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"I understand"

"Do you?" Pandora asked earnestly "But you wouldn’t make the same choice, would you?"

"You and I have different fears, and different needs"

"KathleenWhy did you marry Cousin Devon after Theo treated you so badly? Weren’t you afraid?"

"Yes, I was very afraid"

"Why did you do it, then?"

"I loved him too much to be without him And I realized I couldn’t let fear make the decision for me"

Pandora looked ahile melancholy fell over her like a shadow

Kathleen smoothed out a wrinkle on the counterpane "The duchess and I are taking the girls for an outing to the seashore pro to visit some shops and have fruit ices Would you like to co shortly, Pandora pulled the soft linen sheet over her head "No, I don’t want to pretend to be cheerful when I’ so floppulous"

Kathleen folded down the sheet and smiled at her "Then do whatever you like Everyone has scattered in different directions, and the house is quiet Devon has gone to the pier with the duke and Ivo to find out if the store to the family yacht Lady Clare is out on a ith her children"

"What about Lord St Vincent? Do you knohere he is?"

"I believe he’s taking care of business correspondence in the study" Kathleen bent to kiss Pandora’s forehead, the , let ht: There’s very little in life that doesn’t require a compromise of one kind or another No matter what you choose, it won’t be perfect"

"So much for happy-ever-after," Pandora said sourly

Kathleen smiled "But wouldn’t it be dull if ever-after was always happy, with no difficulties or proble than that"