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That would give her just enough tih clothes," Poppy said "I don’t need more"

"A lady in your position," Mrs Pennywhistle said wisely, "needs many dresses I’ve heard it said that fashionable ladies never wear the same frock twice"

Poppy rolled her eyes "I’ve heard that as well And I think it’s ridiculous Why should it matter if a lady is seen in the same frock twice? Except to provide evidence that her husband is wealthy enough to buy her more clothes than a person needs"

The housekeeper smiled sympathetically "Shall I ith you to your apart the servants’ hallway None of the guests will see o unescorted"

Poppy heaved an ih "Mr Valentine?"

"Yes?"

"I want to walk to my apartment by myself If I can’t even do that, this entire hotel will start to feel like a prison"

He nodded with reluctant understanding

"Thank you" Murood-bye to the chefs and the housekeeper, Poppy left the kitchen

Jake Valentine shifted his weight uncolared at hie has decided that his wife shouldn’t fraternize with the employees He says it makes all of us less productive, and there are h Mrs Pennywhistle was usually disinclined to criticize thewhat?" she asked curtly "Shopping for things she neither needs nor wants? Reading fashion periodicals by herself? Riding in the park with a footman in attendance? No doubt there are many fashion-plate wives ould be more than pleased by such a shallow existence But that lonely young woreat deal of affection She needs sos witha companionand she needs a husband"

"She has a husband," Jake protested

The housekeeper’s eyes narrowed "Have you noticed nothing odd about their relationship, Valentine?"

"No, and it’s not appropriate for us to discuss it"

Monsieur Broussard regarded Mrs Pennywhistle with keen interest "I’ it"

Mrs Pennywhistle lowered her voice,pots in the adjoining rooal relations yet"

"Now see here--" Jake began, outraged at this violation of his employer’s privacy

"Have so a pastry plate at hiave Mrs Pennywhistle an encouraging glance "What gives you the impression that he has not yet, ersampled the watercress?"

"Watercress?" Jake repeated incredulously

"Cresson" Broussard gave him a superior look "A lish use for the sa"

"I never use ination" The chef turned back to the housekeeper "Why is there doubt about the relations between Monsieur and Madae?"

"The sheets," she said succinctly

Jake nearly choked on his pastry "You have the house on them?" he asked around a mouthful of custard and cream

"Not at all," the housekeeper said defensively "It’s only that we have vigilantAnd even if they didn’t, one hardly needs great powers of observation to see that they do not behave like a married couple"

The chef looked deeply concerned "You think there’s a proble food to you?" Jake deed "Oui"

"Well," Jake said testily, "there is a string of Rutledge’s pastwrong with his carrot"

"Alors, he is a virile manshe is a beautiful woether?"

Jake paused with the spoon raised halfway to his lips as he recalled the business with the letter froe and Viscount Andover "I think," he said uncoe s turn out the way he wanted Without taking her feelings into consideration"

The other three looked at him blankly

Chef Rupert was the first to speak "But he does that to everyone"

"Apparently Mrs Rutledge doesn’t like it," Jake muttered

Mrs Pennywhistle leaned her chin on her hand and tapped her jaw thoughtfully "I believe she would be a good influence on hi," Jake said decisively, "will ever change Harry Rutledge"

"Still," the housekeeper mused, "I think the two of them may need a bit of help"

"From whom?" Chef Rupert asked

"From all of us," the housekeeper replied "It’s all to our benefit if the master is happy, isn’t it?"

"No," Jake said firmly "I’ve never known anyone more ill equipped for happiness He wouldn’t knohat to do with it"

"All the more reason he should try it," Mrs Pennywhistle declared

Jake gave her a warning glance "We are not going to e’s personal life I forbid it"

Chapter Sixteen

Sitting at her dressing table, Poppy brushed powder on her nose and applied rose-petal salve to her lips That night she and Harry were to attend a supper given in one of the private dining rooovern Frederick William IV Mrs Pennywhistle had shown Poppy the menu, and Poppy had remarked wryly that with ten courses, she expected the supper would last half the night