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"We weren’t expecting you until tomorrow," Amelia said

"I was able to conclude my business a bit early I hed "I could have guessed that you would"

He turned to Meredith "Ashworth didn’t let on a thing about your good news, however"

"It’s meant to be a secret yet," Meredith said "Don’t tell him you know"

Julian’s ive me an answer"

"Oh?" Meredith’s brows arched "To what question?"

He spread his ar estate is ht Her bare toes squelched in spongystrearasped a handful of watercress and pulled by the ste them to the basket threaded over her wrist Just a few h

A brilliant blue dragonfly zipped past, darting froht to another as it hovered above the creek Lily watched, delighted with the creature’s iridescent beauty and graceful speed The dragonfly made a sudden streak to the left She turned her head to follow its path--

And spied her husband standing on the riverbank, one shoulder propped against a beech tree She was stunned She hadn’t expected hi there?" she asked

"Not long"

She turned to face hierously handsome Unshaven, rumpled, bronzed from a day of travel in the sun He’d stripped off his coat and wore it slung over his shoulder on the crook of one strong, talented finger His cravat, if he’d been wearing one, was gone

The stream’s brisk current lapped at the backs of her knees Her mouth watered

He tossed his coat over a branch and advanced toward her "You," he signed, "are very hard to find"