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Her father blinked "No gentleman would ever serve as a butler, no entleman," Philippa snapped, in a tone she had never before used with her father

"Then there’s so with himOh, dear God, he’s a married man" Mr Damson dropped his head into his hands "I should have wedded you to Rodney the day you turned sixteen"

Philippa rose, then slipped into the chair next to her father "He is not married, Papa"

Her father raised his head "Poor as a church mouse, I expect No estate"

"None," she admitted

"Still, that doesn’t explain why he’s the butler The rand duke There’s no need to put on livery; there’s many a rich merchant ould love to boast of a son-in-laith that pedigree"

Philippa bit her lip

It ca side of the blanket," her father stated, hisup with disdain

She nodded

"Damnation!" The word echoed harshly in the little rooly "Wick is not--"

"Wick? Wick? Like the wick of a candle? I’ll be da to do with a ed to his feet "Tell me that the bastard touched you, and I’ll kill hirabbed her arin?" She didn’t answer, and he gave her a shake "Does that fine prince over there know the consequences of his bastard brother deflowering an English lady? Does he?"

"He didn’t deflower rip didn’t "Ah" Then,toyou"

"He refused to marry me!" She half shrieked it

Her father dropped her araret, why did you leave me?" he ine what her mother would make of the situation "I asked hiroan

"And he refused on the grounds of his honor"

"Where did I go wrong?" he aret?" He raised his head "This is all because of Rodney, isn’t it? You got a bee in your bonnet about Rodney, and so you fell for a good-looking servant with an interesting tale"

"Wick is a gentleman and as honorable as you are He means to be a doctor, just like your own brother"