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When the music finished, he bowed, and she was left to her next partner Atte orse, when all she wanted was to burst into tears And find Sebastian

I will see hirily I don’t care what Uncle William says He does not own e of my own life

“You blush delightfully,” her co to whatever he had said Little did he know, thought Francesca with a rueful s the color into her cheeks

Aushed with pleasure when it was finally time to say their farewells to Lady Annear

“What a e “Francesca, you were such a hit Lady Annear complimented me on you several times” She smiled “And naturally I took full credit”

“Mama…”

“By the here did Mr Th—that is, Lord Worthorne go? Lady Annear was looking for him, but he see early?”

Francesca glanced sideways at Uncle Willia out of thein silence “I think he had another engagement,” she said in an emotionless voice

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“It’s a pity Helen wasn’t invited,” Ae turned into Wensted Square “She would have loved every moment of it”

“Helen is an embarrassment ere better off without,” Willia his head

Anored him “I still can’t quite understand ere invited I don’t know Lady Annear, and she says she barely knows you, William I can only think our names were put forward by some other party”

Francesca sat, staring straight ahead, but she felt her uncle turn his gaze on her “That rateful when they stopped outside the door, and she was able to accoht, she’d be able to stop pretending and weep and rage as she’d wanted to ever since her uncle found them by the fountain

One of the maids had sat up by the front door to await their return, and now she caar toward the staircase when William’s voice stopped them dead

“I wish to speak to you, Francesca In the library, if you please”