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"She h about Oyster at the benefit the other night He’s a joke between the could make Oyster look fashionable," Eleanor said flatly

"I’ll pin one of my ostrich feathers into his collar Queen Charlotte herself adorned her dog with ostrich feathers Or was it peacock feathers? This will show Villiers that you are truly à la rave; la an "And "

"Part of hi "Wait until you see hoonderful he looks with an ostrich feather" She earing a wildly fashionable chip hat lined with sarcenet, with a cluster of white feathers on one side Without pausing for breath, she plucked one of her plu," her ht have been e has those ears," Eleanor said "And more to the point, Oyster will not add to the occasion"

"Your sister, young though she is, ismen," her mother ruled "You have never shown the faintest interest in attracting a man’s attention, Eleanor; now you rave;!" Anne cried "He’s wearing his feather à la conseilleur See how it tilts sideways?"

"Who could ive Oyster a pat He panted enthusiastically, looking up at her with adoring eyes She was very fond of Oyster But he was one of those odd dogs who justattractive His body was cream, and his nose and muzzle were black, and then he was pop-eyed The feather didn’t help

"The point is," Anne told her, "Oyster gives you so to talk about"

Oyster’s incontinent habits certainly did generate conversation "I don’t think he likes that feather, Anne" It curled over his back and brushed his tail Not the brightest of dogs, Oyster was convinced a fly was trying to bite hi around to snap at his own tail

Though he was far too fat to actually reach his tail

"It’s fashionable," Anne said stubbornly "Mother, don’t let her take the feather off Oyster will get used to it, and the queen’s dog wears one precisely the sah I see wearing a peacock feather That would be a conversation piece, all right

"When we arrive, you o down for a nap immediately, Eleanor," the duchess stated "I want you to look your best by the time Villiers appears Certainly better than Lisette!"

"Mother," Eleanor said, "Lisette is a friend of mine There’s no reason to use that tone"

Her mother narrowed her eyes "Eleanor, you are such a fool that it’s aLisette cracked instead of yourself"

Eleanor said nothing

Her otten to take your grande them on your bedside table" She trotted from the room

"Does she think that I’ll invite the duke into ave her hand a squeeze "Mother is accusto her opinions"

"I know"

"She didn’t mean to call you stupid"

But she did mean it Eleanor had always been a puzzle to her mother, and not a pleasant one Part of the problem was that the duchess had never known about Gideon, never known about the glorious year in which they grew closer and closer, fell in love, told each other everything, and finally, in that last delirious month before his birthday, made love

Because her reater proble things She was too sarcastic