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Emele dropped the crutches, which fell to the floor with a clatter, and rushed to Elle’s side to tug her skirts down

Two masked footmen stood on either side of Elle--Elle suspected it o of the four footmen who usually carried her to dinner based on their builds, but it was blasted difficult to tell the lower servants apart thanks to their uniforms, covered faces, and lack of a voice They respectfully helped her stand, stabilizing her when she faltered

The world tilted at an alarht herself She couldn’t put any weight on her broken leg, and she was dis shook with strain as she stood like a heron

The footmen shuffled until they were able to prop the crutches under Elle’s ar

"This will not do," Ellethe crutches in front of her as she had seen Eainst the material of her wide skirts She then hopped forward and was nearly bounced backwards when her skirts caught on a rough edge of one of the crutches

The footmen scrambled to support her as she teetered between the crutches and her aardly placed good leg

Emele clasped her hands over her mouth to silence the scream she couldn’t utter as she watched the process

Elle was breathing heavily when Duval sri aids "I will master this method of transportation, I am the captain of crutches--no, the co when the crutches caught on the edge of a rug

Again the foothted her

Elle reached the far side of her rooo out?"

The barber-surgeon nodded in encouragement Emele, who stood next to hiree with Duval in this case," Elle said before she pulled the door open, al out one of her crutches with it before a footed forward to take control of the door

The hallway proved to be tricky A long rug ran through the center of the hallway, and it was difficult to swing her crutches over its tasseled edges Additionally, the floor that wasn’t covered by the rug was bare stone--which proved to be a soht be out of my reach today," Elle said when she paused for a ainst the hallall and slid it up behind her Elle gratefully sank into it "Thank you," she said,herself with her crutches

Emele presented Elle with a handkerchief, which Elle reluctantly used to dab at the sweat beading on her forehead

Duval smiled and presented Elle with his slate Good job His cheeks puffed with the size of his s Elle with Eth," Elle said discreetly rubbing at her underar open a fan and fanning her