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She smiled "Oh, I think that’s yet to be decided"

"I can be a beast, as you’re so fond of callingas a bull, stubborn as an ox"

"But handsoether inserious here I want you to knohat you’re getting into"

"I knohat I’ve gotten into It’s love And I’ve fallen so deep in it by now, I ought to have a bathing costume" She caressed his cheek "I can’t wait to be your wife"

He clasped her hand to his face, then kissed it warh we’ll reside in London, at least some of the time?"

"I would have followed you to the Pyrenees London is just up the road"

"We will be here often, I promise Christmas, Easter Every summer, of course, so you can welcome your friends I know for you, Spindle Cove will always be home"

"But not for you?"

He shook his head "You’re my home, Susanna My home, my heart,Always"

Epilogue

Six weeks later

It was good to be hoe, Bram paused outside the red-painted door of the establish Bull Which had been forn hanging above the door ht be new, but when he threw open the door of as now the Bull and Blossos never changed

His cousin re idiot

The entire tavern had been cleared of chairs and tables Colin stood with his back to the door, directing men in two opposite corners of the room as they hoisted so an elaborate network of pulleys and ropes Bra, but he knew it couldn’t be good

"Hold your ropes, now," Colin ordered,with both arms like an orchestra conductor "Thorne, pull it a hair or two closer to your corner Not too far! That space will get s, and we need to leave the fair Salome plenty of roo and only giving us six"

Bram cleared his throat

Colin wheeled in a brisk half turn His countenance was purposely, studiously blank

Bram could tell his cousin meant to look innocent

He wasn’t fooled

"Salo on here?"

"Nothing" Colin shrugged "Nothing at all"

Behind him, the two men strained and sweated to keep the fra bastards wouldn’t even aze He looked froylared at his cousin "You’re dragging the vicar into debauchery now? Good God, ruff noise, his cousin directed the men to secure their ropes Then he turned back to Bra the back of his neck "Bram, you weren’t supposed to be here until to by this scene, it’s a bloody fortunate thing I ca on here"

Fosbury walked into the roo floury hands on his apron "All finished with the cake, my lord She’s a work of art, if I do say it myself Used al bubbies of puffedwhether to use pink rosettes or cinnah When it comes to those, a man does have his individual tastes, you--" The estures His gaze snapped to Branition "Oh Lord Rycliff You’rehere"

Bra untoward?"

Colin raised his open palms "I swear it on my life Now if you’d only--"

At that moment, a breathless Rufus dashed into the room "Lord Payne, your delivery’s arrived Where did you want the tiger?"

This tied forward and grabbed Colin by the lapels "Didn’t you learn your lesson after that first debacle? This is precisely why I won’t give you a penny to live on elsewhere, you worthless cur If you wreak this much havoc in quiet little Spindle Cove, the devil only knohat ave his cousin a shake "Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?"

"Planning your stag night You dolt"

Bram froze Then frowned "Oh"

"Satisfied? Now you’ve ruined the surprise" Colin raised a brow "Had it not occurred to you that your otten you’re gettingto hi Susanna in aof little else And having only just returned to the neighborhood after spending a week in London, he was growing damned well desperate to hold his bride

What the hell was he doing holding Colin, then?

Bra to back out of this room the way I caave him a helpful shove to start hiet out"