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"May we stay a fortnight?"

"Ten days"

"Eleven?" she asked hopefully

Harry sighed Eleven days away froe In close coue, but he wasn’t fool enough to risk the ground he’d gained with Poppy He’d coet her back to London But if Poppy would take hily into her bed, and then accompany him back with no fuss, it orth a concession on his part

Stilleleven days

"Why not?" he o ht," Poppy said cheerfully "No one around here would notice"

To Mr Jacob Valentine

The Rutledge Hotel

Embankment and Strand

London

Valentine,

I hope this letter finds you well I ae and I have decided to remain in Hampshire until month’s end

In e

Jake looked up fro disbelief Carry on as usual?

Nothing was usual about this

"Well, what does it say?" Mrs Pennywhistle prompted, while nearly everyone in the front office strained to hear

"They’re not coe, lopsided smile touched the housekeeper’s lips "Bless my soul She’s done it"

"Done what?"

Before she could reply, the elderly concierge sidled up to them and asked in a discreet tone, "Mrs Pennywhistle, I couldn’t help but overhear your conversationa a holiday?"

"No, Mr Lufton," she said with an irrepressible grin "He’s taking a honey days, Harry learned a great deal about his wife and her faroup of individuals, lively and quick-witted, with an instant collective willingness to try any ideas that cahed and squabbled and debated, but there was an innate kindness in the way they treated each other

There was soical about Ramsay House It was a comfortable, well-run home, filled with sturdy furniture and thick carpets, and piles of books everywherebut that didn’t account for the extra so the front threshold, so that had always escaped Harry

Gradually he came to realize that it was love

The second day after Harry’s arrival in Hampshire, Leo toured him around the estate They rode to visit some of the tenant farms, and Leo stopped to talk to various tenants and laborers He exchanged informed comments with the a depth of knowledge that Harry would not have expected

In London, Leo played the part of disaffected rake to perfection In the country, however, the mask of indifference dropped It was clear that he cared about the families who lived and worked on the Ramsay estate, and he intended to ation that brought water along stone channels they had dug frowater And he was doing his ut convincing his tenants to plant a new variety of hybrid wheat developed in Brighton that produced higher yields and stronger straw

"They’re slow to accept change in these parts," Leo told Harry ruefully "Many of the the sickle and scythe instead of the threshing rinned "I’ve told the to be over before they ever decide to take part in it"

It occurred to Harry that the Hathaerea solid success of the estate not in spite of their lack of aristocratic heritage, but because of it No traditions or habits had been passed on to them There had been no one to protest "but this is hoe’ve always done it" As a result, they approached estate , because they knew no other way to proceed

Leo showed Harry the estate ti, and ad-sizing logs was all done by hand Massive logs were carried on shoulders or with lug hooks, creating countless opportunities for injury

After supper that evening, Harry sketched so timber with a system of rollers, run planks, and dollies The system could be constructed at a relatively low expense, and it would allow for faster production and greater safety for the estate laborers Merripen and Leo were both immediately receptive to the idea

"It was very kind of you to draw up those scheone to the caretaker’s house for the night "Merripen was very appreciative"

Harry shrugged casually, unfastening the back of her gown and helping to draw her arms from the sleeves "I merely pointed out a few obvious is that are obvious to you," she said, "aren’t necessarily obvious to the rest of us It was very clever of you, Harry" Stepping out of the gown, Poppy turned to face hi the chance to know you They’re beginning to like you You’re being very char, and you don’tin your chair"

"I’h to cohed "I like your faradually freeing her fro you with them helps me to understand you better"

The corset made a soft thwack as he tossed it to the floor Poppy stood before hi as he studied her intently

An uncertain smile crossed her face "What do you understand about er beneath the strap of her che it doard "That it’s your nature to form close attachments to the people around you" He moved his pal caress "That you are sensitive, and devoted to those you love, and most of allthat you need to feel safe" He eased the other strap of her cheh her body He drew her against hi around her, and she h