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She couldn’t stand that anymore

Chapter 10

Two days later April 24

The Duke of Villiers lay in bed His shoulder burned in the spot where the rapier thrust had gone through, with an intensity unabated by cold coh clenched teeth

It wasto discover just how much he did not like pain At thedown sieon’s orders but in truth he wasn’t sure he could rise It must be blood loss

"Brandy kills infection, Your Grace," his valet told him As if he were so that it shouldn’t be done; I’ that it increases the--the discomfort" Surely men didn’t suffer pain Anyway, this didn’t feel like pain It felt like sonitude, like a red-hot poker straight to the gut

"More barley water, Your Grace?" Finchley said

Villiers narrowed his eyes and watched his valet sweep about the room Finchley was the sort of valet ould have made a better duke than Villiers himself Villiers knew it; Finchley knew it Villiers had presence, arrogance and blood lines Finchley had presence, arrogance, a ducal way of walking, a penchant for wigs and high heels, and--alas--no blood lines

Finchley turned around and Villiers realized he had forgotten to answer The odd thing was that Finchley’s face looked exactly like his old nanny’s In fact, for aface superi-jawed one He watched in fascination as Finchley and Nanny’s nose wavered and seeether

"Your Grace?"

"Finchley, do you have any relatives in Soain to try to bring Finchley’s noses down to one Which--he was fairly certain--was the right number of noses for a face like Finchley’s

"None whatsoever, Your Grace Why do you ask?"

"You share a great deal withto admit that what Finchley shared was a nose

Finchley didn’t like the idea of sharing anything with a nanny; Villiers could see that His back became even more erect, and his chin went further into the air In short, he looked eventhe fact that he still had two noses

"I’d forgotten Nanny’s nose had that wart on it," Villiers said, almost dreamily "I loved her anyway, you know Perhaps that’s why I’ve never married…do you think it was because I’ve not found a woman with a wart on her nose, Finchley? Do you suppose that’s the reason? If you, Finchley, were a lady with a wart on your nose, do you suppose I would marry you?"

Finchley’s mouth fell open for a heartbeat and then he said: "Your Grace, I shall suet that nose re at him "After all, you had a fine nose before A ducal nose, really"

"Yes, Your Grace If Your Grace will excuse me" He moved toward the door

"Not yet," Villiers said "I’d like a glass, Finchley"

"Your Grace?"

"A glass! Bring me that small et FinchleyHe plumped a small mirror into Villiers’s hand and left the room as if the bats of hell were after hioyle, not a bat It was the two noses