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"I know I can see that you’re sincere It’s just that before the wedding, you said it didn’tas--"

"As long as I had the rest of her," Harry said, sant swine I’m sorry, Cat" He paused "I understand nohy you feel so protective of Poppy and Beatrix Of all of the to a family you’ve ever known"

"Or you"

An uncoht hiside the path, and Catherine seated herself "Will you?" she asked, gesturing to the space beside her

He obliged, lowering to the bench and leaning forith his elbows braced on his knees

They were quiet but oddly co for so quite how to achieve it

Harry decided to start with honesty Taking a deep breath, he said gruffly, "I’ve never been kind to you, Cat Especially when you needed ithim "You rescued ivento find e in return"

"I owed that litter of her hair, the small oval of her face, the porcelain fineness of her skin A frown pulled at his brow Averting his gaze, he reached up to rub the back of his neck "You look too damned much like our mother"

"I’m sorry," Catherine whispered

"No, don’t be sorry You’re beautiful, just as she was More so But sometimes it’s difficult to see the reseh "When I found out about you, I resented you for having had so many more years with her than I’d had It was only later that I realized I was the fortunate one"

A bitter smile touched her lips "I don’t think either of us could be accused of having had an excess of good fortune, Harry"

He responded with a humorless chuckle

They continued to sit side by side, still and silent, close but not touching The two of theive or receive love The world had taught them lessons that would have to be unlearned But soenerous, Harry mused Poppy was proof of that

"The Hathaere a stroke of luck for hts She ree of her sleeve "Being with theiven lad of it," Harry said gently "You deserve that, andto ask you"

"Yes?"

"Poppy wants to know , about the part when I found you?"

Catherine replaced her spectacles and stared into a nearby blaze of daffodils "Tell her everything," she said eventually "She can be trusted with my secrets And yours"

Harry nodded, silently ained herI want to ask of you A favor I understand the reasons we can’t acknowledge each other in public But in private, fro lanced at hi too stunned to reply

"We won’t have to tell the rest of the family until you’re ready," Harry said "But I would rather not hide our relationship e’re in private You’re my only family"

Catherine reached beneath her spectacles to wipe at an escaping tear

A feeling of co he had never felt for her before Reaching out, he drew her close and kissed her forehead gently "Letbrother," he whispered

She watched in wonder as he went back to the house

For a fewto the drone of a bee, the high, sweet chirps of common swifts, and the softer, e that had co soame with her, with all of them, exceptit had to be real The emotion on his face, the sincerity in his eyes, all of it was undeniable But how could soreatly?

Perhaps, shealtered as he was being revealedlayer by layer, the defenses co--or would become in time--the man he had always been meant to be Because he had finally found someone who mattered

Chapter Twenty-four

The mail coach had arrived at Stony Cross, and a footman was dispatched to fetch a stack of letters and parcels addressed to Raht the deliveries to the back of the house, where Win and Poppy lounged on furniture that had been brought out to the brick-paved terrace The largest parcel was addressed to Harry

"More reports fro sweet red wine as she curled next to Win on a chaise

"It would appear so," Harry said with a self- brilliantly in my absence Perhaps I should have taken a holiday sooner"

Merripen went to Win and slipped his fingers beneath her chin "How are you feeling?" he asked softly

She smiled up at him "Splendid"

He bent to kiss the top of Win’s blond head, and sat in a nearby chair One could see that he was trying to be at ease with the idea of his wife carrying a child, but his concern for her practically radiated from every pore

Harry took the other chair and opened his parcel After reading the first few lines of the top page, he made a sound of discomfort and winced visibly "Good God"

"What is it?" Poppy asked

"One of our regular guests--Lord Pencarrow--injured hi"

"Oh, dear" Poppy’s brow furrowed "And he’s such a nice old gentleman What happened? Did he take a fall?"

"Not exactly He slid down the banister of the grand staircase, froround floor" Harry paused uncomfortably "He made it all the way to the end of the balustrade--where he crashed into the pineapple ornahties do such a thing?" Poppy asked in bewilderine he was in his cups"