belly

"I haven’t," Hetta said clearly, and honestly From a clinical perspective, she could observe that Sir Toby possessed fine features and the aura of good health But she had never felt any stirrings of attraction

Not toward hied her bunion-afflicted foot with one hand "Of course you haven’t You don’t count Sir Toby may be a rake, but I’m sure he is not the sort to dally with the help"

Before Hetta could clear the steam from her mind to fashion her own retort, Lucy junant woman could jump

"Miss Osborne is not ‘the help’ She is uest of the Earl of Kendall And at this ball, she is a guest of Her Grace, the Duchess of Aldonbury"

Lady Violet gave another dismissive flutter of her fan "Calan

"Really, Lucy, it’s all right," Hetta said, deciding to expend her reserve of patience on Lady Violet’s behalf She ell acquainted with Lucy’s explosive tenancy had only shortened the fuse It would not do to make a scene "I’e otten way