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A transformation not unlike that of an Arahter "You think , Father? We live every day under Her Majesty’s grinding boot heel The Reapers are co to save us They will muster our forces, crush the Empire, and end the occupation Toriana will finally be free"

"Is that what they told you?" Dredht for our liberation Their sole interest in Toriana is to occupy it, and use its citizens and resources to ignite another e war Had your plan been successful, Miss Walsh, they would have burned their way across our country, and installed their own tyrants as our rulers"

"All Torians would have been bespelled and turned into htless slaves," I put in "Rather like you"

"You know nothing about our plans" She struggled viciously against my hold "You think you can stop them? It’s too late The ships are alht from shore," I corrected her "By the tireet thee a proper reception, can’t you, milord?"

His upper lip curled "Indeed"

Miranda screaers into claws and lunged forher "You ht have pulled it off, had you left your step your ht discover that Lord Walsh had been possessed It wouldn’t have mattered if she had, you know" I looked up to see Lady Diana standing in the doorway "No one would have believed her"

"My father should never havebitch" Hatred contorted Miranda’s half-red face "Always pretending to be so kind and sweet and loving All she was interested in was his fortune"

"My family was" Lady Diana joined us "I married so I wouldn’t end an old maid" She looked at her husband "Nolan, I expect you have business to attend to in town If you would send for our physick before you leave, I would greatly appreciate it Montrose, please escort your sister to her room and sit with her until the whitecart arrives"

"You can’t put me in hospital," Miranda shouted

"Of course not," Diana soothed "There’s a lovely little place called Havenwood, not far from my father’s country estate near Settle Some of the best families in Rumsen have sent their troubled relations there to recuperate"

Miranda grabbed her brother’s jacket "Monty, you have to help "

"We’ll talk about it upstairs" Montrose guided her out of the rooave Dredmore a desperate look "My lord, if you would be so kind as to accompany me, and provide some explanation to our mutual friends and associates"

"It would be my pleasure Lady Walsh" Lucien inclined his head that way, and then cae" He raised entle on you later"

"Meet me down at the docks instead," Ifor the housekeeper, who summoned maids to remove the carpet and apply citrus oil to the floor to re stains and odors The butler hienerously piled with a beautiful creae" He bowed to me as if I were royalty before he addressed Diana "Milady, when the physick arrives, do you wish to speak with hiis that he is to remove Miss Miranda and have her immediately and securely transported to Havenwood for whatever treatht mention that Lord Walsh expects her stay to be of some duration"

"Yes, milady" The butler bowed his way out of the study

"What about the husband in hiding?" I asked

"Lestin?" Diana picked up the teapot "Without Miranda to supply him with his needs, I expect he will show his face here quite soon We have footar?"

"No, thank you Such an unusual naht for a moment "An abbreviated form of Celestino, isn’t it?"

"I believe it is" She filled two cups and handed one to , Miss Kittredge"