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“I shudder to think,” caht be atteerton into now”

“Gareth!” Lady Danbury said with obvious pleasure “How nice of you finally to come visit me”

Hyacinth turned Gareth St Clair had just stepped into the rooant afternoon clothing A shaft of sunlight was streaold

His presence wasevery Tuesday for a year now, and this was only the second tiht be purposefully avoiding her

Which begged the question—as he here now? Their conversation at the Smythe-Smith musicale was the first they had ever shared that went beyond the randht in the middle of their weekly visit

“Finally?” Mr St Clair echoed with aottenon a rather convincing expression of concern “Do you think she erton? She is, what can it be now, ninety—”

Lady D’s cane came down squarely on his toes “Not even close, es, you shan’t blaspheain”

“The Gospel according to Agatha Danbury,” Hyacinth murmured

Mr St Clair flashed her a grin, which surprised her, first because she hadn’t thought he would hear her remark, and second because it made him seem so boyish and innocent, when she knew for a fact that he was neither

Although…

Hyacinth fought the urge to shake her head There was always an although Lady D’s “finallys” aside, Gareth St Clair was a frequent visitor at Danbury House It ue society randmother She’d said as ed the subject

He was a puzzle And Hyacinth hated puzzles

Well, no, in truth she loved them

Provided, of course, that she solved them

The puzzle in question arand at the back of his neck, at the rakish queue of hair brushing up against the edge of his bottle green coat