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Elizabeth took the box silently and looked in Lucas's one pound, forty, was there, alently "This is your savings It has taken you years to collect all of these coins"

His lower lip quivered, but soed to expand his little chest until he stood like one of his toy soldiers "I'm the man of the house now I have to provide for you"

Elizabeth nodded solemnly and moved his money into the box where she kept household funds "Very well We shall use this for food Perhaps you can co you like"

"My kitchen garden should begin to produce vegetables soon," Susan said helpfully "Enough to feed us, and e"

Jane started to squirm on Elizabeth's lap "Please tell me you didn't plant more turnips I hate turnips"

"We all hate turnips," Susan replied "But they're so easy to grow"

"Not so easy to eat," Lucas grumbled

Elizabeth exhaled and closed her eyes How had they come to this? Theirs was an old, honorable family--little Lucas was even a baronet! And yet they were reduced to growing turnips--which they all detested--in a kitchen garden

She was failing She had thought she could raise her brother and sisters When her father had died, it had been the oing was the thought that she had to protect her siblings, keep theht off aunts and uncles and cousins, all of whom offered to take on one of the Hotchkiss children, usually little Lucas, ith his title, could eventually hope to e dowry But Elizabeth had refused, even when her friends and neighbors had urged her to let hiether, she had said Was that soThere was no s Elizabeth had taken for granted when she'd been se to send Lucas to Eton

And he had to go Every Hotchkiss male for four hundred years had attended Eton They hadn't allto have toto have to have a lot of money It was as simple as that

"Abrahaat Judas "

Elizabeth quietly cleared her throat and looked up with hopeful eyes Was Lady Danbury asleep yet? She leaned forward and studied the older lady's face Hard to tell

" and Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thaat Esrom"

The old lady's eyes had definitely been closed for some time now, but still, one couldn't be too careful

" and Esroat Aram, and "

Was that a snore? Elizabeth's voice dropped to a whisper

" and Araat Naasson, and"

Elizabeth closed the Bible and began to tiptoe backward out of the drawing roo to Lady Danbury; it was actually one of the better parts of her position as coer countess But today she really needed to get back ho while Jane was still in such a tizzy about the prospect of Squire Nevins entering their little family Elizabeth had assured her she wouldn't marry him if he were the last man on earth, but Jane hadn't been very confident that anyone else would ask, and--