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Billie’s lips parted, but she appeared not to knohat to say

"How could you," Lady Manston continued, "when you don’t know anyone but us?"

Billie put a piece of bacon in her e suspected this was to stop herself froret

"Don’t worry, e took a sip of his tea "She doesn’t look worried to nored hih, Billie And then you can decide hom you wish to pursue an acquaintance"

"I don’t know that I plan to be here long enough to form opinions one way or another," Billie said, her voice – in George’s opinion – remarkably even and cal to e said quietly

To which his mother raised her brows and said, "I could be"

To which both George and Billie stared at her in openmouthed shock

"Oh, come now, you two," Lady Manston said, "surely it can be no surprise that I have long hoped for an alliance between the Rokesbys and Bridgertons"

"Alliance?" Billie echoed, and all George could think was that it was a terrible, clinical word, one that could never encoe, whatever you wish to call it," Lady Manston said "We are the dearest of friends Of course I should like to be family"

"If it makes any difference," Billie said quietly, "I already think of you as family"

"Oh, I know that, dear I feel the saht it would be wonderful to iana"

Billie cleared her throat "She’s very young yet"

Lady Manston smiled devilishly "So is Nicholas"

The look on Billie’s face cahed He probably would have done if he hadn’t been fairly certain his own face held the same expression

"I see that I have shocked you," his mother said "But any mother will tell you – it’s never too early to plan for the future"

"I would not recoeherself yet another cup of tea "Would you like a cup, Billie?"

"Ehr," Lady Manston said as she put a splash ofyou Billie"

Billie blinked "I beg your pardon?"

In went the tea, and then Lady Manston held the cup out and said, "Starting today ill use your given name Sybilla"