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Clap clap clap

Hyacinth nearly groaned It was one of the Ladies Sin She’d lost her moment of opportunity There was no way she could depart politely now

But at least she could take some solace in the fact that she wasn’t the only miserable soul Just as the Misses Smythe-Smith lifted their bows to strike their instruroan, followed by a heartfelt, “God help us all”

Chapter 2

Thirtyis howling in agony Unfortunately, no one can hear him over the din…

There was only one person in the world for whom Gareth would sit politely and listen to really bad music, and Grandmother Danbury happened to be it

“Never again,” he whispered in her ear, as soht have been Mozart assaulted his ears This, after soht have been Haydn, which had followed soht have been Handel

“You’re not sitting politely,” she whispered back

“We could have sat in the back,” he grumbled

“And missed all the fun?”

How anyone could terrandmother had what could only be termed a morbid love for the annual affair

As usual, four Sirls were seated on a small dais, tith violins, one with a cello, and one at a pianoforte, and the noise they werewas so discordant as to be almost impressive

Almost

“It’s a good thing I love you,” he said over his shoulder

“Ha,” came her reply, no less truculent for its whispered tone “It’s a good thing I love you”