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"Because you never passed a single test!" her twin said, hooting with laughter and running round the sofa as Olivia dashed after her, brandishing a napkin

Sixteen

Various Anxieties Related to Children and Canines, but Not to Canapés

Whenever the Dowager Duchess of Sconce announced a ball--even a sreat houses within a forty-her would even considersuch an occasion, unless it were for their mother’s funeral

And for some, even that would be a distinct wrench

It wasn’t that a Sconce ball was especially fashionable Her Grace never bothered to import two hundred lemon trees heavy with fruit, or blanket the ballroom with orchids, or even send to Gunter’s for specially made ices

Rather, she followed the prescribed routine of the duchesses who had co Henry VIII on two different occasions, greeting two different wives, and another had welcomed Queen Elizabeth three times

To wit: The ballroom was scrubbed and polished to a fare-thee-well, a smallish orchestra was hired, a reasonable areat deal of excellent as brought up from the cellars

And that was that

The rest would take care of itself, to the dowager’sht of an anxious hostess

As was her custo in question she presided over a suests ould stay at Littlebourne overnight, having traveled a goodly distance Following the uests were asked to proceed to the in, and Her Grace had judged this interval an opportune time to address another item on her suitability inventory

To this end, she issued a couised as an invitation "I believe we should all be grateful if the young ladies aht entertainiana immediately rose, as did the two Miss Barrys (The Barrys lived on the other side of the county and were all very well in their way, but not eligible as daughters-in-law as a consequence of the unfortunate existence of an inebriate great-uncle One never knehen that bad strain ht pop up in the blood) Her Grace positioned herself on a settee with a clear view to the instru her friend Mary, Lady Voltore, to sit with her

The Miss Barrys conducted theiana not only sang very well--a piece froht ballad--but she also accompanied herself on the harpsichord It was eiana Lytton would be an entirely coer never permitted herself an excess of emotion, but she was inwardly aware that if she confessed to a weakness, it was her only son The pain he had suffered after his first e was unacceptable

"Your Grace?"