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She giggled "Oh, yes I forgot that I should not show ive me"

There was absolute, utter silence

Then, softly, Johann started to laugh The queen was the first to join in, then Edith

Maeve took a step forward She was not laughing "I presu now"

Selena straightened "Truly? How exciting" She frowned suddenly "What is a wedding?"

Maeve's face was uncharacteristically hard "It's what two people do before they get into bed together"

Selena laughed, a bright, clear sound that filled the room "Then it is too late"

"Ian," Maeve said, "I'll expect to see you in the parlor in ten minutes" She snapped her chin up and sailed out of the bedroo crowd to follow

The door slammed shut behind her

And then, very quietly, Maeve started to laugh

Ian couldn't believe what he was doing He was dressed now-da down the

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dark, shadowy corridor to the parlor, where his mother waited for him, presumably to lecture him on morality His mother

He reached the bottoht, sunlit foyer The light hurt his eyes, re fro to the world

The parlor door was closed He knocked sharply, heard his mother's muffled "come in," and went inside