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“I’ about Lady Martin” Arabella snorted “Do you not care for Lydia? It is not just her reputation at risk,” she continued, having , hter born to us will have to suffer the saainst their name”

Arabella ht have a point if she wasn’t barren Of course, Cecil did not protest

“I’,” Lord Randall said “This sort of thing does not go away Your sister has no hope of residing in London now”

What the devil?

Panic seized Lydia’s heart

London?

She thought the argument related to her interest in Lord Greystone’s tenants, in her keenness to wander onto his estate and involve herself in his business But what had it to do with going to London?

Well, there was only one way to find out

With a straight back and raised chin Lydia pushed open the door “Good afternoon,” she said to the three people seated on the sofas Arabella was seated next to Lord Randall while Cecil sat opposite “I heard youwith curiosity to discover why” She pasted a smile as fake as the mole on Lord Randall’s cheek

After a brief silence, Arabella scowled “We would have spoken to you directly had you not been gallivanting about the Greystone Estate like a silly strumpet”

“Arabella,” Lord Randall chided He took a pinch of snuff froently “I cannot and will not permit you to speak like that in my presence”

“Quite right,” Cecil added bravely, but then bowed his head

Arabella’s hollow cheeks tinged red, and she patted Randall’s knee absently Anyone would think Lord Randall was her husband “Forgive me, Rudolph But the chit doesn’t realise the trouble she has caused”

“Then would sohten me?” Lydia had used a similar phrase with Greystone and—heavens above—he had done exactly that “What have I done this time?”

Lord Randall flapped the letter at her “Apparently, my dear, you’re the talk of the town and for entirely the wrong reasons”