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Harry had never been so ravenous But he wanted to wash and shave, and put on fresh clothes He felt out of his ele to recapture a measure of his usual equanio to the kitchen

"Poppy--" He waited until she glanced back at hiht" he forced hiht?"

Co his concern, Poppy’s expression cleared "Not all right" She paused only a second before adding, "It onderful" And she se kitchen area, which was essentially a portion of the main room, with a small cast-iron cookstove, a cupboard, a hearth, and a pine table that served both as workstation and dining surface Poppy had set out a feast of hot tea, boiled eggs, Oxford sausages, and s

"These are a Stony Cross specialty," Poppy said, gesturing to a plate bearing two hefty baked loaves "One side is filled with e, and the other side is filled with fruit It’s an entire meal You start with the savory end, and" Her voice faded as she glanced up at Harry, as clean and dressed and freshly shaven

He looked the same as always, and yet intrinsically different His eyes were clear and unshadowed, the green irises brighter than hawthorn leaves Every hint of tension had vanished from his face It seemed as if he had been replaced by a Harry from a much earlier ti every thought and e that Poppy felt hot flutters of attraction in her stolanced down at the oversized pastry with a crooked grin "Which end do I start with?"

"I have no idea," she replied "The only way to find out is to take a bite"

His hands went to her waist, and he turned her gently to face him "I think I’ll start with you"

As hisHe drew in the taste of her, delighting in her response The casual kiss deepened, altered into so into more heat, a kiss with the layered merosity of exotic flowers Eventually Harry lifted hiswater to drink He had a unique way of touching, she thought dazedly, his fingers gentle and artful, sensitive to nuance

"Your lips are swollen," he whispered, the tip of his thu the corner of her ainst one of his palms "We’ve had many kisses to make up for"

"More than kisses," he said, and the look in those vivid eyes brought a heartbeat into her throat "As ato push hier, so solid, that the idea of cohable But he yielded to the urging of her hands, and sat, and began to peel an egg

After Harry had consu of tea, they went for a walk At Poppy’s urging, he left off his coat and waistcoat, a state of undress that could have gotten him arrested in certain parts of London He even left the top buttons of his shirt undone and rolled up his sleeves Char him outside

They went across a field to a nearby wood, where a broad, leaf-carpeted path cut through the forest The hs in a dense roof, but the depth of shade was pierced by blades of sunlight It was a place of abundant life, plants growing on plants Pale green lichen frosted the oak branches, while tresses of woodbine dangled to the ground

After Harry’s ears had adjusted to the absence of city cla chorus of birdcalls, leaf rustlings, the burble of a nearby brook, and a rasp like a nail being drawn along the teeth of a comb

"Cicadas," Poppy said "This is the only place you’ll see theland They’re usually found only in the tropics Only a "

"How do you know he’s not co hi is rather a male preoccupation, isn’t it?"

Harry s subject," he said, "I have yet to discover it"

The air eet, spiced heavily oodbine and sun-heated leaves and flowers he didn’t recognize As they went deeper into the wood, it seemed they had left the world far behind thelanced at her alertly

"She told land," Poppy continued "And she told me that she’s your half sister"

Harry focused on the path before them "Does the rest of the family know?"

"Only Amelia and Caht she’d prefer death over telling anyone"

"She impressed upon us the need for secrecy, but she wouldn’t explain why"

"And you want ht," she said "You knoould never say or do anything to harhts in hisAnd yet he had made a promise to Catherine "They’re not my secrets to reveal, love May I talk to Cat first, and tell her what I’d like to explain to you?"

Her hand tightened on his "Yes, of course" A quizzical smile curved her lips "Cat? That’s what you call her?"

"Sometimes"

"Do youis there fondness between you?"

The hesitant question provoked a laugh as dry as the rustle of corn husks "I don’t know, actually Neither of us is exactly comfortable with affection"

"She’s a bitat her warily, Harry saw that there was no censure on her face "I’s Ca--he said it’s characteristic of Hathaomen, this need for demonstrations of affection"

Amused and fascinated, Poppy made a face "What else did he say?"

Harry’s rin "He co with Arabian horsesthey’re responsive, quick, but they need their freedom You never master an Arabianyou become its companion" He paused "At least, I think that’s what he said I was half dead fro brandy"

"That sounds like Ca this advice, he sent you to ainst hi her braid aside to kiss her neck "Yes," he whispered "And what a nice ride it was"

She flushed and squir her, working his way up to her , deterentled, his ainst hers He liked to tease, to seduce Warh her veins, prickling sweetly in hidden places

"I love kissing you," he murmured "It was the worst punish me do this"

"It wasn’t a punish special to me And after what you’d done, I was afraid to be close to you"

All hint of amusement left Harry’s expression He sers softly along the side of her face "I won’t betray you again I know you have no reason to trust me, but in time I hope--"

"I do trust you," she said earnestly "I’m not afraid now"

Harry was baffled by her words, and even more by the intensity of his response to the welled up in hie to his own ears as he asked, "How can you trustif I’m worthy of it?"

The corners of her lips tilted upward "That’s what trust is, isn’t it?"