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“I couldn’t very well miss them,” Hyacinth replied She handed her reticule—which contained the Italian diary—to a maid “Would you take this to my room, please?”

Violet waited until theroo with Renton’s ankles”

Hyacinth shrugged “If you like the puffy sort”

“Hyacinth!”

Hyacinth sighed tiredly, following herroom “Mother, you have six married children, and they all are quite happy with their choices Why must you try to push me into an unsuitable alliance?”

Violet sat and prepared a cup of tea for Hyacinth “I’m not,” she said, “but Hyacinth, couldn’t you even look?”

“Mother, I—”

“Or for my sake, pretend to?”

Hyacinth could not help but smile

Violet held the cup out, then took it back and added another spoonful of sugar Hyacinth was the only one in the faar in her tea, and she’d always liked it extra sweet

“Thank you,” Hyacinth said, tasting the brew It wasn’t quite as hot as she preferred, but she drank it anyway

“Hyacinth,” her mother said, in that tone of voice that always h she knew better, “you know I only wish to see you happy”

“I know,” Hyacinth said That was the problem Her mother did only wish her to be happy If Violet had been pushing her toward ain, it would have been nore her But no, her mother loved her and truly did want her to be happy, not just ood huhs

“I would never wish to see you married to someone whose company you did not enjoy,” Violet continued

“I know”