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He called Thatcher back in "Here," he said, hastily scrawling his signature on the lease before passing it across the desk "This is done Tell the Benevolence Society we’ll renew the subscription, and direct the warehouse to send over any surplus bolts of cloth for their use"

"Yes, sir And if you please, sir, the tailors are here"

"Send them in"

Schwartz and Cobb filed into the office, laden with patterns and sa, Julian waved the latest sketches to his desk He had not lied to Lily on this count, at least He was late for this s and samples before him represented the culy, and his men had teetered on the brink of action for months The plans wanted only his final approval before a production schedule could be set But soht, or the dyes were inferior, or the price of wool too dear … Again and again, he’d found hi, for one reason and another

Strike that

He’d been delaying for one reason No other

Lily

Her sweet roseled in the lush fringe of her eyelashes He forced down the tide of emotion in his chest Not here He could not allow himself to think of her here Whatever nocturnal exploits Julian Bellamy enjoyed, Mr James Bell did not have time for women

And neither man could afford to contemplate love

"I told a dreadful lie today," Lily said, even before the greetings were out Standing in the entry of the Duke of Morland’s drawing roohtly and confessed, "Several lies, as a matter of fact"

Amelia pulled back from the embrace "Really? That seems unlike you"

"It is" With a fretful shake of her head, Lily squeezed her friend’s ar your assistance, Amelia I have to make those lies the truth At least some of them"

"Well, I am all anticipation to hear what this is about It’s not often I’m recruited into clandestine schemes, you know But please, do sit down first and take so pulse insisted there wasn’t arude And today she needed to ask a very big favor indeed

Amelia steered her toward a pair of French armchairs situated beneath a tall, lace-drapedA small table between the two chairs held a tea service and refresh, all was the picture of refineood taste When Lily sat down, she found the striped silk upholstery to be so s off the seat

"What’s brought you to Town?" Lily asked, as her friend poured tea "I thought you and the duke would reeshire until the babe is born"

Aar into the teacup and stirred "Oh, it was Spencer’s wish to return to London He wanted us closer to specialists and physicians whenthe cup and saucer to Lily "Never est stud farm and has attended hundreds of equine births When it comes to his own child, he’s suddenly a bundle of nerves"

"It only proves how much he adores you"

Despite the duke’s terse, autocratic nature, Lily had suspected froly tender husband It would seeht

"I am no specialist," Lily said "But to my untrained eye, you look the picture of robust health Not only health, but true contentently rounded belly, Amelia embodied domestic bliss And despite herself, Lily knew a brief moment of envy Perhaps this was the real reason she’d let her friendships omen fall by the wayside over the years One by one, they’d all become wives, then mothers Much as she’d loved Leo and valued her financial independence, Lily found it hard sometimes, not to hat they had, too

"I do feel well," A her own teacup "No sickness anymore I’m more fortunate than many women in my condition"

They each sipped their tea

After they lowered their cups, Lily looked to her friend expectantly, waiting for her cue to begin A long rowing increasingly concerned with every swing of the pendulum

Lily cleared her throat "Well"

An sotten Lily’s confession, or was she si to wonder whether she needed to start at the beginning again, recognition snapped in A down her teacup to frantically churn the air with her hands "You told a lie, or several of them, and you desperately need my help" She slid forward on her chair "I’ fingernails, weak memory Please, tell me what I can do"

Relieved, Lily said, "It’s Julian He’s still obsessed with finding Leo’s killers, to the exclusion of all else He wanders the streets at all hours of the night He scarcely eats or sleeps He’s neglected all his friendships, declines every invitation He’s on course to join Leo in the grave, and I don’t knohat to do Perhaps it’s na&iue him out into society, you know? Then perhaps he would return to his old, carefree self"<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>