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She fastened an earring Again, Mary’s "I have to eat I ood co since we have had everyone – well, at least as ether"

Billie nodded, feeling wistful When she was a child, the Rokesbys and Bridgertons had dined together several times each month With nine children between the two families, suppers – or luncheons, or whatever odd holiday they’d elected to celebrate – could not be anything but loud and boisterous affairs

But one by one, the boys left for Eton, first George, then Edward, and then Andrew Billie’s two younger brothers, Edest Rokesby, Nicholas Mary had found love and ular residence were Billie and her younger sister Georgiana, who at fourteen was perfectly pleasant but no bosoe of course, but – eligible unentleman that he was – he split his tie said, crossing the room to where Billie sat at the vanity

She shook her head "Not worth even that, I’m afraid It’s all quite ave him a look, then said, "We are so diminished in number now There used to be so many of us"

"There still are," he pointed out

"I know, but we’re so rarely together Itso frankly with George, but it had been such an odd, trying day Perhaps it was ain," he said gamely "I’m quite sure of it"

Billie lifted a brow "Have you been assigned to cheer me up?"

"Your mother offered me three quid"

"What?"

"I jest"

She scowled, but with no real feeling behind it

"Here, come now I’ll carry you down" He bent down to take her into his arht, she moved to the left, and their heads bumped

"Ooof, sorry," he muttered

"No, it was my fault"

"Here, I’ll…" He s, but there was so inescapably aard about it, which was the oddest thing, since he had carried her for over a mile just a few hours earlier

He lifted her into the air, and the hout the conversation, jolted out of the way as Billie’s legs swung around in an arc

"A little less pressure on e said