“Rehearsels, actually.""Rehearsals?""For the-"Oh,no."-musicale."The Smythe-Smith musical.It finished off what the Crusades had begun.There wasn't a man alive who could maintain a romantic thought when faced with the memory-or the threat-of a Smythe-Smith musicale.”

“The Smythe-Smith musicale. Thankfully, it came around just once per year, because Hyacinth was quitecertain it would take a full twelve months for her ears torecover.”

“Watch over Honoria, will you? See she doesn't marry an idiot. (Daniel Smythe-Smith)”

“Honoria Smythe-Smith,” Sarah said, positively grinning, “I amso proud of you.”“I would ask why,” Honoria replied warily, “but I’m not sure Iwant to know the answer”

“I may not like performing in musicales, but I love rehearsing with the three ofyou.”Her three cousins stared at her, momentarily nonplussed.“Don’t you realize how lucky we are?” Honoria said. And then,when no one leapt to agree, she added, “To have each other?”“Couldn’t we have each other over a game of cards?” Iris suggested.”

“It’s a curse, really,” Lady Danbury said. “I’m the only person Iknow my age who has perfect hearing.”“Most would call that a blessing.”She snorted. “Not with that musicale looming over the horizon.”

“Let it be said, Marcus thought dryly,that nothing cooled a man's ardor like the Crusades.”