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“Of course I did Her son hter”

“Oh Yes,” Hyacinth murmured She didn’t knohy this hadn’t occurred to her before And she wondered—Did Lady Danbury know anything about the circumstances of Gareth’s birth? Gareth had said that she did not, or at least that he had never spoken to her about it But perhaps each was keeping silent on the assumption that the other did not know

Hyacinth opened her mouth, then closed it sharply It was not her place to say anything It was not

But—

No She claether, as if that would keep her fro out She could not reveal Gareth’s secret She absolutely, positively could not

“Did you eat so sour?” Lady D asked, without any delicacy whatsoever “You look rather ill”

“I’htly s about the diary I brought it withon the translation tirelessly since learning Gareth’s secret earlier that week She wasn’t sure if they would ever learn the identity of Gareth’s real father, but Isabella’s diary seemed to be the best possible place to start the search

“Did you?” Lady Danbury sat back in her chair, closing her eyes “Read to me from that instead, why don’t you?”

“You don’t understand Italian,” Hyacinth pointed out

“I know, but it’s a lovely language, so melodious and smooth And I need to take a nap”

“Are you certain?” Hyacinth asked, reaching into her small satchel for the diary

“That I need a nap? Yes, o Now I can’t exist without one each afternoon”

“Actually, I was referring to the reading of the diary,?

?? Hyacinth murmured “If you wish to fall asleep, there are certainly betterto you in Italian”

“Why, Hyacinth,” Lady D said, with a noise that sounded suspiciously like a cackle, “are you offering to sing me lullabies?”