The Spinster and I (The Spinster Chronicles, #2)

by Rebecca Connolly

He barked a laugh and bowed to her. “You are the liveliest shy girl I have ever met in my entire life, and it is a rare delight, I can assure you.”

Breathe in, breathe out. Fear in, fear out. Breathe in, breathe out. Fear in, fear out.

He hissed, and she looked over at him only to see him shaking his head. “Prue, I didn’t mean… Sometimes we are sincere. Sometimes we do mean everything we say. And you should like it and take it as a compliment.” Prue smiled a very tight, thin smile. “They never have before, so I have no taste for it.” She exhaled and looked back into the ballroom, clasping her hands before her. “I just wish to be left alone.” “Well,” he sighed, “then we have another problem.” She looked up at him wryly. “And that is?” He shrugged, something new in his dark eyes. “I don’t think I can leave you alone.” He stared at her for a long moment, his hand stilled on her back, and added, “I know I can’t.” Her head tilted in a question. “Why not?” “Because I see you,” he admitted with a rawness she did not anticipate. “And I like what I see.”

There are some people who add nothing of value to Society and ought not to participate in its activities and entertainments. Whether for reasons of morality or moronic tendencies, these individuals would be better served being trampled. If we all someday burn because of the general degradation of Society, feel free to blame these pox-carriers for your singed status.