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Genny really, really did not like where this was going She braced for the big insult

“So terrible,” Fiona barreled on, “knowing he’s not a DeValery by blood, but only the, uardener”

Genny gulped Alrighty, then Co “That’s enough, Fiona You’re talking nonsense”

The aoman wouldn’t stop She only sniffed loudly—and kept on “I ood heart He means well He tries I know that We all know that And he uilty about the accident It’s so obvious Iabout He’s leavin’ himself scarred as a penance for the accident, isn’t he?”

“Of course not Fiona—”

“I know, I know” She waved a hand “He wasn’t driving They have all those forensic things they do now They proved, somehow, that he wasn’t at the wheel But e ever really know? Will we ever—?”

“Fiona Hello!” Genny tried again to shut her up “You don’t knohat you’re talking about”

“Oh, don’t I, then? You’d be surprised what I knohat I’ve been through How I’ve suffered” The green eyes filled with tears “What I have had that you will never get Ver’ surprised Oh, yes, you would” The tears overflowed and ran down her cheeks

“Fiona, it’s time for you to—”

“Who can tell, is all I’one,” she sobbed “And that leaves Rafe to ape his betters and pretend to be the lord and heir that he can never, ever be” Her shoulders shook She swiped at her strea eyes “It’s only that I can’t bear it, you see? Sometimes I wish I could die Sometimes I just want to curl into a li’l ball of misery and die”

But Fiona didn’t die She only covered her face with both hands, fell over sideways on the sofa and dissolved coy snorts and heavy sobs

Genny did nothing for several seconds She sat there and watched Fiona cry and longed to get up,red hair and slap her good and hard across her snot-soaked, splotchy little face

Chapter Seven

Genny gave herself a count of ten to let her violent urges fade down to a slow-burning rage And then she said, slowly and clearly, “I’ll say it again I don’t knohat you’re talking about I’ Hartmore proud and he is every inch the earl in every way And if you knohat’s good for you, you’ll stop spreading vicious lies”