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Startled by Gray’s husky voice in her ear, Isabel spun about so quickly, he was forced to arch backward to avoid being whacked in the face with the brih, and once he started, he could not stop

She gaped at hi he looked when lost in h sounded rusty, as if it had not been let out in awhile, and she loved the sound of it--deeper and richer than it had been before, and she had adored it even then Unable to resist, she sasped, she had to laugh with hiht her about the waist, and spun her around, just like he used to do

Setting her hands on his broad shoulders for balance, Isabel hung on, and re with him

"Put me down, Gray!" she cried

With his head tilted back, he looked at her and said, "What will you givea spectacle of us Everyone will hear of this" She thought of Hargreaves’ expression when he’d seen them in the tailor’s, and her smile faded Hoful she was to cavort with Gray, when it would hurt John

"A boon, Pel, or I will carry you around until you agree I aht as a feather"

"I am not"

"Are so" His lip made that little pout of his It would look ridiculous on any other man, but on Gray it made women want to kiss him It made Isabel want to kiss him

"You think too much," he coift Offering me a boon is the least you can do"

"What do you want?"

He considered it a moment, and then said, "Supper"

"Supper? Can you be more specific?"

"I want to have supper with you Stay hoht, and share a meal with me"

"I have coood man," he called out to the clerk "The door, if you would please"

"You would not carry me outside like this"

"Do you truly believe I wouldn’t?" he asked with a devilish sed, but a leopard cannot colanced over her shoulder, and saw the street approaching and the multitude of pedestrians who strolled there "Yes"

He paused mid-step "Yes, what?"

"Yes, I will have supper with you"

His grin was triuenerous soul, Pel"

"Stuff," she uard, Grayson"

"Perhaps" He set her down, and then tucked her hand around his ar her out to the street "But really, would you want htening of the oppressive air that had surrounded him the day before, she knew she liked him best as a scoundrel It hen he was most happy

Just like Pelham

Only a fool wouldthe voice of reason, Isabel reminded herself to heed it, and keep her physical distance fro as he remained at least three feet away from her, she was fine

"Lord Grayson!"

They both sighed as a rather large wo a monstrosity of a hat, and an even worse pink ruffled concoction of a dress

"That is Lady Hamilton," Isabel whispered "A lovely woh his sh aloud

"Lady Pershing-Moore toldas she came to a halt before them "I said she must be daft, but it seeain, my lord Hoherever you were?"

Gray accepted the offered hand, bowed over it, and said, "Miserable, as any locale would be without the co and beautiful wife"

"Oh" Lady Hamilton shot Isabel a wink "Of course Lady Grayson accepted an invitation to my rout, which will be held the week after next I do pray that you intend to accompany her"

"Certainly," Gray said smoothly "After my extended absence, I intend to never be away from her side for even a moment"

"Wonderful! I now look forward to the event with even greater anticipation"

"You are too kind"

Saying her farewells, Lady Haan with a sigh "Why stir up gossip in this way?"

"If you think there is any possibility that ill not be gossiped about, you are delusional" He continued down the street toward their waiting landau

"Why add fuel to the fire?"

"Do they teach wo school? I vow, you all do it so well"

"Da, but that will not take long, and once you go your oay--"

"We are going the same way, Pel," he drawled "We’re married"

"We can separate After the last four years it would merely be a formality"

Gray took a deep breath, and looked down at her "Why would I want to do that? Better yet, ould you?"

Isabel kept her eyes ahead How could she explain, when she wasn’t certain she knew the answer? She shrugged helplessly

His hand over hers, he gave a soft squeeze "A great deal has happened in the last twenty-four hours Give both of us sos between us have not progressed the way I anticipated"

He assisted her into the landau, and then directed the driver home