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As Amanda and Olivia turned back to their food, Amelia sighed. “Birds really are quite intelligent. Not all of them, of course, but I have been thinking…”

“Uh-oh,” muttered her sister, around a bite of chicken.

“Uh-oh, what?” Olivia raised a brow. “Should I be worried?”

“When Amelia starts thinking, it means our household is about to acquire a new pet.”

Her sister didn’t bother denying it. “I would like to raise a bird from an egg. I have been studying eggs, you know, and how to care for them.”

Olivia winced, thinking of the egg she’d tried to pass her sister-in-law last night.

“You want a pet egg?” Amanda asked, gaping.

“Do not be silly. I want to hatch an egg, and raise the chick. Perhaps a parrot. Or a peacock. If Hamish is this smart, imagine what I could learn by raising a bird from young? I could teach him the proper sort of vocabulary! Perhaps even simple mathematics!”

Amanda groaned. “You will be picking up eggs everywhere we go, will you not?”

“If you can think of a better way to acquire a baby bird, I would like to hear it,” Amelia sniffed.

“It was bad enough when she declared she would not eat meat,” Amanda murmured in an aside to Olivia. “Now I am guessing she will refuse to eat eggs as well.”

“How about fish?” Olivia whispered.

“Since she raises sea urchins, no.”

“I can hear you both, you know,” Amelia whispered loudly, her eyes flashing. “I am not deaf.”

As the sisters continued to squabble—and debate the merits of egg incubation—Olivia’s thoughts went back to her husband. They were never far from Alistair, but after last night, and discovering he’d run off to Scotland this morning…

What must he think of her?

Why must he think of you at all?

It was true. He hadn’t even told her he was leaving…perhaps that told her everything she needed to know about his feelings for her. He was ashamed of her actions last night, and why wouldn’t he be?

He’d been forced to accept guests into his home, which he was clearly uncomfortable with, and she’d embarrassed them all.

He’s known enough pain already.

She winced and picked at her food, remembering what Amelia and Amanda had told her. Crushed. Alistair had been crushed, that was why he didn’t speak.

The poor man. Now he was stuck with a wife who was clearly unsuitable for his station.

Sighing, Olivia replaced her fork beside her plate, no longer hungry. What would happen, when Alistair returned?

The only thing to do was wait.

Chapter 14

He should have taken her with him.

Alistair was silent for the journey back to London.

Of course, he was always silent, but it was different this time. Even if he could speak, he wouldn’t. He was too busy staring out the window of the hurtling train and thinking about the wedding he’d just witnessed.

Uncle Ian was a dear old man, and he was thankful the bastard’s bullet hadn’t changed that. Ian would recover, although likely slowly, and his relationship with the Duke of Peasgoode would continue for more years. Many happy years.

It wasn’t their wedding Alistair had been invited to, however.