“They climbed up into the carriage and were on their way. Henry caught her bonnet on the doorframe as she was getting in, a circumstance which caused her to mutter most ungraciously under her breath. Dunford thought he heard her say, "Bloody bleeding blooming bonnet," but he couldn't be certain.”

“Somebody up there is deuced mad at me," she yelled, "and I want to know why!"The heavens opened in earnest and within seconds she was soaked to the skin."Remind me never to question Your purposes again," she muttered ungraciously, not sounding particularly like the God-fearing young lady her father had raised her to be. "Clearly You don't like to be second-guessed."Lightning streaked through the sky, followed by a booming clap of thunder. "Damn!" she grunted, her bonnet sagged against her eyes, blocking her vision. She yanked it off, looked at the sky, and yelled, "I am not amused!"More lightning."They are all against me," she muttered,"All of them." Her father, Sally Foxglove, Mr. Tibbett, whoever it was who controlled the weather—More thunder.”

“But just for the sake of argument, let's say I am cornered. Or perhaps I am in the middle of a crowded ballroom and do not want to make a scene. If you were flirting with a young lady who had just told you not to call her sweetheart, what would you do?""I would accede to her wishes and bid her good night," he said starchily."You would not!" Henry accused with a playful smile. "You're a terrible rake, Dunford. Belle told me.""Belle talks too much," he muttered.”

“Dunford arrived a few minutes later and gave her an approving nod. "You look lovely, Henry."She smiled her thanks but decided not to put too much stock in his compliment. It sounded like the sort of thing he said automatically to any woman in his vicinity.”

“Of course. The team on your carriage was beautiful. They are yours, aren't they?"He ignored her and walked ahead until his foot connected with soft mushy ground. "Shit," he muttered."Exactly."He glared at her, thinking himself a saint for not going for her throat.”

“On the way over, however, it slid off the shovel and onto Henry's shoes.Pity, that.She whirled around. He waited for her to burst out with, "You did that on purpose!" but she kept silent, motionless except for a slight narrowing of her eyes. Then, with a flick of her ankle, the slop spattered onto his trousers.She smirked, waiting for him to say, "You did that on purpose!" but he also remained silent. Then he smiled at her, and she knew she was in trouble.”

“I'm leaving!" she said, with, in her opinion, great drama and resolve.But he just answered her with a sly half smile, and said, "I'm following."And the bloody man remained two strides behind her the entire way home.”