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"All I’ is that if you want to marry Villiers, you shouldn’t let hi else That’s all I’"

"We were in love," Eleanor repeated

"He sneaked about, and did secret things with you," Anne retorted "Hoould you feel about hi one of the second footh to know better"

"You just don’t understand We were both young I was lucky to have loved like that for a tih she didn’t really believe it

Anne snorted "I hope I’ed to summon up a crooked smile "I won’t invite anyone into my chamber to examine h promise to make

She and Villiers had an utterly different sort of relationship in mind If she and Gideon had ht in a forest fire They had le ti like that," Anne commanded "Gideon is married, remember? Think about Villiers"

"I was, actually," Eleanor said

"No, you weren’t," Anne said sourly "I’ve been your sister for eighteen years I knohat that daffy lookto do with the Duke of Villiers"

"Do you really think that I’ve been worshipping at Gideon’s shrine?" Eleanor wrinkled her nose "Hoet I sound"

"You were unlucky He is a debaucher who took the first chance he could to leave you in the dust and marry the oh-so-pretty Ada"

Eleanor bit her lip

"I didn’t mean it like that!" Anne said hastily "You’re pretty too, Eleanor"

"In my oay"

"It’s just that Ada has that heart-shaped face and seeile She’s like a fairy princess Irresistible, for aarile--and sweet," Eleanor said "I’m not, and I can’t pretend that I am"

"Of course you’re not And Gideon knows it now," Anne said with unmistakable satisfaction

"What do youand coughing and carrying on I saw it last time Mother took me there for tea and he stayed with us for barely a moment or two I think he probably fell in love with the idea of saving her, poor fragile little darling that she was, but now he--"

"Don’t go on," Eleanor said "You’reI care for, seem shabby and nasty I know you don’t mean it, but I want you to stop now"

The door bounced open again "Girls! Don’t keep , if you please!" Their ather that lace shawl, if you please Eleanor, hand the dog to Hobson; he can travel with the maids Oyster may be a source for conversation, but I’d rather arrive without urine on my skirts"

"We’ll be there in a moment, Mother," Eleanor said Her loves

"I’m sorry," she said to Anne "I didn’t ht," her sister said, darting over to give her a hug "That’s the probleht"

"Don’t you think I’d know it if Gideon had showed the slightest interest inAda? He has rarely spoken tohis father’s will read"

"But you would never consider adultery, would you?" Anne asked, sounding truly scandalized

"Of course not! I would never do anything so depraved"