Bellona stiffened at the unexpected contact, but returned her friend's embrace. She had always thought Camilla had been her other half...but perhaps she ought to look to her friendships instead.

She pulled back to answer, "a kind offer, but I fear I will need to keep my wits about me in these early weeks."

  

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— graphics by MJ ♥ —

Any implication that her little habit left her distinctly witless went over Angeline’s head – and even had it not she would not have taken offence given Bella’s circumstance. Camilla might well have ruined them all; although privately Angel did wonder whether an elopement was worse than the other thing.

“Anything you need darling, anything at all.”

  

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time of death: when MJ dropped this heart-stopping set