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independent woman. She did not need any man to fight her battles.
    â€œAnd you have a private dining room?” he asked before she could say a word.
    Claudia’s nostrils flared. Was she to be humiliated even further?
    â€œMr. Cosman…” the landlord began. But yet again he paused as he looked at the marquess. “It will be set aside for the ladies as is only right, my lord, the rest of my clients tonight being all gentlemen.”
    Claudia knew just exactly what had happened. The Marquess of Attingsborough must have raised an aristocratic eyebrow a couple of times. And the landlord had almost fallen all over himself to show how obsequious he could be. It was despicable, to say the least. All because of who the marquess was, or, rather, because of the color of his blood. He was probably nothing more than an idle…
rake,
and yet all the world would bow and scrape to him because he had a title and doubtless pots of money to go with it.
    Well,
she
would not bow or scrape. She turned to face him. He was smiling that easy, charming smile—and then he winked at her.
    He actually
winked
!
    And of course he was still looking gorgeous even after a day spent in the saddle. He was tapping his riding whip against the outside of his leather boot. He looked long-limbed and virile and…Well, that was quite enough. He even smelled good—of horse and some cologne mingled together into a peculiarly enticing masculine scent.
    Claudia looked at him steadily, her lips pressed together in a thin line. But the wink had thrown her off stride for a moment, and then it seemed too late and too petty to declare that she would be quite happy with the small rooms and the public dining room.
    Edna and Flora were looking at him too—
gazing worshipfully,
in fact. As if
that
were any surprise.
    â€œCome along, girls,” Claudia said briskly. “We will retire to our rooms if the landlord will give us directions.”
    She strode toward their bags.
    â€œYou will have the ladies’ baggage taken up immediately?” the marquess said. Clearly he was addressing the landlord.
    â€œOf course, my lord,” the landlord said, clicking his fingers as Claudia’s nostrils flared. “I was about to give the order.”
    Two—not one but
two
—menservants came running as if from nowhere, scooped up the bags, and headed in the direction of the staircase with them.
    Claudia strode after them and the girls came after her.
    The rooms, of course, were sizable and comfortable chambers, which overlooked the edge of town and the quiet fields beyond. They were clean and filled with light and were altogether above reproach. The girls squealed with delight and hurried to the window of their room to lean on the windowsill and gaze out at the scenery. Claudia withdrew to her own room and sighed with self-reproach as she admitted to herself that it really was vastly superior to the usual one. She stretched out on the bed to relax for a few minutes.
    He had actually
winked
at her. She could not remember the last time any man had done that. Goodness, it probably had not happened since she was a girl.
    How dare he!
    But oh, the room was quiet and the bed was comfortable and the air coming through the open window was fresh. There was a single bird trilling its heart out. She actually dozed off for a while.
    And then she dined with the girls in the comfort and relative quiet of the private dining room on roast beef and potatoes and boiled cabbage followed by suet pudding and custard and tea. She was forced to admit afterward that she felt restored and very relieved that they had not been expected to share the room with the Marquess of Attingsborough. Both girls looked slightly sleepy. She was about to suggest that they all retire for the night even though it was still light outside and really quite early when there was a tap on the door and it opened to reveal the marquess himself.
    â€œAh,” he said, smiling