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rother, were guilty of a host of immoral deeds

Lydia had heard enough They would have to wrestle her to the ground to make her stay

She strode over to Lord Randall “I’rotesque coat you possess a shred of honour and can bring soraceful debacle”

Without warning, Lord Randall captured her hand “Miss Lovell, please listen to me,” he said with a level of desperation so out of character “If youLadies will look upon you with awe and wonder Our sons will be regarded aentlemen of the ton Doors will be open to you, doors ”

Lydia was about to tell hi for the opinion of London Society That Greystone was the greatest man she’d ever known, that his sons would aspire to be like their father—honourable, courageous, kind-hearted, a devil if need be But Arabellain her lover’s eyes that severed the thread of her fragile control

“Oh, what a blind fool I have been” Arabella flew at Lord Randall She snatched his hand from Lydia’s and pushed him in the chest “This is not about your love for rey eyes turned hard, steely “You want her for yourself” She prodded Lord Randall, and he stumbled back “Say it You want her Say it Say it, you measly coward”

“All right” Lord Randall held up his hand in surrender “Yes, I want her, damn it But I’m confident the infatuation will pass”

While Arabella hurled abuse at the shocked lord and he struggled to defend his position, Lydia locked eyes with Ada and nodded discreetly to the locked door

No one noticed Ada stand or shuffle away from the pianoforte No one noticed Lydia take a few steps towards the exit—not until Ada knocked the console table and sent the hand-painted Sevres vase crashing to the floor

There was no tied heirloom

Lydia was about to run to the door when Arabella caught her by the ar Rudolph even if I have to tie you to a chair and force you to repeat your vows”

Perhaps Lydia’s sudden surge of courage had so Dariell’s clothes Perhaps, after three years spent biting her tongue, she’d reached the end of her tether And so, th, she clenched her fist and launched it into Arabella’s face

Hell, it hurt her knuckles, and the bones cracked, but it felt exhilarating all the same

The crow’s ar the floor

And then an al drew everyone’s attention to the door Another thud shook the frame as the wood splintered and pieces of plaster fell to the floor