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"I don’t think so," Olivia said, bundling up her hair and then reaching over to pull the bell

"You don’t think the duchess has chosen a daughter-in-law, or you don’t think the duke has settled on Althea?"

"I don’t think the duke has any idea whoht look about him," Olivia said flatly And--she added silently--presue wo

"What kind of look would he have if he hadAt the ests that he wants every woiana frowned

Olivia spoke before her sister could disagree "His hair, Georgie? Loose around the shoulders? And where was his coat last night? He couldn’t be more obvious if he were one of thosefor plu?" Georgiana cried "The duke would consider such behavior far below hihwaylah if he shouted Stand and deliver, I expect half the debutantes at the Micklethwait ball would have happily tipped up their heels"

"Tipped up what?"

"Fallen on their backs," Olivia elaborated, poking her sister "I love you, Georgie, but you are a bit of a goose when it co her nose "I never understand them At least I never understand yours"

"I expect that says more about my poor sense of humor than your coown to luncheon"

"Do you think it’s perhaps a bit daring for the ti dress"

"Actually, I had all my dresses cut to the sa to disappear due to gorging on lettuce, I ht as well flaunt them If oing to get it fro so that she could see herself in the glass "Do you think that the duke is the sort who likes a ly of the opinion that the duke was, indeed, of that sort, given the way his eyes had darkened at the sight of her wet gown But there was no point in saying so "I doubt it," she said diplomatically "He was quite stiff, didn’t you think? I expect he would disapprove if you showed the slightest bit of cleavage Conduct unbecohtened "I’ll wear the pink pleated gown, then I love the way the sleeves peak into little triangles"

There was a scratch at the door, and Norah entered

"Goodyou could hand Lucy to a footrass patch But first youyou can about Lady Althea Renwitt" She ignored Georgiana’s scowl--The Mirror of Coard to inappropriate informality with one’s staff--and added, "We’re all a-flutter to knohether she poses any true coie in the ducal sweepstakes"

There was nothing Norah liked better than relating conversations fro, tended to be far more lively than the conversations above-stairs Her eyes sparkled as she closed the door "Lady Althea and her , shortly before you, and the duke did not co her is at luncheon Miss Georgiana, I have to add that Florence is waiting for you in your cha because Lady Althea’s rave;s, in the French way, because that’s where she’s froht, and no one had the faintest idea what she was talking about Florence is deteriana’s appearance at the luncheon" She stopped to take a breath