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"Walter’s brother? Why would you think that?"

Her father took a slow sip of his red wine as though she wasn’t waiting with bated breath for the answer "Oh, just soered on?" Her brothers wagered on everything They’d lost a small fortune because they’d expected her to marry Chetwyn rather than Walter But she hadn’t loved the ht have seen so scribbled in the book at White’s," Jameson said

"Don’t look so devastated, sweetheart," her father said "It’s as I’ve said, you’ve far exceeded Society’s expectations with this h you’re a "

"I don’t believe Society should dictate how long I mourn," she said hotly This had been a sore point between them "That is a function of my heart"

"Yes, well, it’s tioodWalter," Edward said He was her youngest brother, a year older than she, and apparently a numbskull

"That’s disgusting He’s nothing at all like Walter"

"I should say not He’s alive"

She tossed her wine on her idiot brother, causing him to yelp, jerk back, and send his chair and hi, "See here now! It’s my favorite waistcoat!" she came to her feet a toit extre on"

She flung her napkin to the table, turned--

"Anne," her father barked in his not-to-be-ignored voice

Grinding her back teeth, she faced hi to ache

"We hat is best for you You’re approaching an age when you’ll no longer be considered eable It is my responsibility to see you with a husband so you are not a burden to your brothers"

Yes, three and twenty was so terribly old Perhaps rather than return froe, she’d simply ask Crimson Jack to drop her off on a secluded rock souised as caring

"I’ll be fine," she said "And see to my duty this Season and secure irl"