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“And I thought you were one of Aphrodite’s protégés,” he said, anger and frustration growing in his face and voice “You have deceived me, Miss Greentree”

“I ahters There are three of us”

“I ae of a lady unless she is experienced in thesecompromised?”

He see

“I…don’t care about that,” she said quickly “I am already ruined, Max”

He blinked at her “I don’t believe it,” he said quietly “You see me the truth, Miss Greentree”

But Marietta gave a little shrug “Why didn’t you tell me you were Lord Roseby?”

“Because I aer Lord Roseby,” Max’s voice was suddenly both hard and bitter “I lost the right to call myself by that name when my father declared me a bastard” He turned swiftly to Aphrodite and bowed “Good evening, Madaies if I have offended”

The door closed behind him

Aphrodite caers fir and hot “Whatever has been happening here, Marietta? Dobson says that Vivianna has had a little boy”

Memory returned and Marietta s else from her mind “Oh yes, she has! A dear little boy I came to tell you You must see him, at once”

Aphrodite’s face lit up, and then, just as suddenly, it dulled into the cool aloofness that was her shield “I cannot,” she said “It would not be proper for omery’s friends and family I would embarrass Vivianna”

Marietta laughed in disbelief “I don’t think so!”

Aphrodite smiled wryly “No, well perhaps Vivianna would not be embarrassed,

but…I would feel…aard I will co the tiood of you to think of me”