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Hyacinth just smiled and ate another biscuit

“I think,” Lady Danbury said, apparently over her pique, “that we should write a book”

To Hyacinth’s credit, she didn’t choke on her food “I beg your pardon?”

“I need a challenge,” Lady D said “Keeps the mind sharp And surely we could do better than Miss Butter-worth and the Mealymouthed Baron”

“Mad Baron,” Hyacinth said automatically

“Precisely,” Lady D said “Surely we can do better”

“I’ the question—ould ant to?”

“Because we can”

Hyacinth considered the prospect of a creative liaison with Lady Danbury, of spending hours upon hours—

“No,” she said, quite firmly, “we can’t”

“Of course we can,” Lady D said, thu the interview—surely a new record of restraint “I’ll think up the ideas, and you can figure out hoord it all”

“It doesn’t sound like an equitable division of labor,” Hyacinth remarked

“And why should it be?”

Hyacinth opened her mouth to reply, then decided there was really no point

Lady Danbury frowned for a moment, then finally added, “Well, think about my proposal We’d make an excellent team”