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"I can guess," she said

"You’re beautiful," he finished, a fleeting s his face

He had his ar down at her like a great giant

"While I thank you for the compliment, I have to wonder why on earth you caiven your first two requirements," Annabel said

"I came because I was told to do so," he replied

Annabel didn’t need any further information Everyone knew that rich brides were to be found in London, and poor ones in Scotland Thethat her fineryon appearances," she told hih, as I said, I’d be happy to introduce you to so ladies"

He opened his en appeared at her shoulder "Darling," she said to Annabel, "I’ve been looking everywhere for you!" Without pausing, she turned to the earl "Lord Ardmore," she purred, "I am Lady Maitland What a pleasure to meet you"

Annabel watched as the earl bent over her sister’s hand Iave Ardmore a look that no man, especially aould consider resisting In fact, it looked very lances

"I have an unendurable longing to dance," Ien said "Will you please ; he was kissing Iave up The en had always been thus: once sheher "I shall return to"Lord Ard court in a corner of the roouardian sprawled beside her with a drink in his hand Not that there was anything unusual in that; the Duke of Holbrook always had a drink He cah the crowd

Now that she had colish nobility, she was , he refused to go by his title For another, he was as far froined At least his valet et hi, but when he was at home he tended toward comfortable pantaloons and a thread hite shirt

"Griselda’s driving me mad," he said without foren will finishattendance on that Scottish fellow? I don’t even know the man"

"She’s decided that she wants a cicisbeo," Annabel told hi a hand through hair that was already wildly disarranged "I can escort her wherever she needs to go"

"She’s being plagued by fortune hunters"

"For God’s sake, why’d she choose a penniless Scot to dance about with, then?" Rafe bellowed, only belatedly glancing about him

"Perhaps she won’t care for hi to see whether she could glimpse Lord Rosseter anywhere At the mo an ass of herself," Rafe said