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"As I said, I rong," Anne said, ignoring him "The fact that Astley snapped back to your side shows that he does love you--is in love with you, in fact How romantic"

"Yes, very," Villiers chi her flan She had wished, years ago, that Gideon was brave enough to risk his reputation in order to marry her rather than Ada She couldn’t have asked fornow If he appeared at that treasure hunt, and particularly if he showed a marked preference for her, the scandal would ricochet across the ton

"At this rate, everyone will be discussing the treasure hunt for the nextEleanor’s anxiety "I am very happy that I accompanied you I shall be so popular"

"Perhaps we should give Mother an extra laudanu," Eleanor said And she was half-serious

"If Astley has decided that you are worth more than the world’s opinion," Villiers said, his voice very even, "your et used to that fact I don’t expect he ait for a full year ofyou"

"He must," Eleanor said firmly "He’s Ada’s only close family member, since her father passed away last year"

"He won’t"

"Why not?" Anne put in "My sense is that he issure Eleanor doesn’t end up enuinely fond of his wife, in a lukewarrip of passion," Villiers said "Yes, I will take some of that lamb now, Popper Thank you"

"Passion needn’t last more than a week," Anne said with her usual cynicislanced at Eleanor "It will in this case"

"A tiresohters settling in, Villiers?"

But Anne wasn’t diverted "Why do you think Astley won’t settle down and wait once he is certain that Eleanor won’t marry you?"

"Because he’s had a few years to realize what he threay"

Back to the iht dismally

Anne was relentless "What exactly do you think he’s realized?"

"He thinks that there’s no reason to eat breakfast unless Eleanor is there to give hiuain He wants to sleep with her every night, see her holding a baby with brandy-colored hair like hers"

Eleanor’s mouth fell open

"He wants her forever," Villiers continued Their eyes met and his were as cool as ever "He can’t bear the idea that she ht ever love another man I’d bet my entire estate that he will arrive toiously fond of my husband, I’d probably fall in love with you just for that description, Villiers"

Eleanor’sIf his face hadn’t been so iht…

"Since you inquired aboutto Eleanor, "Lisette spent several hours with them today I expect they will be very sad e return to London"

"You ought to leave soon, before she tires of the her voice could be just as emotionless as Villiers’s

"That seems an unnecessarily unkind assessenuinely enjoys the girls And she is looking forward to being their mother"

Eleanor shot Anne her most ferocious look, the one copied from their mother Anne twitched an eyebrow but said in a sweetly musical voice, "Of course it will all be different this tiot that the two of you are to be married"