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"He was talking to a wouessed "He didn’t say this in front of a woman!"

"No, she left" But Poppy stopped

"I see," Jeuess that Fletch has aup in Poppy’s throat again "We were in love," she whispered "He was in love with !"

"At least he had the decency to wait a year," Jemma said "I was only married a feeeks when I walked into Beau his asp was matched by Isidore’s

"No!" Poppy cried

"You never told me that," Isidore said, at the sahtly "It’s not the sort of information one offers to one’s friends"

"Who was she?" Poppy asked

"Her name was Sarah Cobbett," Jeather he’s pensioned her off, or what ever it is they do omen when they’re done with them"

"At least you didn’t know her," Poppy said

"I suppose the good thing is that they can’t pension us off," Isidore said thoughtfully

"Yes, they’re stuck with us for life," Poppy said "Though Fletch would love to pension me off He looks at me in such a way" Her voice trembled and she steadied it "I just wish I knehat I did wrong! So I said? Or did? Now he loathes me He truly does"

"Beaumont was a bastardo as well," Isidore said

"The problem is that I still love him," Poppy said "I can’t help it Ever since I realized how much he dislikes me, I’ve tried and tried to just cast him out of my heart"

"Goodness," Jemma said "Cast him out of your heart? You’re a poet"

Poppy hiccupped loudly

"Are you sure you can’t do it?" Jemma continued "I had a foolish fondness for Beaue, but after I found him with his mistress--and, I must admit, after he told me that he loved the woman--I did not find it overly difficult to excise hi madly with Miss Charlotte Tatlock, and I find it "

"Really?" Poppy asked damply "I’ve tried and tried this year, but I can’t help it I still love him If he’s in the room, I’m happier And if I don’t knohere he is"--her eyes filled with tears again--"I suppose he’s been off consorting with other women I didn’t even think of that!"

"Who was the wo to?" Isidore asked

"Lady Nevill," Poppy said "Lu--" The name was broken by a particularly loud hiccup "Louise! But--but I can’t believe that Louise…and yet they were s in such a way"

"Not Louise," Je that Louise respects her h with her poor husband incapacitated as he is, no one makes much of a fuss about it But Louise has her own code of honor and she would never sleep with your husband" She reached out and pulled the bell cord

A footman opened the door directly "May I help you, Your Grace?" he said, staring at the far wall "Fowle asked me to stand outside and ensure that you were not interrupted"

"Could you please ask Lady Nevill to join us, if she’s still in the house?" Je things on it like gingerbread and hot chocolate"

The ently: "You cannot tell Louise of ht so poorly of her"

"No, she won’t," Jemma said