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But they loved each other Beneath the noise, it was startlingly clear

“It is good to see you, your grace,” Gareth said to the young duchess, once she’d seated herself next to Hyacinth

“Please, call me Daphne,” she said with a sunny smile “There is no need to be so formal if you are a friend of Hyacinth’s Besides,” she said, taking a cup and pouring herself so room”

“What do you feel like, then?”

“Herton, I suppose It’s difficult to shed the surname in this clan In spirit, that is”

“I hope that is a coerton remarked

Daphne just smiled at her mother “I shall never escape you, I’ like one’s farown up”

Gareth thought about his recent encounter with the baron and said, with perhaps ht to make verbal, “I know precisely what you mean”

“Yes,” the duchess said, “I expect you do”

Gareth said nothing His estrangee, even if the reason for it was not

“How are the children, Daphne?” Lady Bridgerton asked

“Mischievous as always David wants a puppy, preferably one that will grow to the size of a small pony, and Caroline is desperate to return to Benedict’s” She sipped at her tea and turned to Gareth “My daughter spent three weeks withher drawing lessons”

“He is an accomplished artist, is he not?”

“Two paintings in the National Gallery,” Lady Bridgerton said, bea with pride

“He rarely coh,” Hyacinth said