Page 15 (2/2)

"You should have toldThere was a counterpoint to his father’s vicious words It was neither loud nor insistent, but sometiing

"At least I wouldn’t have ," he shot back "I’d have understood that when you asked for recognition, you were not speaking solely about revenge Tell me, Miss Barton, and tell h for the future"

"You’re looking for perpetual support?"

"No That farrow lavender, make soaps, and take them to market"

He inclined his head

"I want my child to be able to overcome the circumstances of his birth If he is to be a duke’s son, he should have soirl, to have a Season Clermont is the father He owes his child soo away until it’s secured"

Hugo exhaled and tried to iine the duchess understanding No use; it would never happen

He tried to i Serena away--but that was an even more futile prospect He was trapped between an improbability and an unlikelihood

He frowned "I’ll need to look into a few things," he said "But we’ll talk to And this time I mean it No threats--not from either of us This is a proble stick She raised her eyes to his, wide and luminous

"I solve problems," he said

FREDDY HAD BEEN IN BED when Serena arrived last evening; she was still sleeping when Serena awoke, early in theinto her shoes in the entry when a querulous note sounded behind her

"Serena? Are you sneaking out already? Where were you so late last night?"

Serena’s heart skipped a beat "Out," she said

"Out doing what?"

"Out being…out"

There sounded the thu the floor, and then Freddy turned the corner Her countenance was screwed into worried little lines

"You arrived in soht Freddy asleep Her sister had likely been too upset to speak There was no use denying the accusation, though, so Serena simply picked up her cloak