This is a wonderful day,— Anthony was muttering to himself. "A wonderful day." He looked up sharply at Gareth. "You don't have sisters, do you?""None," Gareth confirmed."I am in possession of four," Anthony said, tossing back at least a third of the contents of his glass. "Four. And now they're all off my hands. I'm done," he said, looking as if he might break into a jig at any moment. "I'm free.""You've daughters, don't you?" Gareth could not resist reminding him."Just one, and she's only three. I have years before I have to go through this again. If I'm lucky, she'll convert to Catholicism and become a nun.Gareth choked on his drink."It's good, isn't it?— Anthony said, looking at the bottle. "Aged twenty-four years.""I don't believe I've ever ingested anything quite so ancient," Gareth murmured.

Anthony Bridgerton leaned back in his leather chair,and then announced, I'm thinking about getting married.Benedict Bridgerton, who had been indulging in a habit his mother detested— tipping his chair drunkenly on the back two legs— fell over.Colin Bridgerton started to choke.Luckily for Colin, Benedict regained his seat with enough time to smack him soundly on the back, sending a green olive sailing across the table.It narrowly missed Anthony's ear.

It was heaven. Forget angels, forget St. Peter and glittering harpsichords. Heaven was a dance in the arms of one's true love.

Miss Bridgerton,— he said, —the devil himself couldn't scare you."She forced her eyes to meet his. "That's not a compliment, is it?"He lifted her hand to his lips, brushing a feather-light kiss across her knuckles. "You'll have to figure that out for yourself,— he murmured.To all who observed, he was the soul of propriety, but Hyacinth caught the daring gleam in his eye, and she felt the breath leave her body as tingles of electricity rushed across her skin. Her lips parted, but she had nothing to say, not a single word. There was nothing but air, and even that seemed in short supply.And then he straightened as if nothing had happened and said, "Do let me know what you decide."She just stared at him."About the compliment," he added. "I am sure you will wish to let me know how I feel about you."Her mouth fell open.He smiled. Broadly. "Speechless, even. I'm to be commended.""You" —"No. No," he said, lifting one hand in the air and pointing toward her as if what he really wanted to do was place his finger on her lips and shush her. —Don't ruin it. The moment is too rare.