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"I have accepted," she added, just toclear

Villiers’s eyelashes flickered as he glanced around the group Really, his eyelashes were too thick for a man "I was overcoet the moment that she accepted my hand"

He drew Eleanor’s hand under the crook of his ar him a little pinch

Lisette looked between the to be a duchess, Ellie?"

Since her e and ambition, Eleanor smiled down at Lisette "Yes"

Anne leaped to her feet and gave Eleanor a kiss "What a surprise!" she cried, throwing a soulful look at Villiers "Ah, Duke, you’ll never knohat a treasure you’re stealing from those of us who love Eleanor best"

Eleanor wished she had her hand free so she could pinch Anne as well

"Isn’t that lovely," Lisette breathed, rising as well "I adore weddings So pretty So festive" She waved at the footne, James!"

James obediently trotted back out

Apparently, that was the extent of Lisette’s interest in Villiers’s announce back to the floor Anne iant circle around her

Eleanor’s mother cleared her throat and turned to Villiers "I will be blunt I aiven the circuitimate children," Villiers informed her, not kindly

She visibly paled

"Mother," Eleanor said, "I know this has been a terrific shock"

"My daughter isa duke," the duchess said between clenched teeth "True, he apparently has the morals of a squirrel, but that’s my cross to bear"

"Actually, the children will be Eleanor’s cross to bear," Villiers said all too cheerfully

"I gather you have this particular boy with you for a purpose," the duchess said "Ihim to an appropriate household in the country Surely you need not have effected this errand in person?"

Eleanor intervened before Villiers could deliver a death blow by infor the duchess that he intended to raise the children under his own roof "There’s no reason to discuss such particulars now"

Her et that you ever heard this discussion If your father were here, he would talk to the duke hih to be in Russia with your brother, I shall undertake that task myself Duke, we shall discuss this tomorrow In private!"

"I live in anticipation," Villiers drawled

His future ave hiue