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marriage?
    The door swung open, and a stunning raven-haired woman rushed into the room. “Brompton told me the good news, Henrietta. I’m so happy Michael is back safely— Oh, my goodness. I do apologize. I didn’t know you had a visitor.”
    “Please come in and meet Mademoiselle Gabrielle. She made the journey with Michael from France.”
    Gabby stood and curtsied to the lady who appeared to be of the same age.
    “How exciting. You journeyed with Lord Kendal?”
    The curvaceous young woman, breathless from excitement, spoke in gushes. Not at all what Gabby would have expected from an English lady, but more like her friend Jeanine at the convent. A textile merchant’s daughter, Jeanine had not been trained in restraint and the finer attitudes of a lady, and Gabby liked her for it. Until the death of her parents, Gabby had shown the same uninhibited spirit, unrestrained in her curiosity.
    Lady Rathbourne smiled indulgently. “This is my husband’s sister, Lady Gwyneth Ashworth. Did you come with your husband?”
    Lady Ashworth sat in the chair across from Gabby. “Yes. Since he had to meet with your brother, I accompanied him. I wanted to see Uncle Charles and Edward. I miss everyone. Our household is very quiet in comparison to Rathbourne House. You must be so delighted to finally have your brother home.”
    Lady Rathbourne toyed with a strand of flyway hair resting on her cheek. “It’s been quite a shock for Michael to discover that I’ve married and moved the entire household to Rathbourne House. Cord is talking with him now.”
    “I hope Michael isn’t too upset, since I’m so very glad to have you as a sister. And I’m sure my brother is pleased to finally meet him.”
    “There was a bit of male one-upmanship, but I’m sure…” Lady Rathbourne looked down at her feet. “But by now, Michael is regaling them with his adventure in France.”
    Lady Gwyneth rolled her exotic black eyes toward the ceiling. “Most likely drinking brandy. Is Brinsley here too?”
    “I’m not sure,” Lady Rathbourne said too quickly.
    If Gabby hadn’t been paying attention she might have missed the silent communication of the rounded eyes and raised eyebrows between the women. Whatever Lord Rathbourne was discussing with the men, his wife knew but didn’t want to share.
    “Will you be staying at Rathbourne House long? It will be delightful to have another woman in this household,” Lady Gwyneth said.
    “No, I don’t want to impose. I will talk to Lord Kendal about moving immediately to my brother’s house.”
    Gabby was exhausted from her travels and would have liked to avoid getting into a carriage for a very long time. Her stomach growled, reminding her how hungry she was, and she hoped the tray would soon arrive. Lord Kendal had been too excited to return home to stop for a midday repast and then refused to take tea at Kendal House.
    The door swung open, and Gabby sat forward in expectation of the tea tray’s arrival. Instead, a large dog rushed into the room with a young boy who must be Lord Kendal’s younger brother. The golden curls, wide light eyes, and the dimpled smile were identical to his older brother.
    “Hen, has the tea tray arrived? Gus and I are starving.”
    Lady Rathbourne and Lady Gwyneth laughed at the same time. “I swear Gus and Edward can divine the arrival of the tray before Mrs. Brompton has brought it.”
    “We’re growing.” Edward bent down and patted his dog’s head, while his canine friend sniffed around the table in the center of the seating arrangement.
    “Gus, the tray has not arrived yet. Please sit down.” Lady Henrietta pointed to the floor.
    The retriever cocked his broad head to one side and then dropped to the floor in a pivotal position next to the table, demonstrating his knowledge of where the tray would be placed.
    “Edward, come meet Mademoiselle Gabrielle, our guest.”
    The young imp tilted his head in courtly fashion and bowed grandly from his waist, as if