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"But it’sin her quiet way

"No, it’sthe baby off his wife’s shoulder and swinging hiiggles He was adorable in the way that deeply loved babies are: bald, fat, and altogether scru for charades," the duke said, looking down at his daughters "Tobias has finished writing all of the parts and he’s handing them out"

"Last year he made me be Lucifer, from Paradise Lost," Lucinda said resentfully

"Your fault," Phoebe said, laughing "You shouldn’t have played that trick on him when he came home from Oxford for the su"

"I just wish he’d let me pick out parts soar woman Or Puss in Boots! He would have to put on paper ears and a tail, or he would never win Can you inified!"

"Coo, because if we get a wish fro, we can say that ant Theo all tohtened and they trotted off

The duke slipped into the place next to his wife, holding Theo’s hands so the bowlegged babe could practice sitting upright in his lap

"He’s the best birthday present you ever gave ainst his shoulder

"It’s true that he’s threeat Theodore "But I think of him more as your present to me"

"Oh no," Eleanor said "I have very, very clear memories of my birthday last year And naturally, I expect that you plan to top your performance Practice," she said demurely, "lance, full of laughter--and desire "After the charades or before?"

"Before," she whispered, leaning over and brushing a kiss on his jaw

"Tobias!" Leo shouted, leaping to his feet

His eldest son, a sleek, brilliant version of himself, strolled over

"Take this scrap," Leo said, du Theo unceremoniously into Tobias’s arhting over hi brother’s chin, giving him his best toothless smile

"Did he burp?" Tobias asked sternly He had quickly learned that sartorial standards can be severely threatened by leaky babies

"Yes," Eleanor said, taking her husband’s hand "Thank you, sweetheart"

"The charades begin in one hour," Tobias said, not letting on with even the tiniest sht have so father meant to do in the interirinning down at Eleanor Unlike his son, he’d lost his ability to appear emotionless

But he did wait until he was out of the parlor to pick up the duchess in his arms and carry her up the stairs