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For soen’s antics always drove Rafe to distraction, especially since she’d returned to London and begun to order gowns that fit her like a second skin But no ed, she merely smirked at him and said that s could dress precisely as they wished

"Surely it’s not as bad as that," Annabel said absently, still searching the crowd for Rosseter

She caught Lady Griselda’s eyes, who called: "Annabel! Do co like the dour old ladies who generally earned that label; she was as good-looking as the infa that none of theainst Griselda; she had been devastated when Mayne galloped away from Rafe’s house approximately five minutes before he was due toabout?" Griselda inquired, without much real concern in her voice "He’s turned all plu an exhibition of herself," Annabel told her

"Already? She is a woht A waltz was playing, and the Earl of Ardhtly Or perhaps, Annabel thought fairly, Ien swayed in his arrip of a reckless passion

"Goodnessherself "They’re quite a couple, aren’t they? All that black on black…I Ard will co I’en threw an ar his hair in an outrageously intimate fashion

"She wants a scandal," Griselda said h this sort of thing"

Shedoith a nasty cold

"Did you?" Annabel asked

"Thankfully not," Griselda said with a little shiver "But I do believe that Is for Lord Maitland were far deeper than h," she added, "naturally I had all proper e up at Ardmore, her eyes half closed as if--Well Annabel looked away

What Ien took She had loved Draven Maitland for years, and never mind the fact that he was betrothed to another woen had a chance, she somehow sprained her ankle in such a way that she had to convalesce in the Maitland household That ankle injury was re Annabel knew, her sister had eloped with Draven Maitland In fact, given Iht that Ardht have to find and woo his bride in the next season

"Have you seen Lord Rosseter?" she asked Griselda

But Griselda was mesmerized--as doubtless were en’s behavior on the dance floor "I her face en could not have e in a scandalous affairto Ardmore as if she’d turned into an ivy plant

"Oh, Lord," GriseldaArdmore’s neck, for all the world as if she meant to pull his head down to hers

Annabel’s elder sister Tess dropped into a chair beside the like such a wanton?"

"Where have you been all evening?" Annabel asked "I thought I caught a glimpse of you and Felton earlier, but then I couldn’t find you"