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Staring at Jack, she felt a twinge of her old resent his seed all about the country and leaving heartache in his wake Stillif she had another sister or brother out there, she would like to know them
Jack plucked at an invisible piece of lint on his sleeve "Well, I won’t keep you fro hi over how she could not despise the man who had rejected her mother--and her She had assumed the hatred would always be there
When she first arrived, she had been quite willing to lay the blame for her mother’s wretched life at his feet But Cleo didn’t have it in her to hate thetended now She also recognized that her mother had made her choices with open eyes She’d known Jack Hadley was not the one to his bed anyway
Her mother had paid for that mistake And Cleo had learned froh she didn’t hate Jack any longershe wouldn’t place her total trust in hiive her the lifelong security she sought
Setting the brush down, Cleo used the small step stool to climb into bed As she sank beneath the luxurious quilted silk coverlet, she marveled that this should be her bed--her life She would never have to worry about an aching belly again
And if she chose carefully, wisely, she wouldn’t have to contend with adestruction over her life and body To say nothing of her heart
For two days, she avoided Thruain his wretched nepheho had taken residence at the earl’s Mayfairhis visit She frequently replayed thatabout her to Mr Blackwell and Lord McKinney The wretch
Then she realized that she was being cowardly The last thing she wanted Ha her off Indeed not With that thought in mind, she accepted the earl’s invitation to dinner Her father, invited as well, acco the peerage over glittering crystal and the finest port Wearing the rich, garish colors his tailor convinced hi more
It was a suests Cleo dressed in her best, feeling fortified in a gown of bronze silk that leam in her dark hair At least that’s what the modiste had told her when she selected the fabric She only hoped she wasn’t being led astray as her father was
Jack helped her fro his arathered before dinner As they approached, she could hear the fa away at the keys Froht very well cruht
"Hope she bloody well quits that racket soon," her father ht turn off rinned, all gaiety when she entered the roonet drew her, her eyes landed on hiht of Lord McKinney startled her as it shouldn’t He stood straight as an oak beside the pianoforte, turning the pages when Libba indicated he should
He spotted her, too His direct stare flustered her Her fingers flexed on Jack’s arlance Inwardly, she commanded herself to recall herself--who she hat she was about
She greeted first the earl and then the other guests Unfortunately that ain and exchange pleasantries
As Libba finished playing, Cleo nodded in greeting "Good evening, Libba Lord McKinney"
His gaze skiolden slippers, and then he looked away, dis her She squared her shoulders and reain his favor
She took her seat on a settee beside the earl
It shouldn’t have surprised her to see McKinney here again If he was hunting for an heiress, Libba was that And he was a feast for the eyes There was no question that Libba was all gushing encourage
When dinner was announced, Cleo rose quickly, glad for a change of scene
"Ah,voice He waved his pale, thin hand on the air "Coatory smile, she offered her hand He used it to haul hi herself, rooting her slippers into the carpet so she didn’t lose her balance
He gripped her shoulder to right hiht back a gri the temptation to step away, quite convinced that if she did so he would collapse
His labored breath blew ainst her cheek "I need but a moment to catch my breath," he panted
She nodded and watched as everyone filed out of the roole and she had a certain sensation that she was being watched She swiveled her head, surveying the last of the guests as they e It appeared everyone--
And then she spotted hiered in the corner, holding a glass of brandy lightly in his hand and surveying her and the earl
His stare was penetrating, yet unreadable Her face heated as he gazed at her Mortification burned through her She was acutely conscious of what he saw--the earl clutching her in an undignified oodie coughed hoarsely, regaining her attention He struggled to regain his legs His grip on her hand intensified The fingers on her shoulder dug in deep and painfully She bowed a bit beneath the pressure and stopped shy of crying out
Abruptly, a deep voice rued with relief Even if it was hioodie all the way to the dining rooered to see if she or the earl needed any help She didn’t let herself consider why McKinney stayed behind She was simply relieved he had
The earl’s head snapped in his direction "Eh? Who are you?"
"McKinney,