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Toby held his tongue It was beco, and even enthusiastic, partner in love But the moment their physical pleasure was concluded, her charitable zeal returned in double force Just last night, while he’d been struggling for breath in the afterht from bed and fished the tinderbox and candle fro desk Her reason? It had been iarding some alteration in the text of their Society leaflet

For his part, Toby had gone to sleep

Well, he supposed, different wo the coital act Souor and sleep, while others experienced a burst of energy And no matter what task Isabel rose from their bed to complete, in time she always came back Toby could understand the habit, on a rational level, and he hardly kne to object But he still felt a se of resentrasped nothing but air The coach rolled to a halt in the town square

"Here we are, then," Toby said, leaning forward in his seat He took his wife’s hand "Shall I have the driver take you on to Wynterhall? Our trunks have likely arrived by now, and the house staff will be expecting you"

"What do you o on to the house, not alone I want to stay here with you, and watch the proceedings"

"Isabel, it’s only the no s of ale Not a referendus can become disorderly This isn’t a scene for a lady"

She peered out the carriage"But there are several ladies in the crowd already Please, let e and watch from here I want to witness the birth of your political career" With a little s your speech"

"Had you?" Toby asked, suddenly wishing he’d prepared one

Isabel asked the coachht enjoy the open air Froe of the square, she watched the crowd churn with anticipation The taverns bordering the green were doing a brisk business, and the dry-goods e-sellers hawked their wares in colorful song Above all, a string of bright banners fluttered in the breeze Bel had never attended a country fair, but in her i an outs platfor His voice was every bit as loud as his coat Bel could tell fro, he took his duties very seriously

"All right, then," he called "We all kno this goes As your returning officer, empowered by the sheriff to oversee this election, I’ve summat to read aloud" He withdrew a folded sheaf of parchment from his pocket

"Can’t we skip over that part?" a voice whined from the crowd

"No, we can’t skip over that part," the yellow-clad man mimicked back He shook his clutch of papers and fortified his booovernment It’s this paper what separates us from the heathens"

Another bystander called out, "It’s that paper what makes you a pompous arse"

"No, it ain’t," a third shouted "It’s that bloody coat"

"Trust ents, it’s neither" This came from a round-cheeked woman draped over the sill of a second-story"He’s a po at all"

The crowd roared with laughter, and the yellow-clad man’s face turned a violent shade of red

"I only wish he’d read ht," she continued "Couldn’t be anythan his--"

Bel couldn’t hter drowned it out Still, she blushed as her h!" the man in the yellow coat berated the crowd "Drink your ale, you uncivilized idiots And you, woure in the --"I’ll paddle your "

"Oh, Colin," she sang out, fluttering her eyelashes "Do you promise?"

When the crowd finally settled--several an to read Bel understood why the crowd had protested the idea First there was the writ calling for a new Parliaainst bribery Then another ainst bribery And as the gears of govern the square with soporific heat Soon the horses were sta with impatience The coach back a yawn

Finally, the yellow-clad returning officer put out the call for noue!" the crowd roared as one They repeated the naue! Mon-ta-gue!"

Montague? Who was Montague, and why had Bel not heard of hiht Mr Yorke posed Toby’s only opposition A bent, decrepit man mounted the platfore and twice his size He wore a faded Army redcoat with tarnished buttons and cuffs hite at the edge The crowd’s chanting increased in volue and snapped a military salute

To a man, the assembled electors came to attention and saluted in return

"All hail Mad esture with his fist "Don’t you be disrespecting the colonel"

"Aw, coh he can hear e "Colonel Geoffrey Montague is hereby a candidate for the office of Meain The oldthe epaulette of his uniform askew