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“Just so,” agreed Sophy, brightening “Things may turn out after all! Oh, Sassy, you have turned out to be my one true friend”

“Now, just go and put on your prettiest ense quite happy about the friendship herself

“Yes, yes! He must not be able to resisther hands

“Sophia!” Mrs Delleson snapped in a hushed voice as she glanced around in the church and frowned “Do stop casting your eyes around the rooh Prinny himself were about to enter It is most hoydenish of you” She fretted with the lace cuffs of her velvet spencer “I do wonder where Lord Grey is this ?”

“He does not like church, Mama In fact, he advises me that he rarely attends, unless he must,” lied Sophy expertly

“Really?” Mrs Delleson said, sounding surprised “Well—that is soe such thinking when he has a good wife to guide him”

Sassy adjusted the pale yellow silk scarf around the collar of her blue redingote and avoided Sophia’s eyes However, this seelances did in fact hed They checked this and sat perfectly ladylike on the hard wooden pew, though Sassy felt a gurgle lodge in her throat

Sophy was looking around though, and it was obvious to Sassy that Mr Lutterel and theIt wasand did not bode well Apparently Mr Lutterel had still not forgiven Sophia’s betrayal

“Oh, dear, Sassy,” Sophy cried after the doors closed, “he is not co”

“Hush, love Your mama will hear you,” Sassy warned

“He will leave Bristol, and he will never look atherself into a state; the thought that the h Sassy and made her own heart ache

When Mrs Delleson’s attention was diverted by her younger daughters, Sophy leaned into Sassy and said, “We must think of a plan”

Theeye as he noted she was busy whispering to her co to him

“Hush, Sophy—you are drawing attention to yourself” Sassy eyed her friend fully

Unhappily, Miss Delleson obeyed, but as the ser in her seat, much like a child When at last the ser out of the church, Sophy turned to her mother and announced enthusiastically, “Mama, I have just had theMiss Winthrop to Delleson and then having Dibbs drive her home, why don’t I just drive her to Netherby now? As it happens, Dibbs put Sassy’s port her directly back to Netherby, so we are quite set”