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"And aside of that, the duchess and Lady Petronilla and I would be honored to help you sift through those"-- she gestured to a tray overflowing already with new invitations--"and deternored, if you followlook "In fact, ere just about to discuss our plans for this evening, which include a garden party at the Twisdale residence"

Victoria could sit back no longer "Thank you very much, Lord Rockley"--how horribly odd it felt to say that to a stranger--"for your hospitality, but I have already decided to move myself from St Heath’s Rohich I should have done immediately upon my return"

"Victoria, I can hardly bear to tell you this, butthe roof at Grantworth House--it’s being repaired A huge tree branch fell on it, just over the place where your chambers were, and it won’t be habitable for weeks" Lady Melly looked over at Ja of a smile at the corner of his ullible as he appeared "So there is no place for you to stay at Grantworth House--"

"I’m so sorry to hear about the repairs That’s the first I knew of theerated sweetness in her voice "And what a sacrifice for you to offer to stay here when there is such a crisis at houn to ements to move to Aunt Eustacia’s old town house If you recall, she deeded it to me upon her death"

Lady Melly’s face fell like a ruined soufflé, and Victoria could actually see the thoughts whirling about in her uments "Oh, dear, Victoria, but your aunt’s town house is in such an unfashionable part of Town Why, it would be much more convenient to stay here at St Heath’s Row There’s plenty of room--"

This time, it was Lady Melly’s contentions that were cut off by the opening of the tall white doors

"Miss Gwendolyn Starcasset, Mr George Starcasset, and Signorina Sarafina Regalado," said the butler in perfect pronunciation He looked immensely pleased with hi open, and she snapped her jaws shut as she rose, along with the others, to greet these wholly unexpected guests

George Starcasset looked much the same as he had the last ti a firearh the hallways of the Palombara Villa in Roe was older than his sister, but his face bore a trace of youth that gave him dimpled cheeks and a cleft chin He wasn’t an unattractive man, by any stretch, but his hair was a flat flaxen helmet that curled up at the ends, and his sideburns were too short Overall, he merely made Victoria want to pat him on the head and send him off to play with his wooden blocks

He wasn’t an especially adept villain either, for the one tiunpoint, it had been much too simple to distract and disarm him So much so that Victoria hardly credited herself with the escape

But there was so harder and more confident as he swept his attention over her There was a knowing look in his eyes, and a hint of challenge

She had no worries that he s--not only would no one believe it (well, no one except Lady Winnie and Lady Nilly), but those events would definitely not show hiht Perhaps his self-assured air was because he knew his presence had taken her by surprise, or perhaps it was because of the lovely young woalado flounced across the parlor in her perfectly tailored butter yellow day dress Even Victoria, as not one to care er--took notice of the fine Alençon lace dripping froth sleeves, and the three rows of rosettes and lace decorating the hem of her skirt The fabric alone orth notice, for the design of bluebirds and spring green ivy wasn’t sta detail

"Victoria," Ghispering once all the introductions werea chair closer to hers "I couldn’t wait to meet him! I heard he arrived yesterday, and he seems divine His accent is sorustic"

Clearly, Lady Melly wasn’t the only one who had designs on reinstating Victoria as the Marchioness of Rockley rather than e appeared otherwise engaged, Gwendolyn wasn’t wasting any tiain," said Sara in her accented English She slint in her brown eyes "Forse, we ether, on Via Fleet, is it? Perhaps you and I and our le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>