Page 6 (1/2)

Strange that he and Ja Miss Marshall was precisely his sort, too

"I understand," Edward said ht terror"

James wouldn’t know that he intended that as a co with Miss Marshall… Well, we’reFather started it It was one of his grand plans--you should see what she wrote about him I can’t see it left undone" He frowned "If you’d like me to leave Stephen alone, you could convince him to separate himself from Miss Marshall"

"I could" Edward pretended to consider this "That ht be an acceptable compromise"

But then he would have to talk to Stephen directly He’d have to reveal the truth of his continued existence, and that was far too dangerous The reater the likelihood that someone would tell And once the secret was out, Edould be forced to co to abandon the viscountcy to his brother, ould see to the estates It was another entirely to leave the properties uncared for Even Edas not so vile a scoundrel as to accept that If the truth came out, he’d have no choice but to take James’s place here He’d spend the rest of his days in this cloying, smelly roo Stephen, a siood; the boy he’d knoould never leave a friend--or an employer--in the lurch si Stephen to run aent very rain

Edward could threaten his brother with ease But helping hioals? After what Ja in Edward revolted at that

He scarcely knew Miss Marshall She had struck him as naïve and optimistic She was not the sort of ally he would norenerally preferred to ith more cynical types

But--not entirely irrelevantly--he’d liked her He couldn’t say the sas already in motion," his brother said airily, "but they’re of little consequence, and I’ll try to make sure they don’t hurt Stephen more than they must Will that do?"

"Is that port over there?" Edward motioned to the other side of the room

His brother turned away "Why--no It’s brandy"

"Just as good Pour us a glass, then, and we’ll drink to our accord"

His brother crossed the rooht the whole thing had been worked out