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"I can see that," Banderspit said, snapping his mouth shut "It is not for ah I cannot but cohly respectedabout a change in governovernment that will be respected and free of corruption!"

Villiers blinked at hi fro that sort of thing with their wigs, but never abriefly, and then he straightened up "Fetch me my assistant," he snapped at Finchley "We must proceed at once"

Chapter 11

The Duke of Fletcher’s town house April 30

"I have listened to you for years, Mama," Poppy said calmly "Luce, please be careful with my enameled brushes I’ those things this minute," Lady Flora snarled at Poppy’s maid Luce froze When Lady Flora commanded, people around her tended to stop short, as if a celestial command had been visited on thenominious retreat! I did not raise you for this!"

"I know that, Mama," Poppy said "You raised me to be a duchess"

"A duchess is the wife to a duke," Lady Flora said with clipped logic

"So I understand"

"I trust that is not an insolent tone I hear"

Poppy looked at her From years of practice, she knew that her expression would appear open and inquiring, the epitome of innocence "Of course not, Mama"

"A wife never leaves her husband Not even if he’s as much of a dunce as your own father I never left him"

Poppy nodded obediently Froe did not agree with her approximately one hour after the ceremony, and she had always freely ihter "There’s no useunless it’s to a duke," she had repeatedly told Poppy when her daughter was just a h the nursery "A duke, Poppy"

As was often the case for Lady Flora, events had aligned themselves precisely as she wished

"I alanted you to marry a duke," she said now "And for once you did as I requested"

"Mother, I always do as you request," Poppy said, handing the prayerbook from her bedside to Luce

"Not at the ht to this decision to leave your husband?"

"I have thought of nothing else for a week"

"You’ve always been a foolish little thing," her ht you were a fool when you were burbling of love for Fletcher, but I shall think you worse than a fool if you leave him Your role in life is to be a duchess I did not raise you to be a disgrace"