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Gareth gave her a look “It’s a wonder I still have my feet”

“It’s a wonder you still have your ears, my dear boy,” she said with lofty disdain

“I will take that away again,” he warned

“No you won’t,” she replied with a cackle “I’lass of lemonade You keep Hyacinth company”

He watched her go, then turned back to Hyacinth, as glancing about the roohtly narrowed eyes

“Who are you looking for?” he asked

“No one in particular Just exa the scene”

He looked at her curiously “Do you always sound like a detective?”

“Only when it suitson”

“And is anything ‘going on’?” he queried

“No” Her eyes narrowed again as she watched two people in a heated discussion in the far corner “But you never know”

He fought the urge to shake his head She was the strangest woe “Are we safe?”

She finally turned back, her blue eyeshis with uncommon directness “Do you mean is it over?”

“Yes”

Her brow furrowed, and in thatof freckles on her nose “I think so,” she said “I’ve never known them to hold an intermission before”