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Bran and Anne exchanged glances, and Anne spoke “You’re made of cake”

“And alive,” Branwell added

“And Napoleon’s maid,” Anne put in

“But of course And who else have you invented?”

Bran blew air out of his cheeks “Well, justeveryone, really! Crashey and Bravey and Gravey and Napoleon and Wellington and Rogue and—oh! You said Douro! The Marquis of Douro? He’s one of ours! And Mr Bud and Mr Tree and Tracky and Boaster”

“Not Brunty, though,” Anne said softly “Not Bestminster Not lots of them, when you think about it”

Marie Antoinette sparkled at Bran She put her frosting-face in her delicate hands and smiled “Did you do all that by yourself? What a talent you must be!”

“Well, Charlotte did Douro ton And Gravey and Crashey and Zenobia But I did Dr Home His backstory, anyway; she ran off with him a bit over the winterAnd Emily did Ross and Parry and a jolly lot of ladies I can’t ree in h! And Napoleon!”

Marie leaned closer He could s! Tell me more! Who else?”

Branarmed under the sun of Marie’s interest He wracked his mind “Oh! Anne has some sad little dolly called Victoria, but we haven’t met her yet She’s Anne’s secret”

“Bran! Youyou worm!”

“She talks to her doll all night long There’s a million stories and she won’t tell us one,” Branwell confided in his new friend Anne hite with rage

Marie patted Anne’s hand She smelled like warm, rich chocolate and cool lemon cake “Do not be upset at your brother, mon fille! It is not beautiful on you Why would you keep secrets from him? He seems very nice! You should never keep secrets from your family”

“He wouldn’t understand,” pleaded Anne, her eyes full of tears “He’ll be angry He gets very angry, miss”

“Don’t we all, petite Anne? Ah, but you see, there is no proof! How can I believe such a thing?”