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"No, I won’t I’ll be for as actually being a duchess I’m sure you remember that I’ve been unofficially betrothed for some twenty-three years"

"The distinction between our inforreement with the duke and the ceremony tomorrow is just what I wish to speak to you about," their iana, perhaps you should leave us, as you are un; Mrs Lytton was fluttering her eyelashes in such a way that suggested she was in the grip of deep anxiety, and Georgiana had a talent for soothing aphorisiana reached the door, their ed my mind My dear, you may stay I have no doubt but that the e, so this information may be relevant to you as well

"A for Of course, our legal system is in flux and so on" Mrs Lytton looked as if she hadn’t the faintest idea what she was talking about "Apparently it is always in flux Parts of the old law, parts of the newyour father understands all this better than I

"Under current interpretation of the law, your betrothal will be binding, unless the marquess suffers a fatal accident--when, of course, it would be invalidated by his death" She snapped open her fan and waved it before her face, as if such a tragedy was too terrible even to conte to the fan as much as to her nat and he’s apparently going into battle"

" ‘Civility is never out of fashion,’ " Mrs Lytton said, dropping the fan below her chin and dipping into The Mirror of Coe in such a ic event of theBut there is one interesting provision that falls under the provenance of an older law, as I understand it"

"Provision?" Olivia asked, creasing her brow--unluckily just as her lanced at her

" ‘Cloud not your broith disdainful scorn,’ " Mrs Lytton said automatically Apparently duchesses remained wrinkle-free for life, doubtless because they never frowned

"If you were to" Mrs Lytton waved her fan in the air "Toto" She gave Olivia a ally binding; it would turn into a e under some sort of law I can’t reh how a common law could have any application to nobility, I cannot say"

"Are you saying that if I tup the FF, I beco her sore toes "That sounds extremely unlikely"

The fan fluttered madly "I’m sure I don’t knohat you intend to say, Olivia You e"

"I expect that the law is designed to protect young woiana interrupted, before her ious linguistic lapses "If I understand you correctly, Mother, you are saying that should thehis rank as a peer, he would be forced to marry his betrothed bride, that is, Olivia"

"Actually, I’ated to marry Olivia, or whether the betrothal would sie But most importantly, should this occurrence result in--in an event, the child will be declared legitimate And if the betrothed were not deceased, then he would not be allowed to alter his "

"To sue"

Their mother snapped her fan shut and caarity is unacceptable The more unacceptable, because you are a duchess-to-be Remember, all eyes will be upon you!" She stopped to take a breath