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"No, please, go ahead Your eyes are terribly sunken in" She grimaced as she watched him attempt to maneuver his way around a table "Shall I help you?"

"No, no, I’e of the cushions and then practically fell backward onto the sofa Dignity, it seeiving a nod to the other lady He’d met her once or twice over the years, he was fairly certain

"Lord Chatteris," she said politely "My parents send their regards and wish you a speedy recovery"

"Thank you," he said, giving her a weak nod He felt overpoweringly tired all of a sudden The trip from his bedroom downstairs must have been more difficult than he’d anticipated He hadn’t slept well the night before, either He’d started coughing the moment his head had touched his pillow, and he hadn’t stopped since

"Excuse me," he said to the two ladies as he placed a cushion on the table in front of him, then propped his foot on it "I’m told I’m meant to elevate it"

"Marcus," Honoria said, i with any pretense of polite conversation, "you should not be out of bed"

"It’s where I was," he said dryly, "until I was informed that I had visitors"

This earned hiht to o "You should have told your butler you were not receiving," she said

"Really?" he one home assured of my welfare" He looked over at the other lady with an ironic tilt to his head "What do you think, Miss Royle? Would Lady Honoria have left without co with amusement "She was most firm in her wish to see you for herself"

"Cecily!" Honoria said indignantly Marcus decided to ignore her

"Is that so, Miss Royle?" he said, twisting even more in her direction "My heart warht now"

"She is a dogged little thing," he said

"Marcus Holroyd," Honoria said sternly, "if you do not stop poking fun at me this instant, I shall inform Mrs Royle that indeed you do wish to be moved to Bricstan for the re not to laugh He looked at Miss Royle, as also trying not to laugh They both lost the battle

"Mrs Royle isskills," Honoria added with a devilishly placid sainst the sofa cushions But his laughter gave way to a fit of coughing, and it took hi were you in the rain last night?" Honoria de Miss Royle’s eyes to widen at the intimacy

"Have I a fever?" heas she spoke "You et you a blanket"

Marcus started to tell her that that would not be necessary, but then he realized that a blanket sounded rather nice, actually And he was strangely grateful that she had suggested it So he nodded