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"I’ the desk with his fist "You cannot keeptoo far, but to hell with boundaries Sir Lewis Finch was Bram’s last and only option The old man simply couldn’t refuse

Sir Lewis stared at his folded hands for a long, tense moment Then, with unruffled cal you down Much to the contrary"

"What do you mean?" Bram was instantly wary

"I mean precisely what I said I have done the exact opposite of keeping you down" He reached for a stack of papers "Bramwell, prepare yourself for elevation"

Three

Susanna, pull yourself together

After excusing herself to hurriedly tae her torn, loves--in the process, speaking more sharply to Gertrude than the poor maid deserved--she joined Lieutenant Colonel Bramwell’s companions in the Red Salon

As she entered, she stole a quick glance in the hall mirror Her appearance was repaired, as much as it could be Her composure, on the other hand, reed pieces, all of the within her Some jabbed at her pride Others stirred up the familiar well of dread that always opened whenever Papa and black poere led The rest made her prickle all over with awareness It wasn’t a nice feeling

And it was all his fault The beastly, teasing, handsome sheep-bomber Who was the man, and what did he ith her father? Hopefully just a polite social call Though she had to admit, Bramwell didn’t seem the type for polite social calls

The downstairs ht in the tray, and Susanna directed her to place it on a rosewood table with legs carved in the shape of long-whiskered goldfish

"Tea, gentle as she reached for the pot Pouring tea was just what she needed right now Such a civilizing force, tea She would nip sugar with little silver tongs Stir milk with a tiny spoon Tiny spoons were incoht coive the men tea, and perhaps a nice dinner Then they would be on their way, and the world would return to rights At least her corner of it

The forentleman--Lord Payne, as she no him--had located his coat and cravat, and smoothed his hair Hethe lacquered cabinets and glazed green vases

As for the officer--a corporal, she’d gathered from his patches--he stood near the plate , the picture of unease He glared suspiciously at the dragon-e the embroidered beast to strike If it did, she had no doubt he’d kill it handily

"Will you take tea, Corporal?"

"No"

It occurred to her this ht have been the first--and only--word she’d heard fro at hi story to tell She also felt, just as certainly, he would never tell it Not at knifepoint,cup, and he took an iht A devilish smile curved her way "Gunpowder tea? Well done, Miss Finch I do enjoy a lady with a sense of humor"

Now this onehe was a rake It ritten all over hiht as well have had the word eold-thread flourishes She knew all aboutladies in Spindle Cove were either fleeing thelance at the closed door to her father’s library, wondering what could be keeping hi The sooner these men left, the easier she would breathe

Payne reclined in his chair, tilting his head to regard the brass chandelier "This is quite a room" He indicated a display case mounted on the wall "Are those" His head cocked "What are those?"

"Rockets, fro dynasty My father is an avid collector of antiquities He takes a particular interest in historical weaponry" Pouring her own tea, she explained, "Summerfield has an eclectic theme This roo room, an Ottoman parlor, and an Italianate terrace My father’s study takes inspiration froreat library of Alexandria Hishall Oh, and there’s a Grecian folly in the garden"

"Sir Lewis ar into her cup "No, not really We’d always talked of a Grand Tour, but circuht the world to Summerfield instead"

And how she loved hi the most attentive or observant of fathers, perhaps But when she’d needed him most, he’d never failed her He’d moved all their possessions and his entire laboratory to Summerfield, turned down innumerable invitations and opportunities to travel over the yearsall for Susanna’s health and happiness

"Good, you’re all asseed from the library Rue to go shten his cravat

Lieutenant Colonel Bramwell followed like a thundercloud, dark and restless Susanna had no urge whatsoever to touch him At least, none that she would admit to As heMaybe he’d done hiround

"I have an announce a sheaf of official-looking papers "Since Braht I would share the good neith you, his friends" He adjusted his spectacles "In honor of his valor and contributions in the liberation of Portugal, Bramwell has been made an earl I have here the letters patent froent himself He will henceforth be known as Lord Rycliff"

Susanna choked on her tea "What? Lord Rycliff? But that title is extinct There hasn’t been an Earl of Rycliff since"

"Since 1354 Precisely The title has lain dormant for nearly five centuries When I wrote to hient was glad of estion to revive it"