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"You’re too unpleasant to die," she said sharply "If you’re not careful, I’ll marry you while you’re in a fever and then take all your hed a bit, though it made him wheeze "What the hell would you do with ?"

"Give it to your children," she said

"They’re set foras I’m no father, they’ll be better without me"

"Poppycock You are a father You’re just a bad one"

"I’ll have to find you a deaf husband," he said, eyes narrowed "But I de me until I do"

"Why should I riskabilities?"

"That’s so you don’t know about me I never fail at what I put my hand to I’ll find the perfect man I’d like to see you refuse hi foryou your heart’s desire, I have to do you a favor?"

"It’ll keep you alive long enough to do it," she pointed out "Otherwise you’re like to turave merely because your doctor told you to do it I don’t think anyone in London realizes how malleable you are"

"You are a hellcat What’s your favor, then?"

"If you find me a husband--one that I like, I’ll turn wife and you turn father"

"I’m as much a father as my father ever was Better, because I don’t ever shout at theht, if you knew their names"

"Worse than a hellcat," he observed "It’s going to take ato have to sit up," she retorted "Just how do you expect to findin bed?"

He eyed her "When the fever comes on I don’t have much choice"

"Well, I can’t ruin my reputation in your house What decent man would want to marry a woman he met in your presence--in your bedchamber?"

"Good point," he et up"

"Well…" she hesitated

"I always thought that generals should be feo to sleep, and she put her Bible back in her knotting bag, thinking to steal out But he opened his eyes again and said, "A Christmas house party, that’s e need"

"Go to sleep," she said "You’re looking all weedy again"

"If ere invited to a house party you could read me the entire Old Testament and no one would have the faintest idea that ere in such promiscuous contact I’ll deal with it toain "Do you know, I’m tired But it’s not the fever-tired Maybe you’re the miracle, Miss Charlotte What ever your name is"

"Hu to think about

Finchley was hovering in the hallway and she smiled at him "I think that’s a healthy sleep," she whispered "He doesn’t have that feverish look"

"The Lord be praised," Finchley said, and looked as if he , Miss Charlotte"

Chapter 35

"Just what do you intend to do now?" Poppy was in-censed as she watched the door shut behind Elsie "How am I supposed to ready myself for bed, let alone bathe? I can’t sleep with all this powder in ht?"

"Of course!"