from the hazel tree around her finger, and certainly it must have been Luther’s doing in lieu of a ring to formalize their engagement once and for all. 

“And ‘tis about time!” the proud mother-in-law-to-be proclaimed as she wiped a tear away. 

Molly decided that her snooping had been thorough enough to get back to the task at hand upstairs, and having completely caught her breath from her recent sprint down the staircase, she turned about and ran back up them with renewed energy and purpose. Outside Miss Julianna’s room she could hear laughter, and she could also hear the girl ask her mother (when the maid’s ear was pressed firmly against the door) why she had worn such a fancy dress for such a simple breakfast. 

“Oh...

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