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He didn’t laugh Or even smile

"That last bitIt was a joke, my lord There’s a line from a novel--"

"Pride and Prejudice Yes, I’ve read it"

Of course Of course he had He’d served for years in diplomatic appointotiate the Treaty of Vienna He orldly and educated and probably spoke a dozen languages

Charlotte didn’t have many accoood qualities She was a good-natured, forthright person, and she could laugh at herself In conversation, she generally put other people at ease

Those talents, modest as they were, all failed her now Between his poise and that piercing blue stare, talking to the Marquess of Granville was rather like conversing with an ice sculpture She couldn’t seem to warm him up

There must be a flesh-and-bloodlook at hi in that tufted leather chair with his boots propped atop the desk His coat and waistcoat discarded; sleeves uncuffed and rolled to his elbows Reading a newspaper, perhaps, while he took the occasional sip frorowth of whiskers on that chiseled jaw, and his thick, dark hair ruffled frohwood"

She startled "Yes?"

He leaned toward her, lowering his voice "In my experience, quadrilles--while they may feel interminable--do, eventually, come to an end You had better return to the ballrooo first If you will, wait ten ivethe ball entirely A headache, perhaps Oh, but then we have a whole fortnight ahead Breakfasts are easy The gentle the day, you’ll have your sport with Sir Vernon, and we ladies will no doubt have letters to write or gardens to pace That will see us through the days well enough Tomorrow’s dinner, howeverI’m afraid that will have to be your turn"

"My turn?"

"To feign indisposition Orof my stay, can I?"

He extended his hand and she took it As he drew her to her feet, he kept her close

"Are you quite sure you’ve nohed nervously "Nothing of the sort, believe me No matter what my mother implies, I don’t share her hopes We’d be a terriblefor you"

"So you’ve made clear"

"You’re the model of propriety"

"And you’rehere Alone"

"Exactly I wear my heart on my sleeve, and yours is clearly--"

"Kept in the usual place"

Charlotte was going to guess, buried somewhere in the Arctic Circle "The point is,in co one house"

"I’m a marquess I have five houses"

"But you knohat I h"

"An existence marked by tedium and punctuated by misery"

"Undoubtedly"