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“By God, Justin!” Percy exclaimed

~ Seventeen ~

SUNDAY MORNING FOUND Sassy sed maid who arrived with a tray of hot coffee and biscuits She helped the older woh the woman protested that ‘Miss mustn’t bother’, and then sipped at the delicious brew

While she was nibbling at the biscuits, the woman reappeared with a pitcher of hot water, which she poured into the basin for Sassy She then bobbed a curtsey and asked if there was anything else Miss ht like

“Oh, no You have been too kind already Thank you” Sassy s out her long hair in front of the vanity , had been all about the marquis

Nothing erotic, and nothing frohed and said to the young wo back at her in the mirror, “You are in trouble—love is not in the cards for you”

At the sound of a knock at her door, she turned and called out, “Come in”

Sophy’s soard smile preceded her as she stepped woefully inside the room and went to Sassy to take her hands “Sassy,” she wailed, “I have done so dreadful”

Sassy led her to a pair of chairs near the longoverlooking the back gardens and said, “Calm yourself I am certain it can’t be as awful as you think”

“It is! My life is over,” cried Sophy, wringing her hands

Sophia’s distress appeared genuine, not theatrics Sassy squeezed her hand and said soothingly, “Why don’t you tell me what it is, and ill see e can do”

“I have told ulped and then said on a sob, “that I intend to marry Grey”

“What?” Sassy exclai it to her ht “But do you intend to marry Grey?”

“No, of course not I have in fact told Grey that I would not marry hiain last night, and it made h I was quite upset with Grey—for you ainst my will—I could not let Pe

rcy kill hi to do, and then ould Mama say? Well, so I threw ine, he even took his glove out, and I knew … I kneas going to challenge Grey, so I said that I had given my hand to Grey!”