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"The one who pretended to be in love with my mother"

His face went utterly still "Oh--"

"Yes," she said, nodding "That young manThe one who defended my mother’s reputation so bravely He obviously had a certain amount of dramatic talent"

"Wouldn’t you rather picture yourlad?"

Fletch sly, but Poppy just shook her head "Is he here to night?"

"For goodness’ sake, no," Fletch said, giving in "He was, how shall I put it, a gentleht-walker"

"Gentleman of the--" Poppy’s eyes went round "Really! Where on earth did you find him?"

"I si"

She narrowed her eyes "And o relative of Mrs Armistead, Fox’s consort"

"I wasn’t even aware you were acquainted with Mrs Armistead"

He swept her off the dance floor and then looked down at his oife "You do realize how much I love you, don’t you?"

She frowned

"Tell me you’re jealous Her name is Cressida, and she is very beautiful"

"I a her nose at hiht-walkers and day-walkers and Fox-walkers--"

"Very clever," he said, reprehensibly kissing her right in the ballroom

But Poppy had the sense that the Duchess of Beauossip for years, and a marital kiss or touldn’t receive much attention

Naturally, now that the Duke of Villiers was on the mend, the Duchess of Beaumont’s chess matches--with her husband, with Villiers--had flared into a wild source of gossip again

"Did you beat hi for aroom

Jemma threw her a lazy wink "Do you doubt it?"

"Not after the way you have thrashed aht," Je move with your castle You utterly foxed me"

"A rare victory," Mrs Patton said "But none the less enjoyed for that! So you won the gaame with Villiers as well?"

"Alas," Je at herself