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"Whether you approve or not," he told Ca to propose to your sister The choice is hers And if she accepts, no power on earth will stopher I understand your concerns, so letShe’ll be protected, cherished, even spoiled"

"You have no bloody idea how to make her happy," Cam said quietly

"Rohan," Harry said with a faint s them think they are" He paused to survey their set faces "Are you going to forbid me to speak to her?" he asked in a tone of polite interest

"No," Leo said "Poppy’s not a child, nor a pet If she wants to speak to you, she shall But be aware that, whatever you say or do in the effort to convince her to hed by the opinions of her fa to be aware of," Cauised all hint of feeling "If you succeed inan entire family--ill protect her at any cost"

That was alive Harry pause

Almost

Chapter Eleven

"My brother and Mr Rohan don’t like you," Poppy told Harry the next arden behind the hotel As the news of the scandal traveled through London like wildfire, it was necessary to do soentlee was bound to offer for her, to save her frorace However, she wasn’t certain if a lifeti a pariah She didn’t know Harry well enough to ments about his character And her family was emphatically not in favor of him

"My companion doesn’t like you," she continued, "and h to decide, but she’s inclined not to like you"

"What about Beatrix?" Harry asked, the sun striking glimmers in his dark hair as he looked down at her

"She likes you But then, she likes lizards and snakes"

"What about you?"

"I can’t abide lizards or snakes"

A smile touched his lips "Let’s not fence today, Poppy You knohat I’"

She responded with an unsteady nod

It had been a hellish night She had talked and cried and argued with her fa, and then she’d found it nearly i and conversation thisemotions

Her safe, familiar world had been turned upside down, and the peace of the garden was an unspeakable relief Strangely, it e’s presence, even though he was partially responsible for the mess she was in He was cal in hisarbor draped in sheets of roses It was a tunnel of pink and white blossoerow Poppy had insisted on taking her in lieu of Miss Marks or Amelia, both of ould have inal privacy with Harry

"I like you," Poppy ade on, is it?"

"It’s more than many people start with" Harry studied her "I’th," Poppy said Her fae in such dire terms that she had already decided to refuse hiri what they had to say, I’m sorry to tell you that I--"

"Wait Before you make a decision, I’d like to hear what you have to say What your feelings are"

Well That was a change Poppy blinked in disconcertion as she reflected that her family and Miss Marks, well intentioned as they had been, had told her what they thought she should do Her own thoughts and feelings hadn’t received er," she said "And I don’t think I should make a decision about "

"You still have hopes of one But the feelings are still there, and until enough timent"

"That’s very sensible of you Except that some decisions can’t be put off And I’ently, "If you go back to Hampshire under the cloud of scandal, you knohat to expect, don’t you?"

"Yes There will beunpleasantness, to say the least" It was a mild word for the disdain, pity and scorn she would receive as a fallen wo well "And my family won’t be able to shield me fro for the braided coil at the top of her head, using a fingertip to nudge an anchoring pin further into place "I could if youfor you And no matter how anyone else advises you, Poppy, you’re the one ill bear the brunt of the scandal"

Poppy tried, but couldn’t quite e, a weary smile "So much for my dreams of a quiet, ordinary life My choice is either to live as a social outcast or as the wife of a hotelier"

"Is the latter choice so unappealing?"

"It’s not what I’ve always hoped for," she said frankly

Harry absorbed that, considered it, while reaching out to skiers over clusters of pink roses "It wouldn’t be a peaceful existence in a country cottage," he acknowledged "We would live at the hotel o to the country If you want a house in Hae of your own, and a team of four at your disposal"

Exactly what they said he’d do, Poppy thought, and sent hi to bribe ?"

His hopeful tone ood effort" Hearing the rustling of foliage, Poppy called out, "Beatrix, are you there?"

"Tay," came her sister’s cheerful reply "Medusa found solance "Whoor should I say whatis Medusa?"

"Hedgehog," she replied "Medusa’s getting a bit plu her"

To Harry’s credit, he remained composed as he remarked, "You know, I pay arden"

"Oh, have no fear Medusa isShe would never run away fro," Harry repeated, a s across histo face her A new urgency filtered through his voice "Poppy Tell me what your worries are, and I’ll try to answer them There must be some terms we can come to"

"You are persistent," she said "They toldthey told you and worse," Harry said without hesitation "But what they didn’t tell you is that you are thewo to have you"