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Dear God, anything but this

"And there will be cakes," she added, in a prim little voice that scared him to death

Marcus shot a panicked look at Daniel, but he was no help whatsoever

"Well?" Honoria deave hi what?"

Marcus cleared his throat Twice "Things"

"What kinds of things?"

"Things" And then he felt terrible, because he hadn’t meant to be so adamant "Daniel and I have plans"

She looked stricken Her lower lip began to tre

"I’m sorry," he added, because he hadn’t wanted to hurt her feelings But for heaven’s sake, it was a tea party! There wasn’t a twelve-year-old boy alive anted to attend a tea party

With dolls

Marcus shuddered

Honoria’s face grew red with rage as she swung around to face her brother "You made him say that"

"I didn’t say a word," Daniel replied

"I hate you," she said in a low voice "I hate you both" And then she yelled it "I hate you! Especially you, Marcus! I really hate you!"

And then she ran to the house as fast as her skinny little legs could carry her, which wasn’t very fast at all Marcus and Daniel just stood there, silently watching her go

When she was nearly to the house, Daniel nodded and said, "She hates you You are officially a member of the family"

And he was Fro of 1821, when Daniel went and ruined it all

Chapter One

March 1824

Caland

Lady Honoria Smythe-Smith was desperate

Desperate for a sunny day, desperate for a husband, desperate – she thought with an exhausted sigh as she looked down at her ruined blue slippers – for a new pair of shoes