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The duke laughed gently "What a delightful girl"

They reached the central hall, which was airy and bright, with plasterwork and polished oak flooring A colonnaded double staircase led to the upper floor, its wide banister rails perfect for sliding It se white gardenias arranged in vases on pillars

To Pandora’s surprise, the duchess aiting for thelowed like a flaold-freckled complexion and a wealth of rose-copper hair that had been pinned up in a braided mass Her voluptuous but tidy form was covered in a blue muslin dress, with a ribbon belt tied neatly at her tri about her arm and approachable and soft

The duke went to his wife, his hand co to rest at the small of her back He see," he murmured, "this is Lady Pandora"

"At last," the duchess said cheerfully, reaching out to take Pandora’s hands into her gentle ones "I ondered what they had done with you"

Pandora would have curtseyed, but the duchess was still holding her hands Was she supposed to curtsey anyway?

"Why did you keep her outside, Gabriel?" the duchess asked, giving Pandora’s hands a little squeeze before letting go Pandora quickly did a belated curtsey, bobbing like a duck in a mud puddle

Lord St Vincent described the ’s lack of discipline to great comic effect

The duchess laughed "Poor girl Come, we’ll relax and have iced l-lemonade in the summer parlor It’s my favorite room in the house The breeze coh the screened s" A stamht, and she didn’t seem at all self-conscious about it

"Yes, Your Grace," Pandora whispered, determined not to make a an to walk through the staircase hall toward the back of the house, while thethat would make your visit more pleasant," the duchess said to Pandora, "you must let me know as soon as you think of it We put a vase of roses in your room, but if you have a f-favorite flower, you have only to tell us My youngest daughter Seraphina chose so more to your taste in the library, we’ll switch them out at once"

Pandora nodded duht, she finally ca ladylike to say "Your house is lovely, ave her a radiant smile "If you like, I’ll take you on a tour later this afternoon We have so old f-furniture, and some beautiful views froan, but to her annoyance, Lord St Vincent interrupted from behind the this afternoon"