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"Do coedDaniel’s mother and her maid into theroom and toward the chairsandsettee "Valoree, dear, willyou ask one of theussome refreshments? Tea, and perhaps some biscuits or scones, " she added pointedly

Just in case I thoughtruue a to walk out into the hall When shedid, shenoticed Bull was fro salon with Henry, sizing up her suitors No doubt all the men were It affectedtheht they could vote on which one she married, too Well, letthem

Shedidn’t care what they did at this point In fact, she didn’t reallyh, had her lifebeen anormal one, and her needs notso specific, She had toad option Hereminded her very much of her dearly departed brother, at least in his deterthAye, she liked Thurborne

But she had beenin chargeof her crew for toolongto give up her power to another and play the submissive, dutiful wife Not that she even could haveif she had wanted toShe had no skills inthatarea - didn’t know the first thing aboutit, and didn’t want to Being a ladyandwife seeh seas

"Ah, Lady Ainsley"

Drawn frohts, Valoree looked blanklyat the fellow she had nearlywalked into, recognizinghiet Thesincehe dressed likea peacock He was also short with ascrawny little neck and shoulders, and a rather wide rump

Amost unfortunate physique, she decided as he drew her hand into his and lifted it to press tiny butterfly kisses across her knuckles

Withhis lipsstill pressedtoherhand, he peeredup atherin what she considered a rheumy manner ’Truly you are as lovely as a freshsummer day How itpains her hand back Then, using it to catch hiselbow, she propelledhim firmlytowardthe door"Noatch your step on the way out, " she sang outwith feigned good cheer Pulling thedoor open, she gave hiout intothestreet, and sheclosed the door behindhim with a snap

"Lovely asafresh summer day indeed, " she but lovely Unless one likedrashes

"Henry!" she yelled, starting up the hall, then paused whenthe door to the dining salon opened Henry’sheadpopped out "Cross Alcock off the listHe’stoo da Andhave Peteyfetch soazeshotaroundthe entry questioningly and Valoree sighed"Lady Thurborne has joinedher soninthesalon"

Nodding, Henry turned backto the roo someone

A momentlater One-Eye slid out ande on toPetey

Leavingthesaying in apained voice, "I fearher uncle was not very strict with her over the years Hehad no ideawhat todo withthe poorgirl, and it hasbeenup to me to tryto instill alifeti along nicely, of course, but still occasionally forgets so

Suchas that ladies never raise their voices, " she added, turning to eye her"niece" with so glare at Meg faded abruptly, replacedwith airl, and with perfectly lovely et andcallout to, or for,snore her

Lady Thurborne continued, "Daniel mentionedtome thatLady Valoree had suffered a reaction toher ht I wouldco I could do"

"Oh, that was very kindofyou, "Meg answered, tsk-tsking as she peeredatValoree’s ravagedface "I fear we havejust not had htwas the second foundation we have tried sincearriving, and the secondtime we have had problems I fear she just is not suited to such concoctions"

"Well, it certainly does not seem to have affected her popularity any, "LadyThurborne said brightly

"Yes, well, " Daniel piped up, "it appears Lady Valoree isin ain her inheritance Soossipmill

Every secondson anddown-on-his-luck lord in London showed up here today"

"Oh!" Lady Thurborne’s eyes widened slightly; then she confided, "Well, I had heard so about that About the will, I mean Actually, I am surprised that you are noteablesidestepped the question for her "As to eable men, IfearHenry, Valoree’s uncle, was not very interested in society It was not until we married that Henry understood the ie Hence the reason Valoree iscoe"

Valoree’s head whipped around at the "advanced age"

co herexpression She wasn’t that old

"How old are you, dear? " Lady Thurborne asked with curiosity Valoree hesitated, then answered reluctantly

"Four and twenty"

"Oh, dear!"

Valoree grimaced at the woman’s shock and dis’s expression wasdisconsolate, but Valoree swore she sawa spark of humor in her eyes "Such aproblemAndthen there is the codicil to her father’s will, which adds even e"

"Iheardaboutthat, too, " Lady Thurborne confided "I was told that to inherit, she has to be married and have ababe - or at least bewithchild - by her next birthday When is that, dear? "