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"What shall we do about the party at Bricstan?" Cecily asked But her ht, eyes narrowed and lips pursed Cecily cleared her throat and then said, a bit louder, "Mother?"

"It’s still a good idea," Mrs Royle said suddenly Her voice was loud with determination, and Honoria almost felt the syllables echo off her ears

"Then we shall still invite the students?" Cecily said

"I had thought of Gregory Bridgerton," Sarah put in helpfully, "and Neville Berbrooke"

"Good choices," Mrs Royle said,across the room to her desk "Good family, the both of them" She pulled out several sheets of crea them out "I shall write the invitations immediately," she said, once she had the correct number of sheets She turned to Honoria, ar your pardon?" Honoria said, even though she knew exactly what Mrs Royle meant She just didn’t want to accept it

"Invite Lord Chatteris Just as we planned Not for the entire party, just for an afternoon Saturday or Sunday, whichever he prefers"

"Are you sure the invitation should not come from you?" Cecily asked her mother

"No, it is better from Lady Honoria," Mrs Royle stated "He will find itfrom such a close family friend" She took another step forward, until there was no way Honoria could avoid taking the paper frohbors, of course," Mrs Royle added "Do not think we are not"

"Of course," Honoriaelse she could have said And, she thought as she looked down at the paper in her hand, nothing else she could do But then her luck turned Mrs Royle sat at the desk, which meant Honoria had no choice but to retire to her room to pen the invitation

Which meant that no one besides Honoria – and Marcus, of course – knew that what it actually said was:

Marcus –

Mrs Royle has asked me to extend an invitation to Bricstan this weekend She plans a s with four young gentle of you, do not accept You shall beover your misery

With affection, et cetera & et cetera,

Honoria

A different sort of gentleman would take such an "invitation" as a dare and accept imht be supercilious, hehe was not was spiteful And he wasn’t going to make himself miserable just to make her miserable