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He’d used her

That’s what it was He had used her to win his never-ending battle with his father

And it hurt far more than she would ever have dreamed

She kept telling herself she was being silly, that she was splitting hairs Shouldn’t it count that he liked her, that he thought she was clever and funny and even occasionally wise? Shouldn’t it count that she kneould protect her and honor her and, despite his soood and faithful husband?

Why did it matter why he’d asked her to marry him? Shouldn’t it only matter that he had?

But it did matter She’d felt used, uniame board

And the worst part of it was—she didn’t even understand the game

“That’s a rather heartfelt sigh”

Hyacinth blinked herhad she been sitting there, staring into space?

“Is there soently

Hyacinth shook her head How did one share so such as this with one’s mother?

—Oh, yes, by the by and in case you’re interested, it has recently come to my attention that my affianced husband asked me to marry him because he wished to infuriate his father

—Oh, and did Iout of it now!

No, that wasn’t going to work

“I suspect,” Violet said, taking a little sip of her tea, “that you have had your first lovers’ quarrel”