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"Do join us!" Lisette called fro that I sprawl about on the floor?" the duchess demanded

At that moment the door opened and a thin boy in a brown velvet suit entered He was dressed like any boy of the aristocracy, Eleanor thought, though he clearly wasn’t one of the wild and proud in his face, as if he were more duke than the duke

He walked forward and bent his head

"Bow," his father said, though not sharply

He bowed

Anne and Lisette both looked up "Sit next toa terrible ti this little ball"

The boy was like a ray eyes to his extreme self-possession "May I present my son," Villiers said "His name is Tobias"

The boy turned his head and looked at his father

"He prefers to be called Juby," Villiers added

It was the first time she had ever seen Villiers bested, and by soht Eleanor stepped forward and smiled

"Lady Eleanor," Villiers said "My future wife" There was just the slightest edge of irony in his tone

Eleanor dropped a curtsy The boy bowed his head again He was fiercely beautiful in the way so lived through their eyes, and their large noses, and their ungainly limbs

"Bow," his father said unemotionally

He bowed

"Lady Eleanor’s ue"

This ti told, which made Eleanor feel better If this wild boy interpreted her aze properly, then perhaps she herself wasn’t such an incoiven in to her so many times in the last twenty-two years

"On the floor are Lady Lisette and Mrs Bouchon," Villiers continued "Bow"

Tobias bowed Lisette looked up again and patted the ground Naturally, Tobias dropped instantly into the place she indicated

"I shall retire until supper to co that she was on the very edge of a swoon She paused, clearly to allow Villiers and Eleanor to chorus their protests Their eyestrip, Mother," Eleanor said

"Though one certainly couldn’t tell," Villiers put in "You look as exquisite as ever, Duchess"

She autoesture "Oh, how can you say so!" she said, though without her usual vigor "The dust! The dryness We were easily half a day in the carriage"

"Only a woman of remarkable fortitude could look as fresh as you do after a journey," Villiers said

"I’ll walk you to the stairs, Mother," Eleanor said "A footman will inform you the moment that the squire and his family arrive"

As they walked into the entrance hall they cailded mirror Eleanor saw herself and stopped short

"Just look at yourself!" her mother snapped "What you’ve done to your eyes makes you look shahter "I never thought I’d say such a thing, but I’m not certain you should , but Eleanor wasn’t listening The kohl black that Anne had put on her lashes and se as they normally did She looked…