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had a rendezvous with Kevernwood this morning,” he replied, his avoidance of the question obvious.
    â€œI’d hardly call it a ‘rendezvous,’ Rupert. He apologized for last night and I accepted him. It was all quite proper.”
    â€œMmm,” Rupert said, tucking the quizzing glass back into his waistcoat pocket.
    â€œWho told you?”
    â€œ
You
should have,” he flashed. “I shouldn’t have to hear such on-dits from my servants.”
    â€œWe aren’t married yet, Rupert. I do not have to account to you for every second of my time. At least
he
had the good manners to apologize.”
    â€œI want you to stay away from him, Jenna,” he said. They had reached the orchard, and he turned her toward him. “I mean this. The man’s a Jackanapes. Just look at the cut of him. He knows long hair went out ages ago, and yet he will insist upon wearing that ridiculous queue. He does it for attention.”
    â€œOh, I don’t know, I rather think it’s quite attractive.”
    Rupert’s jaw dropped and an incredulous grunt escaped his throat. “That whole business last night was a put-down,” he said. “One simply does not cut his hosts in that way.”
    â€œHe didn’t know about Father, Rupert.”
    â€œBut he knew that costume was in bad taste. He wore it apurpose.”
    â€œI’ve accepted his apology.”
    â€œYes, yes, so you’ve said. Now let that be the end of it. Leave him to the St. Johns. Let them ruin their reputation aligning with him.”
    â€œYou act as if I dragged them here. You invited them, Rupert.”
    â€œNot actually. Mother invited
him
. He took it upon himself to bring the St. Johns, those hangers-on he’s entertaining. Colossal cheek, by God!”
    â€œDid he ask permission to bring them?”
    â€œWhat does that matter?”
    â€œDid he, or didn’t he?”
    â€œYes, he did, but he shouldn’t have; we aren’t acquainted.”
    â€œWell, we are now, aren’t we?” She couldn’t believe that she was actually defending the St. Johns—defending the earl’s right to include them, of all things. She wished she’d never set eyes on any of them.
    â€œI beat him in the shoot, you know.”
    â€œ
You?
Rupert, you are terrible with a pistol.”
    â€œExactly!”
    â€œHe must have let you win.”
    â€œHe did not! He’s a lousy shot I say, for all his bragging about holding a record at Manton’s Gallery. It’s a good thing Nelson got him and not Wellington. It’s sure as check, the blighter’d need to make use of a ship’s cannon to hit anything.”
    â€œRupert, this pettiness is beneath you.”
    â€œAll right.” His impeccable posture collapsed and he breathed a nasal sigh. “Let’s not quarrel,” he said in an undertone.
    â€œIs that supposed to be an apology?”
    He gave a start and blurted, “You were expecting one?”
    â€œDon’t answer a question with a question, Rupert. You do that a lot, you know, and it’s such bad form. And, yes, I was expecting an apology. You behaved like a boor last night and embarrassed me in front of everyone.”
    â€œI’ve been expecting an apology from
you
!” was his incredulous reply.
    â€œFor what? For passing out at the sight of someone looking the part of my father’s murderer?”
    â€œNo, for swooning for lack of nourishment when this house is packed to the rafters with enough to feed Wellington’s army!”
    â€œYou’ve been listening to Mother.”
    â€œShe’s concerned about you, Jenna.” “She’s concerned that I might break the engagement and ruin her social standing.”
    Rupert stared.
    Why was there nothing in those empty hazel eyes? Why didn’t they quicken her heart and turn her knees to water?
    â€œIs that what you’re of a mind to do?” he asked,