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Alum tone "It seems that thehad no previous interest in the house, because it was a shambles But now that it’s been restored so beautifully, she has informed our solicitor that she intends to e "I’ll be damned if I’ll let anyone take Ra this to chancery at Westminster"

Merripen pinched the corners of his eyes wearily "Chancery won’t take it"

"How do you know?"

"Our solicitor has talked to the copyhold specialist at his firm Unfortunately, there was never an entail placed on Rainalthe copyhold from the ?"

"She has already stated that no amount of money would induce her to part froed," Leo said "We’ll otiate, there’s only one way for us to keep this house"

"I can’t wait to hear this," Leo said

"The last Lord Ramsaythe house, if you itimate male issue within five years of ennobleently "Because in the last three decades, no Raer than five years after receiving the title Nor have any of theood news, Leo," Beatrix said brightly, "is that it’s been four years since you became Lord Ramsay If you can stay alive for just one more year, the family curse will be broken"

"And furthermore," Amelia added, "you have to marry and sire a son as soon as possible"

Leo stared at theh escaped hi to be forced into a lovelessat Ra smile, Win handed him a piece of paper "Of course ould never want to force you into a loveless ether a list of prospective brides, all of thelance and see if any of the to humor her, Leo looked down at the list "Marietta Newbury?"

"Yes," A with her?"

"I don’t like her teeth"

"What about Isabella Charrington?"

"I don’t like her mother"

"Lady Blossom Tremaine?"

"I don’t like her name"

"Oh, for heaven’s sake, Leo, that’s not her fault"

"I don’t care I can’t have a wife na in one of the cows" Leo lifted his gaze heavenward "I ht as well marry the first woman off the street Why, I’d be better off with Marks"

Everyone was silent

Still tucked in the corner of the room, Catherine Marks looked up slowly as she realized that she was the focus of the Hathaways’ collective gaze Her eyes turned huge behind the spectacles, and a tide of pink rushed over her face "That is not a," she said sharply

"It’s the perfect solution," Leo said, taking perverse satisfaction in annoying her "We argue all the time We can’t stand each other It’s like we’re alreadyat hie "I would never consent toI was onlya point"

"Do not use me to make a point!" She fled the roohtfully, "we should have a ball"

"A ball?" Merripen asked blankly

"Yes, and invite all the eligible young women we can think of It’s possible one of them will strike Leo’s fancy, and then he could court her"

"I’nored hi ball"

"It would be roo ball Since Leo will be the item of prey"

"It’s just like Cinderella," Beatrix exclai to calesture "Easy, all of you If it happens that we lose Ramsay House--God forbid--we can build another one on the freehold portion of the estate"

"That would take forever, and the cost would be enormous," Amelia protested "And it wouldn’t be the sa this place, and putting our hearts into it"

"Especially Merripen," Win added quietly

Merripen gave her a slight shake of his head "It’s only a house"

But they all kneas more than a structure of brick and mortar … it was their home Cam and Amelia’s son had been born there Win and Merripen had been married there With all its haphazard charm, Ramsay House was a perfect expression of the Hathaway family itself

And no one understood that better than Leo As an architect, he kneell that sos had an inherent character that was far ed and restored … it had gone fro, happy home, all because one family had cared It was a crime that the Hathaould be displaced by a pair of woh what aht of hand

Swearing beneath his breath, Leo dragged his hand through his hair "I want to have a look at the ruins of the old manor home," he said "Merripen, what’s the best way to reach it?"

"I’o out that far"

"I know," Beatrix volunteered "Miss Marks and I have ridden there to sketch the ruins They’re very picturesque"

"Would you like to ride there with me?" Leo asked

"I’d love to," she said

Amelia frowned "Why do you want to visit the ruins, Leo?"