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Marietta sighed and put the book down It hardly had the cheering effect she had hoped for Aphrodite was unhappy, longing for the oneshe had accepted her lot and made herself content; she had found another reason to live

The balloon was on the ground, perfectly still—there was not a breath of air as Mr KeithLil watched Ian hurry about, checking this and that, then double-checking He orking out the logistics of setting off the fireworks They were to be placed underneath the wicker basket and everything o astray and strike the envelope that held the gas…well, to put it bluntly, they would fall to earth and die

“I trust you,” Lil had said, when he expressed concern for her “I wouldn’t be ’ere if I didn’t, would I?”

Ian smiled “Thank you, Lil” His sh to tell me the truth, do you?”

She looked away, shrugged “There’s nothin’ to tell,” she said

Ian sighed “I know that’s not true I am very fond of you, Lil, and it hurtsthat I ht somehow think less of you I couldn’t”

It was very sweet of hiht Lil, but the truth was she was terrified If she told him that once she had walked the streets—well, huddled miserably in the streets would be a better description, selling her scrawny body to pay her Ma’s rent—he would…what? She tried to iine it now The worst scenario would be if he was so repelled that he never spoke to her again The second worst would be if he looked upon her with gentle pity, as if she were dying of some dreadful disease Yes, that would be bad

She couldn’t risk it

For the first time in her life Lil had found a entleman who loved someone else, like Mr Jardine A ht lose him

And yet she was beginning to think that if she didn’t she ht lose him anyway

“Max, you irl! She is beyond redemption”

Max cast his cousin so angry a look that Harold was taken aback Good, it was time so If Harold had his way, then everyone with an aristocratic pedigree would be on one side of the fence, and those without one on the other, and as for women like Marietta…they would probably be cast into the Thames Well, if necessary, Max would be quite prepared to join her there!

“I can do what I like, Harold,” he said softly “That’s the thing about being disinherited, you see I no longer have to please , actually”

Harold clicked his tongue angrily, but Susannah reached to place a soothing hand upon his arm “Please, stop it, both of you Max, you are in a state This girl has worked her way under your skin and now you cannot think clearly You are not yourself Won’t you please stop and consider what you’re doing?”

“But I am myself,” he said with a smile “That’s the whole point I am more myself than I have ever been”