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“You remember the Portrait Gallery?”

A flush of color painted her cheeks “Yes,” she answered curtly “But it’s not quite as isolated as one ht wish”

“I know another more private spot But I had best lead you there, as it’s hard to find”

“Very well But if you deceive me—”

“Yes, yes, I know My liver will be handed to the cook for use in her special pâté”

“You are wiggling worse than a Breton eel, this evening,amiss?”

“No” Anna tried to stop squir to her brain “That is…” She groped for an explanation “…I aether with Prince Gunther Clearly the poorto both of us”

“I would i off ed an errant curl and twisted it into place “Perhaps your unhappiness has to do with another gentleman downstairs, eh? One that your Mae?”

Anna felt herself blush “That particular gentleement to do whatever he pleases”

“A ood, non?

No The spineless fops of the ton were certainly easier to deal with emotionally than the marquess Soed all the little gears and levers

As if I were one of his ht wryly

Josette let out a throaty little laugh when she didn’t answer “Men are impossible creatures” A hairpin slid into place and a clever little tug created an artful tuolden curls “The key is not to take them to heart”

Illusions Herany flaw

“But…how do you e that?” asked Anna “I fear that the heart does not always listen to reason”