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"Over ten years," Griselda said "And I ae"

"Do you have anyone in en inquired

"No" She huddled in the corner looking as"I shall take the en thought for a while about the delights of e Of course, she’d only been married teeks, so it could be said that her experience was insignificant "How long were youwhen you first arrived from Scotland?"

Iht back to the days before she married Draven, when she, Tess, Annabel, and Josie had arrived at Rafe’s house with little more than the clothes on their backs "No," she said "You didn’t have a dog I would re rooen had ever seen That night, Annabel had said drea better than to be a rich ith all the money in the world to spend, and no husband to share it with

And here was Ien, a rich ith no husband It was odd how unpleasant desirable states could be when one was experiencing the briefly," Griselda continued "His nas But he started eating and eating and growing and growing" She opened her eyes and stared at Ih as , in his oay, but desperate to eat at anyif she should get a dog At least it would provide cohby--," Griselda said, closing her eyes again "Both of theet a painfully eager look in their eye and a little anticipatory wiggle in their bodies when it was tien said

"The only difference was that I did not wait to find out whether Milo killed hiave Milo away"

"So we have to find you a very slim man to marry"

"One who is uninterested in food," Griselda said fir?"

"I’ a chaperone to your sisters has been eye-opening in that respect"

Iht about how much her sister Annabel was in love with her husband And then there was Tess, whose eyes glowed at the very sight of her spouse "1 see what you h "My sisters are happy in their ives one to think," Griselda said She delicately wrapped a lacy scarf around her neck "My e was not, you understand, of the sa away a tiny pulse of disloyalty

But Griselda’s eyes had no surprise in them "Mait-land was a very beautifulin society, I have found that beauty is a great drawback in a man It seeree of arrogance"

Iain He had been arrogant He had been petulant too, whining about his ht control over herhimself on the back of any horse in the pursuit of a bet He simply couldn’t bear not to win

"Of course, Maitland rown into an easier person over the years," Griselda offered

A little sen’s lips "Or not"

"I find it helpful to regard the past opti to remember is that there was little you could have done, either to e a success or to keep Maitland alive"

Iree with Griselda At first, she couldn’t bear the pain of her own guilt Then she began bla to accept the fact that she couldn’t have stopped Draven fro to his death He was like an unbroken colt, and she was by no h woman to put him to bridle