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"Don’t tell ain," the duke said He bent over and looked closely at the plant "Yes, those are palle"

"Her Grace is a fierce believer," the gardener said, patting down another small plant

"In what?" Olivia inquired

"Her plans," the duke answered for Riggle "My mother is apt to think that if everyone will si--the world will be a sane and ordered place"

"To hope that a floill bloom despite lack of sun shows an extraordinary confidence in one’s plan," Olivia observed

"I am surrounded by relatives with pretentions to divine powers" There was a spark deep in his eyes that spoke to her like a burst of laughter It felt flaerous

She couldn’t not sh his face was--to outward appearance--serious enough Still: Brother-in-law, she thought again

"Riggle, ill take our leave of you," the duke said, taking Olivia’s arm "Miss Lytton, I’ve had two mounts prepared for us Justin has already driven the pony cart around to the front to meet Lady Cecily, since her ankle is still unsteady"

Olivia said her good-bye to Riggle, and then walked in silence next to the duke She had to say so It was almost the first tile word

After lunch, her sister had been quite certain that the duke had taken a great dislike to Olivia, given her hoydenish behavior But the duke didn’t look as though he disliked her

"Are you an enthusiastic horsewoman, Miss Lytton?" he asked, after a iven a topic of conversation "I had a pony growing up, and nowadays ularly ride in Hyde Park Have you ridden there often yourself, Your Grace?"

"Not in some years," he said "Does your fiancé like to ride?"

"Rupert? He has so in the saddle," Olivia said, belatedly reers that Rupert couldn’t stay on a horse until he was fifteen "Though he’s much improved in the last year He has a weaka weak knee," she added hastily

"All the more reason to admire his decision to join the battle"

"His father was quite dis will When he puts hisfrown crossed the duke’s face "I suppose--" He broke off

"Yes?"

"Your fiancé sounds like an excellent man all around Loyal to his country, brave even with the encumbrance of a physical disability, and resolute in his convictions in the face of his father’s disapproval I have met the Duke of Canterwick, and I would expect that he exerted considerable pressure on his son to re Montsurrey"

Olivia nodded She couldn’t say anythingdisloyal to Rupert, and she had made up her mind that she simply wouldn’t do it

But the duke was not finished "Canterwick apparently toldcustard"

"Ah," Olivia said Of course she agreed, but she had realized when the duchess was so dismissive of Rupert that she could either spend her entire life listening to sniggers behind her husband’s back, or she could make it clear that no one should dare to insult Rupert to her face