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“There is so about Harold Valland I do not trust I wouldn’t be surprised if he was far from an innocent bystander”

They were silent a moment

“Someone,” said Marietta, her eyes fixed on the fire, “should do so about it”

Mr Jardine gave her a sharp look “Miss Marietta, this is none of your affair Do not think to meddle”

“Who said anything about ?” Marietta said mildly, and sipped her tea

A tap on the door saved her fro by Mr Jardine, and when Lil entered the library it ith a request from Vivianna for Marietta to come to her bedchamber

Relieved, Marietta set down her cup and hurried out, but Lil lingered, exchanging some pleasantries with Lady Greentree’s secretary on her current life in London

“Jacob Coachman’s heart is broken, you know that, Lil?” Mr Jardine teased “He will never be the saain”

“Oh, go on with you!” cried Lil “He’ll find someone else, you wait and see Men, they’re all the same they are, apart from you, Mr Jardine,” she added earnestly

But Mr Jardine did not see expression in her eyes or the quickening of her heart He just sirl, although he knew she was, and then went back to whatever it was he had been doing

With a sigh, Lil left him to it She had loved him for years, ever since she went to work for Lady Greentree at Greentree Manor Even though she knew she was unworthy of such a gentles were different and Mr Jardine would look at her as a man, and not a father

Lil had grown up on the streets and through necessity, when she was far too young, had earned her keep by selling her body Vivianna had found her in that state and “saved” her, and Lil had loved her for it ever since Vivianna had given Lil the chance at a new life

Lil was determined to deserve it

She would never fall back into her old ways, she was far too respectable for that now Indeed, she studied respectability as others ht study music or art, and she was very careful in her every action But she knew she would never be deserving enough for a wonderful man like Mr Jardine Besides, he loved Lady Greentree It was sad that Lady Greentree still loved her husband, who had died o in India It was sad that Lady Greentree could not see that there was a ht under her nose

Lil sighed again, and set off up the stairs after Marietta