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On the thirdafter their arrival in Hampshire, Amelia and Win went for a walk on a circular route that eventually led back to Ramsay House It was a fresh, clear day, the path a bit muddy in places, the meadows covered with such a wealth of white oxeye daisies that at first glance it looked like new-fallen snow

A, matched Win’s brisk pace easily

"I love Stony Cross," Win said, relishing the sweet, cool air "It feels like hoh I’ve never lived here for long"

"Yes There is so special about Hampshire Whenever we return fro her bonnet, Ahdy as they walked She seemed absorbed in the scenery, the tumbles of flowers everywhere, the clicks and drones of insects busy arasses and peppery watercress "Win," she said eventually, her voice pensive, "you don’t have to leave Hampshire, you know"

"Yes, I do"

"Our family can weather any scandal Look at Leo We survived all of his-"

"In terms of scandal," Win interrupted wryly, "I think I’ve actuallyworse than Leo"

"I don’t think that’s possible, dear"

"You knoell as I that the loss of a woman’s virtue can ruin a family far more effectively than the loss of a man’s honor It’s not fair, but there you have it"

"You didn’t lose your virtue," A Believeat her older sister, Win saw that she had shocked her She s that way, Amelia?"

"Well… yes, I suppose I did You were never one to moon over handsome boys, or talk about balls and parties, or dream about your future husband"

"That was because of Merripen," Win admitted "He was all I ever wanted"

"Oh, Win," Amelia whispered "I’h a narrow gap in a stone fence, and Arassy footpath that led to a forest trail, and continued to a footbridge that crossed a streaht of what you just said, I feel even ly that you should not marry Harrow What I mean is, you should marry Harrow if you wish, but not because of any fear over a scandal"

"I want to I like hiood man And if I stay here, it would result in endless misery for me and Merripen One of us has to leave"

"Why does it have to be you?"

"Merripen is needed here He belongs here And it truly doesn’t matter to me where I am In fact, I think it would be better forto talk to him," Amelia said

"Oh no, he mustn’t! Not on my behalf" Win’s pride bristled, and she turned to face Amelia "Don’t let him Please"

"I couldn’t stop Ca to Merripen for your sake, Win It’s for Merripen’s own sake We very ood"

"He’s already lost me," Win said flatly "He lost me the moment he refused to stand up for me And after I leave, he’ll be no different than he has always been He will never allow softness in hiive hiht make him soft" All the tiny e her tense, pinching forehead "The more he cares for me, the more deterrue

"Merripen is convinced he has nothing to give ance in that, don’t you think? Deciding what I need Disregarding h on the pedestal that it absolves hiance," Amelia said softly "Fear"

"Well, I won’t live that way I won’t be bound by htly, cal over her as she admitted the truth "I love hied or trapped intopartner"

"Certainly no one could blame you for that It has always irked ht’ herself a ed to hook and jerk out of the water"

Despite her

They pushed on through the damp, warm landscape As they eventually approached Ra to a stop before the entrance "It’s Julian," Win said "So early! He ht" She quickened her pace and reached hie

Julian’s cool handso journey froripped them firmly, and smiled down at her

"Welcome to Hampshire," she said

"Thank you, ?"

"Briskly," she assured hi for you" He reached in his pocket and withdrew a ser She looked down at a ruby, the shade of red known as "pigeon’s blood," set in gold and diamonds "It is said," Julian told her, "that to own a ruby is to have contentment and peace"

"Thank you, it’s lovely," sheforward Her eyes closed as she felt his lips press gently against her forehead Content, perhaps sos

Ca Merripen when he orking in the timber yard He watched for a moment as Merripen helped a trio of wooderous job, with onein the possibility of severe injury or death

With the use of sloping planks and long levers, thewith effort, ht Merripen, as the largest and strongest of the group, had taken the center position,

Concerned, Cam started forward to help

"Get back," Merripen barked, seeing Cam out of the corner of his eye

Cam stopped at once The woodmen had worked out a method, he realized Anyone who didn’t know their procedures ht inadvertently cause hars were eased safely to the ground The wood their hands on their knees as they sought to recover fro effort All except Merripen, who sank the tip of a deadly sharp hand hook into one of the logs He turned to face Cas