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“He baits me, and at this point, I don’t even think his courtship is in earnest For one thing, he is too young and has an eye for the ladies! I have witnessed hi outrageously when he thinks Sophy is not looking! And well he should He is just a boy—what, twenty years old? He shouldn’t be setting about looking for a wife”

“Aye, the wonder is that she doesn’t see it”

“Oh, mark me, Justin, she does That is just it She can barely stand to be in his coether—like today, when her e”

“Yes, it did surprise me when Sophy asked Miss Winthrop to accompany her I may have been a bit too cynical about your Sophy?” the marquis mused out loud

“Dash it,to say in this et Mrs Delleson to accept my suit?”

“Isn’t for you to do that, I am afraid It will come down to Sophy,” the marquis said

“Poor darling I don’t kno she can stand up to the wohed heavily “Do you knohat? I need a drink! Let us stop at a tavern in Bristol before retiring to our lodgings”

“Deuced good notion,” agreed the marquis

A few minutes passed before the marquis pulled his teaave the reins over to a livery boy with instructions to undo the harness and stall the horses with hay and water, as they would be awhile With this off his mind, the marquis and his friend strode jauntily inside the tavern, deterood time Well, at least Percy was The marquis had other matters on his mind

Tables were occupied for the entle, and everyone seeood mood

Percy looked around and frowned “I say, Justin, this place looks more than a little shabby and a bit … disreputable, don’t you think?”

“I do, but here is where we need to be,” the h-backed stool at the worn oak counter As he sat he gazed thoughtfully at the proprietor and waited for the short, stout man to take notice Oblivious to this, Percy pulled up a sihed heavily while he waited for service

A pretty young woot up on a round table at this point, hiked up her skirts, and began to dance to the livelytheir tankards

Ale had been served, and Percy picked up his drink and took a long drag He then held up his pewterto the woman and shouted out to her that she was a beauty

The marquis eyed him quizzically and shook his head in amusement, for that was not his friend’s style However, as Percy joined in the revelry with his fellows all singing with the woman, the marquis spoke to the tavern keeper behind the counter “Sir, a moment of your time”