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Marietta sank down on the bed when she had gone, still shaken by this example of the new Lil

The note had cruan to read Suddenly all other thoughts went out of her head

There will be a coach waiting for you by the gardens withyou to ed M

Her first reaction had been to s how she would slip away to the Lustful Lady without getting caught, or needing to request a vehicle to take her

But thinking of it now, at the dining table aled

She would be seeing Max again in only a few hours What would he say to her, ould he do to her?

This time she moaned softly

“Marietta, are you quite well?” Herat her, and Marietta realized with a start that she wasn’t the only one

She forced a laugh “I’m sorry I was miles away”

For the rest of the hts in the roo with Max at the Lustful Lady later this evening

Mr Jardine, who had been looking ten years younger since Lady Greentree arrived, hurried to help her into the drawing room after dinner Hisher coht the stool closer, so that she could prop up her injured foot

Ah of relief “Thank you, Mr Jardine, you are the best of men”

He smiled down at her, but there was a look on his face…Marietta felt her heart ache for him At that moment she happened to turn, and noticed that Uncle Willia the, no indeed, but froht and painful expression on his face his belly was

Marietta gritted her teeth, feeling sure they were about to be treated to another of Uncle Williah when he finally left, his expression was still hard and uns, and there was a look in his eyes when they rested upon Mr Jardine that boded ill

Marietta was tempted to warn heraway Mr Jardine’s secret love for her? He would never forgive her if she put Auard with hi journey and soon afterwards retired to bed, so for the one up to bed, and Vivianna had retired to her own rooms