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"But if I don’t--what of you? What of Sesily and Seleste and Seline? What of Papa?"

Sera smiled "We climb like ivy Think you one harsh winter will end our journey?"

"You can say it"

Seraphina nodded "I can Because my life is cast in stone I am Duchess of Haven And I carry the future duke inside rew sad "Because of that, I can tell you that if you love him, you should tell him" She shook her head "I never told Haven And look at the mess I’ve made" She lifted Sophie’s hands to her lips and spoke to them "Tell him, Sophie Give yourself a chance at happiness"

I can’t love you

Sophie shook her head "He doesn’t want love"

"Perhaps he doesn’t know he already has it" Sera’s eyes sith unshed tears "I never told hiht toI’d already lost him" She took a deep breath "What Father asksit’s so ht save Sesily and Seleste and Seline You’ll be a ht help us all But Eversley--he’ll hate you for it"

She couldn’t bear the idea of King hating her But what of the family she loved?

"You cannot protect us all, Sophie Not forever"

She looked to Seraphina, her eldest sister, whom Sophie had always considered her most kindred sister "I love you"

Sera pulled her close, wrapping her in a tight embrace "I know We know Why do you think we came to you? But you love him as well And love does not come in half measures--you shall hate yourself forever if you trap him I know it better than any"

She didn’t want him trapped

She wanted him to want her As desperately as she wanted him

She couldn’t do it Not even for the family she loved There had to be another way

"Sophieplease Tell him you love him and see what comes of it"

Sophie looked to the door beyond which he slept, hope and terror warring for position in her chest "What if he laughs?"

"I’ll toss hiave a little huff of huhter at that "What if"

I can’t love you

"What if he doesn’t lovetime, and then said, "What if he does?"

Sophie nodded "If he doesn’tI must leave Mother and Papa--"

"I shall help you"

"With whatthe Duchess of Haven," Sera said with a little so Wales The Outer Hebrides America Wherever"

Far froh she would ever be free of him

Sophie nodded "To that she could not have hiht She tightened the belt on her extravagant dressing gown, festooned with feathers and brocade "This is a ridiculous gown"

Sera chuckled "Sesily would tell you it makes your bosom look wonderful" She reached up and pulled the pins fro it this way and that When she was satisfied with the work, she aze "He shan’t knohat’s struck hi door as Seraher sister as she opened the door

Seraphina turned back

Sophie did not knohat to say, but the eldest Talbot seeit "Tell him And let the road roll out before you"

Sophie nodded