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</div>Inwardly, not visible to even the trained eye, Karl grinned.  While young blonde woman certainly seemed to understand who Karl was and what he expected of her, he'd seen many women, and many more men, that could not handle themselves nearly as well in an encounter with him as this woman had.  This morning was full of surprises.  Then, recognizing the number of times that he had been surprised that morning, Karl decided he would put more concentration to being alert.</span><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 102, 255)"></span><br/><span style="font-family: 'Georgia'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 102, 255)">"Perhaps, you could drop me off at the powder room instead. I'll find my own way back to the parlor." </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">She asked, after she lightly took a hold on his offered arm.  </span><br/>
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<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(84, 172, 210)">"Of course,"</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"> answered Karl, as he began to lead her out of the room.  He felt a chill and momentarily hesitated.  He looked back over his shoulder and his eyes landed on the portrait over the fireplace.  Then he continued to lead her to the powder room.  He'd only met Mrs. Widcombe in passing, when he was home, on leave, at some retirement party where his father had needed him drive and help him get about (if necessary).  There were differences, maybe because Karl was quite familiar with all of Grace's faces, but there was indeed a very strong family resemblance between the two.<br/>
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At the powder room, Karl gave the young lady directions back to the parlor.  When the door closed behind her, he let his face become more neutral and then decided to pass by the foyer on his way to where the guests were gathering.  <br/>
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At the foyer, he saw a very petite young maid, fair skinned with red hair, open the door for another guest.  The new guest was a young Asian woman, obviously pregnant, with wildly colored hair, wearing a peach colored maternity dress.  His first thought was that perhaps Marcus had fathered another child, but then he put that thought away as lacking in evidence and it could be re-examined if necessary.  Grace might throw a fit if her mind jumped to Karl's first thought about the baby's father.  He resolved to find Grace before she saw the woman for herself.  Hopefully, Grace would be in the parlor.<br/>
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X X X X<br/>
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</div>This time, when Rikkie opened the door for a new guest she looked upon an Asian woman in a long peach pastel maternity dress, one hand placed against her belly.  She was so pregnant that Rikkie was reminded of one of her mother's jests about not letting the woman get near any sharp objects.  The woman also had many different locks of color on a head that Rikkie assumed was likely full of black or dark brown hair.  She'd never seen a naturally blonde Asian woman, so she threw out the idea that the woman was usually blonde.  While the hair colors were a refreshing surprise, it was totally at odds with Rikkie's earlier notion about Marcus Widcombe's 'type'.  Therefore she decided that someone else was the unborn baby's father.</span><br/>
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<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(247, 218, 100)">"Welcome, Ma'am,"</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"> Rikkie said to Asian woman. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(247, 218, 100)">"Please let me show you to the parlor. There's a coffee urn and service there, if you wish. However, if you wish to use the powder room, then I will show you the way there. My name is Rikkie. If there's anything you need, please let me know and I will see if I can manage it."</span><br/>
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<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">X X X X<br/>
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Meanwhile, Karl located Grace in the parlor, engaged in conversation with a another blonde woman, closer in age to her than one that had been wandering about unescorted.  He excused himself to the ladies and then whispered in Grace's ear that it was probably a coincidence but another guest had just arrived, a young Asian woman, and she was obviously pregnant.</span></span>