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"You’re beingoverly kind"

Mr Fletcher made a particularly showy slash

Patricia eyed hih I have to admit he is tall"

"Tall? That’s the only nice thing you have to say about him?" Lucy poured her more tea

"Thank you" Patricia took her cup "You shouldn’t disparage height"

"You’re shorter than I, and I am no Aling it in her gold curls "I know It’s sad, but there it is I’ely drawn to men who tower over me"

"If that is your criteria, Mr Fletcher is about the tallest man you’re likely to find"

"True"

"Perhaps I should invite you to dine with us so that you et to know Mr Fletcher better"

"You should, you know After all, you’ve already taken the only eligible bachelor in Maiden Hill who isn’t a Jones or hopelessly si of which--"

"I should ring forof which" Patricia trundled right on over her "I saw you out driving with Eustace yesterday Well?"

"Well what?"

"Don’t play stupid withlike an irate ?"

"Of course he said soth the repairs to the church roof, Mrs Hardy’s ankle, and whether or not it ht snow"

Patricia narrowed her eyes

She gave in "But nothing about e"

"I take back what I said"

Lucy raised her eyebrows

"I think we shall have to place Eustace into the hopelessly siory"

"Now, Patricia--"

"Three years!" Her friend thu you up and down and all around Maiden Hill His horse can find the way in its sleep by now He’s made actual ruts in the roads he takes"

"Yes, but--"

"And has he proposed?"

Lucy grimaced

"No, he has not," Patricia answered herself "And why not?"

"I don’t know" Lucy shrugged It honestly was a mystery to her as well

"The man needs a fire lit under his feet" Patricia ju back and forth in front of her "Vicar or no vicar, you’re going to be gray-haired by the tiood of that, I ask you? You won’t be able to bear children"

"Maybe I don’t want to"

She thought she’d spoken too quietly to be heard over her friend’s diatribe, but Patricia stopped short and stared "You don’t want to have children?"

"No," Lucy said slowly, "I’m not sure I want to marry Eustace anymore"

And she realized it was true What just days ago had seeood in a predictable way, now seemed old and stale and nearly i settled for the best of what Maiden Hill had to offer? Wasn’t there so much more in the wider world? Alain

"But that leaves only Jones aze "Oh, my dear"

Her friend sat back down

Lucy felt a flush start She quickly drew her eyes away "I’m sorry, I know you like Eustace, despite--"

"No" Patricia shook her head, curls bouncing "This isn’t about Eustace, and you know it It’s about hiot up to deant hand on a hip

Lucy sighed

"What are you thinking?" Patricia’s voice cut in "I know he’s handsoin faint, not to ot to see nude"

"I--"

"But he’s a London gentleman I’m sure he’s like one of those crocodile creatures they have in Africa that waits until soets too close to the water and then eats the to eat ain "He’s not interested in me--"

"How--"

"And I’m not interested in him"

Patricia raised an eyebrow, patently dubious

Lucy did her best to ignore her "And besides, he’s out of entlemen who live in London and have affairs with stylish ladies and I’ed helplessly "I’m a country mouse"