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"It’s just that I was attacked by a dog once," she said in a rush "I was just telling Leopold all about it"

Leopold? She was already calling the duke by his first naer than I a catch to her voice "I was knocked over, you see, and--" She thrust out her arm

Eleanor saw to her horror that the skin was puckered by fang-shaped scars "Oh, Lisette, that’s awful!"

"I think the fear is worse than the actual bite," Lisette said, sounding al that sounded like encourageo away, and bites do," Lisette added

At thatsound in his sleep and moved his bristly little paw closer to Lisette’s slipper Eleanor hastily coughed

"I race "It was such an exciting afternoon--oh, not because of your dog, Eleanor We were discussing the play the children were to put on, and then I had the sudden realization that e really ought to do is a treasure hunt, rather than a play It’s sofor the children, and they’re the ones who matter, after all I sih Popper did protest After all, you had your

"Of course," Eleanor said, not getting up If she rose, Oyster would realize his nap was over and likely offer up his squeaky bark to remind her of his presence

"I do believe I’ll just sit here and enjoy the last bit of sunlight," Anne said "Eleanor, stay with me"

Lisette danced off with a wave of her hand

"Villiers," Eleanor said, "what did you think of the children?"

He frowned "Children?"

"S blue pinafores," Anne prompted helpfully "I didn’t stir froood manners to occasionally silence himself Children never do"

"Children," Villiers repeated "You e children?"

"The orphan children," Eleanor proather your attention was elsewhere," she said sweetly "I can certainly understand that Poor Lisette was so afraid of the big bad wolf named Oyster"

"No," Anne said "I don’t see you with a disfiguring scar on your arm, Eleanor, so don’t mock it until you have it Have you never been afraid of anything?"

Eleanor didn’t need to think hard about that She was afraid of i ripped away fros or thunderstor Lisette I was ed him so deeply that he didn’t notice he was surrounded by orphans, two of whoht well have been his own children"

Villiers was likely trying to frighten her with that scowl She sht back at him

"How do you know they were orphans?" he demanded

"What else did you think they were?"

Anne interjected "I suggested that Lisette had started a family, but that was too scandalous even for Eleanor to consider I don’t know if you realize this about my sister, Villiers, but she’s very hard to shock"

"I have learned that already," Villiers said He had a white line around his mouth that almost made Eleanor feel sorry for hie of the children you’re looking for?" she asked, needling hi it

"Of course I do If you’ll excusebow either