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The Hathaaited in a receiving line in the entrance hall

"Look how dignified and polite they all are," Leo said, observing the crowd "I can’t stay long Soht influence me"

"You promised you would stay until after the first set," Poppy rehed "For you, I will But I despise these affairs"

"As do I," Miss Marks surprised the as if it were eneave the colance "We have to stop doing this, Marks My sto to turn"

"Please do not say that word," she snapped

"Stomach? Why not?"

"It is indelicate to refer to your anatolance "And I assure you, no one has any interest in it"

"You think not? I’ll have you know, Marks, that scores of wo hih the entrance hall, the family dispersed to make the rounds Leo and Cam went to the card rooms, while the women headed to the supper tables Awith revulsion at the long buffet of cold joints, beef, haetically "Do you ?"

"Not at all, we’ll ith you"

"Have a spoonful of salad," Miss Marks murmured to Poppy "For appearance’s sake And smile"

"Like this?" Poppy attearded her doubtfully "No, that’s not pretty at all You look like a salmon"

"I feel like a salmon," Poppy said "One that’s been boiled, shredded and potted"

As the guests queued at the buffet, footmen filled their plates and carried the in line when she was approached by Lady Belinda Wallscourt, a pretty young wo the Season As soon as Belinda had coentlemen, and had quickly become betrothed

"Poppy," Lady Belinda said warmly, "how nice to see you here There was uncertainty as to whether you would come"

"The last ball of the Season?" Poppy said with a forced save her a colance Her voice lowered "It’s terrible, what happened to you I’ to be sorry about," Poppy said brightly "I’m perfectly fine!"

"You’re very brave," Belinda replied "And Poppy, re ill turn into a handsome prince"

"Good," Beatrix said "Because all she’sperplexed, Belinda ," Poppy protested

"You’re right," Beatrix said "That was very unfair to frogs, who are lovely creatures"

As Poppy parted her lips to object, she heard Miss Marks snicker And she began to laugh as well, until they attracted curious glances fro, they wandered to the ballroom Music fluttered doard in continuous drifts froallery The ht chandeliers, while the sweetness of abundant roses and greenery thickened the air

Locked in the unforgiving bondage of her corset, Poppy filled her lungs with strained breaths "It’s too war face, quickly produced a handkerchief, and guided her into one of the many cane openwork chairs at the side of the room "It is quite warm," she said "In a moment, I will locate your brother or Mr Rohan to escort you outside for some air But first letthat twotheir naer sister was at ease with e They seemed to adore Beatrix because she treated the patient interest

While Miss Marks supervised Beatrix’s dance card, Poppy settled back in her chair and concentrated on breathing around the iron prison of her corset It was unfortunate that in this particular chair, she was able to hear a conversation fro wo satisfaction

"Of course Bayning wouldn’t have her," one of them said "She’s pretty, I’ll allow, but so entleman I know said that he tried to talk to her at the private art viewing at the Royal Acade about soo French balloon experi Louis soine?"

"Louis the sixteenth," Poppy whispered

"But ould you expect?" cah for society is Lord Rarace," the other one agreed

Poppy went fro overheated to chilled She closed her eyes sickly, wishing she could disappear It had been ato everyonethat she didn’t care about Michael Bayning, when she did That her heart wasn’t broken, when it was Everything in London was about appearances, pretenseswas it so unforgivable to be honest about one’s feelings?

Apparently so

She sat quietly, knitting her gloved fingers together until her thoughts were diverted by a stir near the main entrance of the ballroom It seemed that some important person had arrived, perhaps royalty, or a military celebrity, or an influential politician

"Who is he?" one of the young women asked

"Someone new," the other said

"And handsoreed "He must be a man of consequence--otherwise there wouldn’t be such a to-do"

A light laugh "And Lady Norbury wouldn’t be fluttering so See how she blushes!"

Curious despite herself, Poppy leaned forward to catch a glimpse of the newcomer All she could make out was a dark head, taller than the others around hi easily with his co Lady Norbury clung to his ar hie

She couldn’t fathom why he would be here, or why thatthe last ti to skewer a ly handso attire and a crisp white cravat And he moved and conversed with the sa

Miss Marks returned to Poppy, while Beatrix and a fair-hairedcouples "How do you--" she began, but stopped with a sharply indrawn breath "Damn and blast," she whispered "He’s here"