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"Of course she did," Gabe said, feeling hi into a deeper pool of lies "She--she did"
"That’s lovely," I Mary on the forehead "You e of understanding My father foolishly told Josie that our mother had not survived to hold her, and the idea has caused Josie an unnecessary aen’s ar a complicated set of lies about a dead wife that he would, soine it
Mary was starting to look a little tired She earing a little dress that poofed out in all directions and made her look rather like a buttercup She put her head back against Ien whispered
Gabe nodded Mary was looking around drowsily, probably searching for her nurse But then her eyes caught on him and a little crooked smile hitched up one side of that rosebud mouth
And she stretched out her arms Gabe felt his heart fall into the bottoen crooned "Mary wants her papa, doesn’t she? Here you are" And without further ado, she plopped the baby back into Gabe’s arainst his waistcoat, and went promptly to sleep
Chapter 9
Parched
Contrary to his brother’s uncertain assess, quite aware that he had proive up whiskey Not just whiskey, but wine Ale Everything He didn’t feel ill this ; he was too gripped by fear
It took over an hour for hi out of bed and into the bath Of course he could give up the liquor He’d said a million times that he would, hadn’t he? It wouldn’t be so difficult It wasn’t as if he was the sort of man who fell over a bottle of ale on his way to breakfast and never looked up froh it was, has ill effects on his body and his health
And now he had a niece and a brother A fa Commanded him to do so, in truth
He walked down to the breakfast room to find that a lively discussion was afoot Gabe looked up at him with the expression of pure relief
A second later, Rafe understood why Griselda had decided to tackle the whole project of the play It didn’t make sense to her Hell, it didn’ta sad hash of explaining hi no disinclination whatsoever to lie, Rafe waded in before Gabe perjured himself Leave that to those ere already beyond rede the foots on his plate Nor, but here he was, turning over a new leaf "He knocked down a young woman in London last year While in a hackney, you understand"
That struck a chord with Griselda "There’s nothing worse than a drunken hackney driver," she said, waving away all the dishes on offer "And London is full of them I should like dry toast only," she told the footman "Very dry"
"Precisely," Rafe said "The driver reeled off the box, he’d had sowo He’s a very responsible sort of : "No, no, I said dry Without butter, if you please"