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"My

They were all silent, so she took that as agreeer in love with h Louise will not be the one, he is likely out there right now, finding a substitute"

"Much though I hate toa bit, "I don’t think he’ll have e, of course"

Poppy shuddered slightly "Louise!" Jemma scolded "You and I are much more battle-scarred than dear Poppy We must protect her sensibilities"

"My husband just told anyone who cared to listen that our e was a sham," Poppy said "I think my sensibilities had better adjust to the truth of it"

They all looked up with a certain aerbread, Your Grace," he said ponderously "Hot tea, of course, and hot chocolate Le"

"This is lovely," Jemma said

Poppy took a deep breath and accepted awith butter "I shall have to make adjustments, that’s all Do you know , it’s better to know the truth? I’ve felt terrible for the past year, trying and trying to s better"

"It’s not your fault, darling, when men stray," Jemma said

"No, it’s the fault of wo madly

Louise raised an eyebrow and said, "Quiet, youngster, or I’ll swat you with a lester?" Isidore asked indignantly "I’m twenty-two years old, Louise Nevill, and you can’t be more than three years over that"

"Five," Louise said, adding, "but I am extremely well-preserved"

Poppy finished her muffin, and let the conversation of her friends wash over her It had see to think that Fletch didn’t love her anymore As if she had nowhere to turn, and no one to love her But now--

"I love you all," she said, sniffing a little

"Are you going to cry again?" Isidore asked "Because I love you too, at least asto ," Jemma said

"Perhaps I should leave," Louise said, putting down her napkin "I would truly not wish to intrude, and you have my every assurance, Poppy, that your husband will renita as far as I’m concerned"

"Please stay," Poppy said "After all, now that I’ Fletch, I need to knohat to do next"

She truly enjoyed the shocked silence that followed her statement

Chapter 8

THE MORNING POST (CONTINUED)

If the soul of every duchess in London is at risk…let us not neglect the souls of their august partners, the dukes While the gossip colue with stories of drunkenness and infidelity, there are those rare few, like the Duke of Beauh rank Yet we have been credibly informed that even this most revered of politicians has shown untoward interest in a young lady, Miss T-- We protect her name in the hope that these reports are mere folly

He interrupted her "You used to call me Elijah in private The party is over; you needn’t address me as Beauh the emotion was inconceivable Yet he looked so confused--and stupid, in a manly sort of way "I came back to London for you, Elijah" She hesitated How to say the unspeakable?

"Becausebetween his brows