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The sensation unnerved her She attempted desperately to quash it

Her attempts didn’t succeed

He bowed to thehwood"

Charlotte and Delia curtsied in response It was all very proper in appearances, despite all the i inside her

"Are you on your way to the village, Lord Granville?" Delia asked

"No, I caaze fell on Charlotte, dark and intent Hungry What with the wooded setting, she felt like Red Riding Hood confronting the wolf

There’d been too much talk of folklore for one day

"I do hope you’re well this hwood"

"I" Could he sense her inner turmoil? Was it that obvious? "Why wouldn’t I be?"

"Aside fro your throat just now? You were ill last evening"

"Oh, yes That"

At his , the breeze seeish and warm

"Coht, too," Delia said

"It’s a concerning pattern," he said "Have you consulted a physician about these episodes, Miss Highwood?"

"They aren’t episodes" Charlotte spoke through a sritted teeth "And I don’t need a doctor"

"I will brook no argu you toor dinner, I will send for my personal physician He’s reatives"

Delia stifled a laugh "How very good of you to offer, Lord Granville"

Oh, yes How very good of hi her to appear at the dinner table under threat of leeches

If Piers thought he could inhibit her investigations, Charlotte would prove hi illness, lying to Delia and her hosts She was doing this for his own good, as well as hers

"Shouldn’t the gentleht this was a sporting holiday"

"We had a bit of fishing early this , but now Sir Vernon is with his steward I have business in town It was suggested the ladies ns to pennies that her estion Ma her reticule as they spoke She would invent any excuse to put Piers and Charlotte in the sao, Delia I’ll stay behind There’ll be too many of us otherwise, and ouldn’t want to make His Lordship’s coach crae is roup"

Indeed it was

They eed from the path onto the drive In front of Parkhurst Manor sat the grandest, lossy, obsidian-black carriage eolden crest on the door It was drawn by a team of four ebony-ht have been struck from a mold

Frances and Delia climbed in first, handed up by Lord Granville hi bench