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"I write poetry," he said again A lock of dark hair fell over his eyes and he threw it back "Have you ever read the verse of Richard Barnfield?"

"I haven’t read h Shakespeare’s sonnets at the "

Roland picked up Eleanor’s Chalass and leaned toward her "Shakespeare is all very well, but of course his work is terribly out of fashion I prefer a line that’s more evocative Her lips like red-rose leaves floated on this cup…and left its vintage sweeter"

"That’s lovely," she breathed "Did you just write it this rinned at her, and his saze "I would lie to you about that, but I don’t want to lie to you, ever" He handed her the glass "Taste Honey from Hyblean bees, matched with this liquor, would be bitter"

"Where is Hyblea?" It was Villiers, speaking across the table as rudely as had Anne

Eleanor blinked at hi she wanted was a geographical discussion She frowned and turned back to the poet "Do tell me the rest of the poem?"

"I’m afraid that the rest of the poelance froer on the inside of her wrist "This blue vein touches your heart, Lady Eleanor"

"I would love to know the re to a near whisper

"So would I," Villiers put in

She glared at him Couldn’t he tell a private conversation when he overheard one? But now everyone was looking down the table, and Roland withdrew his finger as if she had burned him She twitched with annoyance

"It is part of my own version of Romeo and Juliet," Roland said "I won’t share more; people find poetry tedious Certainly my family tells me that mine is tiresome"

"Too flowery, in my opinion," his father said "Of course, he’s had quite a bit printed He’s not just so better to do"

"Printed?" the duchess said, her tone dripping with disdain

"Likely you aren’t knowledgeable about the literary world," the squire told her "The very best have their poe"

"Humph," was Her Grace’s response to that

"In fact, ," the squire said, puffing up his thin chest

"A veritable troubadour," Villiers said His comment was perfectly pitched to make it unclear whether he ically lost Prince Octavius last year," the squire continued, "Roland wrote an exquisite verse in his ht so He felt it succored hihahted him on the spot"

Roland’s lowered eyes were, perhaps, a bit more huracious, sarcastic nature co out, and as Anne had told her, she needed to curb that trait Luckily, Cha effect

"Well, let’s hear a bit of this poetry, then," Eleanor’s mother allowed, in a considerably warmer voice "Not the piece for Princess A, if you please"

"Here’s a bit from when Romeo promises to cliht hand at his side and it just touched Eleanor’s "Juliet tells hi has waked a world of dreamers And Roht out of scarlet silk and seith pearls"