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"No," she said, and the word burst forth overly loud and dissonant "I o hoave a nod "I will find your mother"

"I’ll do it"

"I’s for myself," she burst out Dear God, she hated the sound of her own voice She kneas tiht words And she couldn’t seem to stop "I don’t need to be your responsibility"

"What are you talking about?"

She couldn’t possibly answer that question, so instead she said, "I want to go hoave her a stiff bow "As you wish," he said, and he walked away

So she went hoot exactly what she’d asked for

And it ful

Chapter Nineteen

The day of the musicale

Six hours before the performance

"Where is Sarah?"

Honoria looked up froin Nothing she wrote ave her the illusion that she knew a little so, so she e

Iris was standing in the ain

"I don’t know," Honoria said She looked one way, and then the other "Where’s Daisy?"

Iris waved an impatient arm toward the door "She stopped to attend to herself after we arrived Don’t worry about her She wouldn’t miss this for the world"

"Sarah’s not here?"

Iris looked about ready to explode "Do you see her?"

"Iris!"

"I’m sorry I don’t mean to be rude, but where the devil is she?"

Honoria let out an irritated exhale Didn’t Iris have so more important to worry about? She hadn’t made a complete fool of herself in front of the man she’d only recently realized she loved

Three days had passed, and she felt ill just thinking about it

Honoria couldn’t remember exactly what she’d said Instead, she recalled the terrible sound of her voice, all jerky and choked She re, and she re none of it She’d been completely irrational, and if he had considered her a responsibility before, now he must think her a chore