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“Of course none of those men was suitable Half were after your fortune, and as for the other half—well, you would have reduced them to tears within a month”

“Such tenderness for your youngest child,” Hyacinth muttered “It quite undoes me”

Violet let out a ladylike snort “Oh, please, Hyacinth, you know exactly what I mean, and you know that I am correct None of those men was your match You need someone who is your equal”

“That is exactly what I have been trying to tell you”

“Butfor your hand?”

Hyacinth opened her mouth, but she had no answer

“You say you wish to find a man who is your match,” Violet said, “and I think you think you do, but the truth is, Hyacinth—every time you meet someone who can hold his oith you, you push him away”

“I don’t,” Hyacinth said, but not very convincingly

“Well, you certainly don’t encourage them,” Violet said She leaned forward, her eyes filled with equal parts concern and remonstration “You know I love you dearly, Hyacinth, but you do like to have the upper hand in the conversation”

“Who doesn’t?” Hyacinth muttered

“Any e him as you see fit”

“But that’s not what I want,” Hyacinth protested

Violet sighed But it was a nostalgic sound, full of warmth and love “I wish I could explain to you how I felt the day you were born,” she said

“Mother?” Hyacinth asked softly The change of subject was sudden, and somehow Hyacinth knew that whatever hershe’d ever heard in her life

“It was so soon after your father died And I was so sad I can’t even begin to tell you how sad There’s a kind of grief that just eats one up It weighs one down And one can’t—” Violet stopped, and her lipsin that way they did when a person ing…and trying not to cry “Well, one can’t do anything There’s no way to explain it unless you’ve felt it yourself”