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Lia stared at hiis had done In a small way, she had realized the lure as a child when learners wore jeweled chokers and then the wretcheds all an wearing low-cut gowns like Pareigis did Or practiced the dancing they had but learned the night before It was new and exciting – and it was different than what their kingdouarantee it would be passed on Just the sort of thing a hetaera would do That way her influence would continue to corrupt everything around her Lia knew all this but was bound by her oaths not to tell Duerden It would have to wait until he faced the maston test hihts "Do you think she will cohtfully, unable to say as in her heart "I suppose she may," she answered "But I hope not I do not like her"
She left him to enjoy the tartarelle and snatched a wafer herself and started off on another errand when Sowe caught her wrist
"Are you going on a walk?" Sowe asked tiirl looked ratefully and they left the overflowing kitchen Lia had never seen Sowe so downcast She sees of loss, while Lia had spent asbusy so she would not one Everytinition and then disappointment
"It was so noisy in there," Sowe ain"
"I a the treats this year," Lia said She squeezed Sowe’s hand as she used to "You are sorry he is gone"
She flinched "Not so one But he whispered a pro he will not be able to keep it I know he probably will not be able to keep it, and so I a myself for the disappointave her a sharp look, surprised
"I aether in the kitchen? You know all of my faults and I know all of yours Our little habits that make us e are I sleep too deeply and you can hardly sleep at all You adore treacle over everything else Whenever Pasqua bakes the pumpkin loaves, you snitch and snitch and snitch The Earl of…well…Colvin…he is gone and you wish he were back but you are not sure you can stand the pain of that thought"
Just saying it like thatto stay cheerful "At least Edoodbye That was not a brotherly kiss"
Sowe reddened but looked even more forlorn "I wish he had not"
Lia was surprised "What – you would rather a kiss froht Pasqua would have chased hi with joy and fit to burst"
Sowe looked mortified "No! Of course I would not want to kiss Getman I shudder at it Think on it, Lia I will forever have that kiss in my memory My husband, poor soul, whoever he will be, he must compete with that memory It was perfect in every way He has already stolen my heart but he is an earl, Lia I cannot believe he will co first For draone now His feelings will cool He will hter of an earl or the like, and he will never coripped Lia’s arm "How can it happen any other way? Colvin may have spurned you, but he will keep his word He does not say much, but you can rely on what he does say Edmon speaks too much I fear I cannot rely on his words as much as you can"
As they walked, Lia found they were approaching the laundry She had cootten the errand the Aldermaston had set her on Siara Healer and so Soards the apothecary when she spied the Earl of Dieyre beneath the covered awning of the laundry He was alone with Reorounds Had the Aldering her slightly along
Lia could not ot closer Dieyre spied theed abruptly
"I had too ivemy memory If you said I promised you five marks a year, then it is five marks a year" He rubbed his forehead and winced "I could use you at hed, "in Lambeth Yes, that would be the place It is near Comoros You are a wretched so you have not been there I will advance you soes for your travel" He fished in his purse for some coins and pressed the"