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"I don’t care even to cross my sith a whoreson like yourself," the French with a bastard I, who jousted with His Grace the Duke of Rutland only last week? You don’t need to learn proper conduct Blood tells, and your sort will always end in the gutter"

Tobias didn’t give a fig about insults to hi soht all thatduke Then he realized that it wasn’t her fault, what had happened to hiuide to conduct, it would explain your father’s horns," he said, spacing the words so that Naffi would understand

It took a moment for his insult to sink in Then the Frenchoat! You dare imply my maman--" His voice broke off as he unexpectedly shot forward, like a cork from a bottle

Tobias juainst the wall and rebounded, his nose gushing startlingly red blood

Ashht hand he held a large golden staff with a huge knob, hich he had apparently jabbed Naffi in the back The French his nose with one hand and screaonly once

Blood was splattered down Naffi’s white shirt "How dare you lay a hand on an to laugh, when he suddenly realized that Naffi still had a rapier in his right hand, and that if the man would hesitate to assault a son of the house--even a bastard--he would feel no such compunction about a servant

"I’ll teach you to touch your betters!" Naffi snarled, bringing his blade up

"Stop!" Tobias cried

But the French the old butler hard in the chest, prodding him with the button-covered tip of the rapier His lips curled happily, and Tobias could see that he was enjoying Ash protests and the way the old man stumbled back each time he was struck

Villiers had left his rapier on the bench, and Tobias picked it up

Naffi swung to face hih "You dare to face reat Naffi? The s to train hi," Tobias observed

"I could slash you," Naffi hissed "Such a regrettable accident Yes, I think that’s what I’ll do A little slash to the face that will utter rat you really are"

Naffi had spittle around his lips, which made Tobias feel faintly nauseated He tossed the rapier to the ground between the his head back so his chin pointed to the ceiling "So you’re not so stupid but that you--"

Tobias snatched the staff froe knob under Naffi’s chin The ht backithout a word

The thump echoed in the empty ballroom "I doubt you kilt him," Ashmole said He prodded thenoise but his eyes stayed shut

"Unlikely," Tobias agreed He picked up the duke’s rapier and twisted the button off its tip It was sharp as a needle’s point

"Are you going to kill him now?" Ashmole inquired He didn’t sound terribly scandalized "It’ll make a terrible ht it carefully straight down "Absolutely not"

Ashmole cursed and jumped back "You’re set to ruin the polish onThe rapier was heavy, and e it as precisely as a knife took all his attention

Ashmole peered over his shoulder "No blood"