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Juliet to help him drag Lucy out to the garden. Neither of them are very strong, but between the two of
them, they threw her into the pond. Since she was still unconscious, she drowned. It was self-defense,
Hawkscliffe. I personally find Lord Coldfell a reprehensible schemer, but Lucy and Dolph would not
have stopped until the earl was dead. Even worse, Lucy s plan for Juliet was to lock her in an asylum
once her father was dead.
Hawk stared at him in amazement, barely able to absorb it. His heart pounded impossibly fast. He felt
something inside him breaking free of its shackles a power, a rightness, an audacity such as he never
had possessed. He knew in an instant what he was going to do.
He gripped Griffon s shoulders. Listen to me. You must marry Juliet.
His eyes widened. What?
You love her. She belongs with you.
Your Grace!
Don t argue. It s what you both want.
But her father has forbidden me from going near her! I m not going to resort to blackmailing him with
this knowledge. I promised Juliet
You won t have to. Come with me. He let go of him and pivoted, striding out to the front of the
building, where he sent for his town coach.
Griffon hurried to keep up. I don t understand.
Just wait.
In a state of quivering exultation, Hawk waited for William to bring the coach. He turned to Griffon. I m
going back inside. When I come back, I ll have Juliet with me. You must take her away and marry her
before her father can send anyone after you. Once you are married, there s not a thing he can do.
Griffon let out a wordless exclamation of wonder.
That is what you want, isn t it?
Yes! With all my heart! But it ll never work. And Coldfell will sue you for breach of promise! You
hate scandal
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Never mind that. Come and stand below the window of the mezzanine. I ll bring her out that way.
Your Grace, if you help us run away together, Lord Coldfell will surely take the Vienna Congress
appointment away from you! The Prime Minister takes his word as gospel
It doesn t matter. Just take your place and be ready.
Griffon nodded anxiously and slipped back into the shadows around the side of the building, while Hawk
jogged up the stairs and went back inside, drawing a deep breath. His heart pounded wildly with thrill at
his own mad recklessness.
The truth shall set you free, he thought. For the first time in his life, he would shake off the tyranny of his
class.
The moment he walked in Coldfell greeted him, all apologies. Your Grace, I am most humbly sorry for
this scene that young rapscallion has made. It is really unpardonable. He has plagued my house since he
first laid eyes on my daughter.
Why, then, that young Romeo has been a plague on both our houses, I daresay, hasn t he, Juliet?
Juliet stared at him, wide eyed, looking quite terrified that he had done something dreadful to her true
love. Hawk grasped Juliet s hand as he turned to Coldfell feigning a look of regal displeasure. If you
don t mind, I would like a brief private word with your daughter to sort out this most embarrassing
predicament, he said in his stuffiest, most paragon tone.
Of course, said Coldfell. He poked his daughter s arm in stern reproach and pointed for her to go with
Hawk.
Hawk coolly offered her his arm, playing the affronted bridegroom. Even her father seemed to feel he
was entitled to sit Juliet down and chasten her. She looked frightened and overwhelmed as she put her
hand on his arm and walked slowly by his side.
No need to gawk, my good people, Hawk declared, still in a high and mighty countenance, but he felt
a gigantic, secret laugh building inside of him. How shocked they would be at his final, ultimate defection!
By God, he d go over to the Whigs, to boot! How delicious the scandal was going to be! He could
almost taste the air of freedom, climbing toward it. This way, Juliet.
He tugged her by her hand toward the modest doorway and small staircase that led down to the
mezzanine. The moment they were out of everyone s sight on the stairs, he pulled her more firmly,
hurrying her. He turned and mouthed the word to her, Come! She furrowed her brow in question, but
he shook his head and led her toward the arched French window that overlooked the King s Place
courtyard to the back of Almack s. He opened it and pointed below. Obediently she peered out, then
her face lit up with joy as she saw Griffon waiting down there for her. She waved.
Hawk turned her by her shoulders to face him, willing her to understand. He enunciated each word as
clearly as possible. She stared at his mouth, waiting. This time they were determined to communicate.
Juliet.
She nodded anxiously.
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