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She looked at hio to Paris by myself, I will do so Tomorrow"

"I’ll take you to Oxford," he said, folding his arms

"No"

"Poppy, if you don’t let me escort you to Oxford, I’ll tell yourfrom a rare blood disorder and you need her by your side"

She narrowed her eyes at him "I should have known this would all come back to my mother"

"In more ways than one," he muttered, and settled back into his chair Mr Belsize, refreshed, had launched into another lengthy tirade

Chapter 29

On close observation, Jee was as sleekly dressed as Fletch, and perhaps evenher a bow

"Lord Strange," she said, curtsying

"What an honor that you cae said "I see so little of proper women these days"

"I knew your wife," Jemma said "Sally was a dear friend"

His eyes changed instantly "Surely you were not sent to school?"

"No, but Sally’s godreat friend of my family, and we happily visited as children"

"Lady Fibblesworth was an adreed "Sally used to visit us regularly until I land when she made her debut"

"She never really debuted I was too wild, so they married me off It was the luckiest day of er alive"

He hunched a little "I share your feelings"

They appeared to have finished that conversation, so Jee?"

"Yes"

She liked his brevity Good chess players rarely squealed about their abilities

"But"--he added--"when I last played Philidor, he told aht not wish to waste your tiainst Philidor?"

He nodded "Last year in Paris"

"We ame"

"I only play when I’m at Fonthill or in Paris"

Fonthill was famous for its beauty, three hundred acres that had been decorated at ruinous expense Except that for ais ruinous But she said: "Fonthill? You ive ht years Is that your residence?"

"It is You know, you’re quite interesting, for one of your sex"