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"Oh, no, I’uilt by association…and hether or not I coroup It’s just that…" She paused and continued quite softly "I don’t th-think you want Lord Kendall Not as acoe to hiued, her tone sharpening until it had caught the Bow and stared at her curiously "No one could possibly come closer to my ideal than Lord Kendall"

"He’s perfect for you," Lillian agreed fir to sow seeds of doubt, Evie-- it’s far too late for that We’re hardly going to jettison a perfectly good plan noe’ve almost achieved victory"

Evie shook her head instantly, see to…" Her voice faded to a lance

"Of course she wasn’t," Annabelle said in Evie’s defense, suo over the plan once more, Lillian"

Lord Kendall reacted with aed hih the garden The air was soft with twilight, settling damply over the estate with no breeze to stir the thick at for dinner, or idling and fanning therounds were irl wanted when she suggested an unchaperoned walk in such circumstances Apparently not adverse to the prospect of a stolen kiss or two, Kendall allowed Annabelle to coax hiardens and behind the drystone wall covered with cli roses

"I rather think we should have enlisted a chaperone," he said with a slight smile "This is decidedly improper, Miss Peyton"

Annabelle flashed hied "No one will notice"

As he ith her willingly, Annabelle becauilt that seemed to press on her fro a lahter Kendall was a nice e If only she had ress naturally and pry a genuine proposal out of him But this was the last weekend of the party, and it was i hiet this part of her plan over with, things would be so much easier frorimly Annabelle, Lady Kendall…she could see herself as a respectable young matron who lived in the peaceful world of Ha her brother home from school on the holidays Annabelle, Lady Kendall would have a half dozen fair-haired children, soly fitted with spectacles like their father And Annabelle, Lady Kendall would be a devoted ould spend the rest of her days trying to atone for the way she had deceived her husband intobeyond the pear orchard, where a stone table had been set in a graveled circle Co to a stop, Kendal looked down at Annabelle, who had leaned back against the edge of the stone table in a studied pose He dared to touch a stray curl that had fallen to her shoulder, adold in the pale brown strands "Miss Peyton," he murmured, "by now it must be evident to you that I’ve developed a decided preference for your coh in her throat, until she thought she reat pleasure in our conversations and walks together," she ed to say

"How lovely you are," Kendall whispered, drawing closer to her "I’ve never seen eyes so blue"

A o, Annabelle would have been overjoyed for this to happen Kendall was a nice , and wealthy, and titled…oh, what the devil rong with her? Her entire being was suffused with reluctance as he bent over her flushing, tightening face Agitated, bewildered, she tried to hold still for him Before their lips could asp and turned away frohtened you?" caentle and quiet…so different froance

"No…it’s not that It’s just…I can’t do this" Annabelle rubbed her suddenly aching forehead, her shoulders stiff aain, her voice was heavy with defeat and self-disgust "Forgive entle Which is exactly why I e your interest when nothing could come of it"

"Why do you think that?" he asked, openly confused

"You don’t really know me," Annabelle said with a bitter smile "Take my word for it, we’re an ill-matched pair Noyou eventually--and you would be too entleman to object, and ould both beto in to understand--"

"I’m not certain that I understand it, either But I am sorry I wish the best for you, ular spurts, and she laughed suddenly "Wishes are dangerous things, aren’t they," shequickly

CHAPTER 19

Railing at herself, Annabelle strode along the path that led back to the house She couldn’t believe it Right when everything she wanted had been within her grasp, she had thrown it all away "Stupid," she muttered to herself beneath her breath "Stupid, stupid…" She couldn’t begin to iine what she should tell her friends after they arrived at the clearing only to find it empty Perhaps Lord Kendall would re like a horse whose feed bag had been yanked from his jaws before he had the chance to eat

Annabelle vowed that she would not ask the other wallflowers to help her find another potential husband--not when she had just throay the opportunity that had been handed to her She deserved whatever happened to her now Her pace increased to a near run as she headed to her room She was so intent on her frantic retreat that she nearly plowed into athe path behind the drystone wall Stopping suddenly, sheyour pardon," and would have rushed around hie, tanned hands withdrawing from his coat pockets iered backward as Siarded each other with identical blank stares

Having just run from Lord Kendall, Annabelle could hardly fail to note the differences between the and potently masculine, with the eyes of a pirate and the casually ruthless air of a pagan king He was no less arrogant than he had ever been…no tamer, no more refined…and yet so desire that Annabelle was certain she had lost herwith passion and conflict

"What is it?" Hunt asked without preliht of her tu her emotions into a few coherent sentences was impossible Nevertheless, Annabelle tried "You left Stony Cross without a word to aze was as hard and cold as ebony "You put away the chess ga her lip "I couldn’t afford distractions"

"No one’s distracting you now You want Kendall?--Have at him"