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Whereas her oas a perfectly good stone-colored ht it had served her for at least two or three seasons The petticoat had a deep flounce, which was all one could say for its claim to fashion, especially since it also had the dreaded ruffled sleeves

"I do not wish to packher fork down

Anne raised an eyebrow

Her e to Mada her to deliver the costuer want that particular gown," Eleanor said, thinking of its long sleeves and longer petticoat

"You si up fro for allowing you to look so passé, and she’s right You have shown so little interest in your appearance that I had lost heart for the battle But now you are to be a duchess You rave; la mode"

"I intend to," Eleanor said "The probleowns that are akin to what Anne is wearing thisI would like to be as fashionable as she is at thisthat could make my jacket more modish would be tassels on the collar," Anne said, with a co the alteration Did Villiers effect this nificent"

"He has little to do with it Your assessht you to your senses?" their ly sensible, Eleanor Unlike Lisette"

"What Eleanorher beauty She intends to dress like a desirable lady instead of a fruhter of mine could be a frump," the duchess said "I wouldn’t allow it" Still, Eleanor could see that the idea was sinking into her h it at her "I wouldn’t want you to dress like trollopy slattern I find some current styles unacceptable"

"Certainly not," said Anne, who prided herself on wearing the most risqué fashions in all London "You needn’t worry, Mother I’ll send the footo to Madaowns on order, and I’ll donate them to the cause Perhaps she will even have time to adjust for Eleanor’s bosom If not, the necklines are quite low, and I doubt it will matter oing froht

"What we must consider," the duchess announced, "is that your sister made a splendid match in her very first year She turned down a marquis for Mr Bouchon; heJeremy has that lovely land in the dells," Anne pointed out "Acres and acres and acres, all filled with sheep I am very expensive"

"That is certainly true," her reed "I do believe that your wardrobe this year cost double ether Your father complained bitterly"

Eleanor had never been expensive If her h the fitting without fuss and with only one dictate: that she didn’t resemble a hussy

"You and I are not so dissi exactly as going through Eleanor’s ree," the duchess said "From the moment you debuted, Anne, I lived in fear that you would be compromised, whereas I’ve never had a moment of worry about Eleanor"

"Eleanor is certainly prudent," Anne said with a little snort that her mother didn’t hear

"You must try to lookat Eleanor "Now I think on it, Anne, you’ll have to accompany us"

"Oh, I couldn’t leave Jere better for e than farewells Your father and I rarely quarrel, a fact I attribute entirely to our lengthy separations"

Since their father was prone to travel and spent n climes, it was true that the opportunities for marital strife were limited