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"Hmmph Where's my cat?"

Since she had already replied to that question, Elizabeth instead asked, "When, ah, do you expect Mr Siddons to return?"

Lady Danbury's eyes were far too perceptive when she asked, "My errant estate er?''

"Yes"

"I don't know, drat the lanced through theat the endless pristine lawns of Danbury House "You htly"

Lady D started to say so, but Elizabeth held up her hand and said, "And don't tell erate"

"Well, it is Hmmph Malcolm!"

Elizabeth's eyes flicked to the door The king of Danbury House was padding into the sitting roo silently across the carpet

"There you are, sweetie," Lady Danbury cooed "Come to Mama"

But Malcolm didn't even flick his cafe au lait tail at her While Lady D watched in horror, her cat trotted straight to Elizabeth and hopped up on her lap

"Good kitty," Elizabeth purred

"What is going on here?" Lady D demanded

"Malcolm and I have come to a rapprochement of sorts"

"But he hates you!"

"Why, Lady Danbury," Elizabeth said, pretending to be shocked "All these years you have insisted that he's a perfectly friendly kitty"

"He's certainly a perfect kitty," Lady D muttered