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Between theenerally referred to Rupert Forrest G Blakemore--Marquess of Montsurrey, future Duke of Canterwick--as "the FF," which stood for foolish fiancé On occasion he was also "the HH" (half-wit husband), "the BB" (brainless betrothed) and--because the girls were fluent in both Italian and French--"the MM" (e of theabsolutely and irredeemably hellish," Olivia continued, "was a wardrobe malfunction If so ht have been more huiana didn’t reply; she just tipped her head back and stared at the ceiling She looked ht side," Olivia said, striving for a rousing tone "The FF danced with both of us Thank goodness he’s finally old enough to attend a ball"

"He counted the steps aloud," Georgiana stated "And he said my dress made me look like a puffy cloud"

"Surely it could not have surprised you to discover that Rupert lacks a gift for elegant conversation If anyone looked like a puffy cloud, it was I; you looked like a vestal virgin Far nity is not desirable," her sister said, turning her head Her eyes were full of tears

"Oh, Georgie!" Olivia gathered her into another hug "Please don’t cry I’ll be a duchess in no ti that you’ll be the wonder of London"

"This is my fifth season, Olivia You can’t possibly understand how dreadful it feels, given that you’ve never really been on the ht, any more than they have in the last five years"

"It was the dress and the dowry We all looked like ghosts, but not transparent You, of course, were a y ghost, and I was a particularly solid one"

Olivia and Georgiana had worn ht up under their boso ribbons trimmed with seed pearls and tasseled at the ends The saowns, rippling in the faintest breeze On the page, in Madan had looked exquisite

There was a lesson therea disood on a stick-thin lady portrayed in a pattern book does not mean that they will be, when festooned around one’s hips

"I caught sight of you dancing," Olivia continued "You looked like a bouncy lets were bouncing as well"

"It doesn’t iana said flatly She brushed away a tear "It’s the duchification, Olivia No man wants to marry a prude who acts as if she’s a ninety-five-year-old dowager And"--she gave a little sob--"I simply can’t seem to behave any differently I don’t believe that anyone titters behind your back, unless froruel I--I can see their eyes glaze over when they have to dance with rahter around her sister and said, "Georgiana, you have a wonderful figure, you’re sweet as honey, and the fact that you kno to set a table for one hundred has nothing to do with it Marriage is a contract, and contracts are about money A wo her"

Georgiana sniffed, which served to demonstrate how upset she was, as she noresture

"Your waist makes me positively sick with envy," Olivia added "I look like a butter churn, whereas you’re so sliel"

Most young ladies on the iana included--were indeed ethereally sli around their slender bodies

Olivia was not one of them It was the sad truth, the canker at the heart of the ducal flower, another source of stress for Mrs Lytton As she saw it, Olivia’s overindulgence in vulgar wit and buttered toast steree