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"she can kill with a smile, she can wound with her eyes."
•••
CONSTANCE BELIEVES that you only fall in love once. That's why her father hasn't married yet, she believed he loved her mother very much. They had a loving relationship, and Anthony didn't want to marry anyone else because her mother was the only woman he ever loved.
Oh how wrong she was.
"Two dances? With the Duke?" Connie asked, from her seat as she watched Daphne play the piano.
"He was quite taken with your Aunt, Connie. The entire party was, for that matter. All eyes were on Daphne. At least enjoy some toast, dearest." Violet said, offering her plate towards her.
"I am not hungry, Mama." Daphne declined, carrying on playing the piano.
"Are you certain the entire party was not simply eyeing a tear in her dress?" Colin asked, from his seat next to Benedict.
"Or a misstep she took on the dance floor?" Benedict said.
"I do wonder, Daphne, might we count on the duke at the Crawford ball?" Violet asked her eldest daughter.
"I should think it a fair chance." Daphne told her.
"What about the Ramsbury ball, Friday? And what about the grand picnic?" Violet asked her daughter.
"We shall see, Mama."
"How terrible for Fran that she'll be off practicing pianoforte with Aunt Winnie all season, and miss Daphnes engagement." Hyacinth piped up, passing a cake over to Connie, making sure Gregory doesn't steal.
"Did Francesca leave for Bath?" Gregory asked, earning a confused look from Connie, at his unawareness.
"How does lady come to be with child?" Eloise said, making everyone snap their heads towards her, as she came in.
"Eloise, what a question." Violet said, with worry in her voice when she sees that the question gained Connie's full attention.
"I thought one needed to be married?" Eloise asked, still not bothered by the children's ears in the room.
"What are you talking about?" Daphne asked, turning away from the piano to look at her sister.
"Apparently, it's not even a requirement." Eloise said, mainly towards Daphne.
"Eloise, that's enough." Violet told her, giving her a stern look.
"But Anthony wasn't married when he had Connie, so I just want to understand how it's possible." Eloise whispered, trying to not let Connie hear her.
