Page 69 (1/2)

That was the problem, to Eleanor’s mind He would marry a woman without love, to nurture the children he had created without love

It see, as surely as the way her own erotic i It was ally At least she had soh it wasn’t one of which the church or her ht approve Leopold did not love Lisette, so he should not marry her

With a scratch on the door, Willa entered, full of household news "Lady Lisette is tired of the very idea of the treasure hunt," she reported "And she’s not interested in the orphans anyain interest when it’s tiht now she doesn’t want to hear a word of the in that "Has she a new passion, then?" Eleanor inquired

"Why, it’s those two little girls of the duke’s," Willa said "She was in the nursery with the as if she were a little one herself, so Jane says She took breakfast with the the quieter one the lute Phyllinda, I think her name is"

"How nice," Eleanor said

"She’s dressed thehters of theat their costuown that Mada to think about Lisette’s appropriation of the twins "The one ordered by another custoown "Lady Lisette insisted that each girl must have her own maid, which upset the housekeeper because she has only tnstairs iven special wool pads to give height"

"Wool?" Eleanor exclai!"

"It’s a bit strange because Lady Lisette herself doesn’t ever wear such things, but she ordered the irls’ hair with them I hear the children aren’t that pleased"

"Wait until the sun heats up that wool," Eleanor said

"Master Tobias wants to know if he may take Oyster with him on the treasure hunt," Willa said

"I suppose heas he keeps Oyster out of Lisette’s sight"

"Oh, he will There’s no love lost there, apparently The little girls just dote on her, or so the nursery maid told me, but Master Tobias was quite snappish with her when she wanted the girls to sleep in her rooht"

"Why on earth would she wish to do that?"

"She planned to tell theoblins," Willa said "Would you like this blue ribbon, reen one?"

"The blue, please," Eleanor said "Fairies and goblins?"

"Jane says that Lady Lisette often stays up all night long singing and playing her lute and such, and then she sleeps during the day"

"That must be difficult for the household"