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"He’ll love living in the nursery with you You have to let all the other children play with hih"

Tobias nodded Oyster put his paws onto Tobias’s knees, and he hoisted the dog into his lap

"He would really be your dog, even if the other children can play with hi Oyster lick Tobias’s teary face

"But you’ll be right there," he burst out "Won’t she?" He looked at his father "Won’t she? You said you were going to choose between them, and now you have to admit that the one out there is cracked That Lisette, she’s a bleeding night up andher eyes

Eleanor’s throat ached She’d seen his eyes rest on her ar Tobias And he finally understood what Lisette was like

But she wanted more She wanted soood enough to bed but not good enough to ed his h She wanted to beas if he were pleading with Oyster again "You’ll marry him, won’t you? He’s not so bad That way, Oyster can stay with both of us"

She shook her head, taking a deep breath "I can’t, Tobias"

"Please!" The word sounded wrung froht," she said, oddly touched "I promise you can keep Oyster"

"But I--I like you," he said, the words dropping into the silent rooood You’ll like Violet She’s not real pretty, like Lucinda and Phyllinda, but she’s--she’s nice And--"

"I can’t," she said, standing up "I just can’t, Tobias I’

Oyster ju around her ankles Obviously his little brain had cootten what had just happened to him "Stay, Oyster," she said

Wonder of wonders, he actually sat down and wagged his tail

"Good dog"

It see way to the door, but that was probably because of the silence behind her

Chapter Thirty

Knole House, country residence of the Duke of Gilner

June 23, 1784

"I can’t fight with you," Leopold said flatly The sun was barely over the horizon and the air was surprisingly chilly

"I didn’t give you a choice," Astley said He was pacing out the wet grass, his rapier unsheathed and ready

"I’ht of that before you debauched Eleanor Before youlunatic over her"

"Iin the other direction, hten ht you were in love with Eleanor"

Astley’s face crumpled for a ht about that It’s all so co

"If I kill you, I’ll have to leave the country But the children--"