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She threw her hands up in the air. “I have said it before and I’ll say it again, why do you enjoy being so obtuse?”

“Perhaps I simply cannot help myself and do not do it out of pleasure. Perhaps your company ties me in knots and all I can do is speak obtusely, Gus.”

She groaned aloud. “I do not know why you cannot resist teasing me even on the most serious of matters.”

“Very well.” He adopted a stern expression. “I am all seriousness now. Explain to me what is happening.”

She pursed her lips and eyed him, seeing that flicker of a curve to his lips. “Apparently there has been talk that we might be forming an...attachment.”

He chuckled. “Is that it?”

“Says a man who will never know the fear of being ruined,” she muttered.

“Forgive me, Gus, that was wrong of me.” He paused, and when Augusta glanced back, she realized they were unaccompanied on the road. She had seen Joanna do the same with Chloe and arrange time alone with Brook but this was different. She did not need or want to be alone with Miles.

Not one jot.

Especially when she found herself looking at his mouth and remembering how it felt upon hers.

“Where exactly did you hear this rumor?”

“Chloe told me of it. Apparently, Mr. Samuel Benedict came to her fiancé with word of it.”

Miles nodded. “I see.”

“Miles, you did not tell anyone of…well…”

“The kiss?”

She bit down on her bottom lip and nodded.

“I told no one.”

She blew out a breath. There was no chance Joanna would have said a word to anyone so the rumor had to be speculation and completely baseless. But why would someone wish to spread rumors about her?

“I will speak with Benedict. See if I can discover the source of this gossip and put a stop to it.”

“Thank you, Miles. I would appreciate that.”

“Anything for you, Gus, you know that.”

His jaunty smile made her want to cry for some reason.