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"Who won the brawl?" Poppy asked irins "A conversation broke out in the , as it turned out that neither of us kno to fight like a gentleentle It’s more like chess with the risk of puncture wounds"

"Well, I’lad you didn’t hurt each other," Poppy said cheerfully, "since there’s a distinct possibility that you may soon be brothers-in-law"

"We’re already brothers-in-law"

"Brothers-in-law squared, then" Poppy slipped her aran to walk "You haven’t decided yet, have you? Aboutpace with them "My head’s in a whirl I need time to think"

"Harry," Poppy said, "when you say that we’re at cross-purposes, I hope you don’t ainst the idea of Leo and Catherineto choose his words carefully, "I believe caution is in order"

"But don’t you want Catherine to become part of my family?" Poppy asked, bewildered "She would have the protection of the Hathaways, and she would be close to your influence"

"Yes, I would like that veryRamsay, and I’ht you liked Leo," Poppy protested

"I do If there’s a man in London with more charm or wit, I have yet to meet him"

"Then how could you have any objections?"

"Because his past doesn’t recommend itself as that of a reliable husband Cat has been betrayed rim He looked at Catherine "And I’m one of the people who failed you I don’t want you to suffer that way again"

"Harry," Catherine said earnestly, "you’re far too severe on yourself"

"Now isn’t the time to pour sweetener on unpleasant truths," he returned "If I could change the past, I would go back and do so without hesitation But all I can do is try to make amends, and do better in the future And I would say the same of Ramsay"

"Everyone deserves a second chance," Catherine said

"Agreed And I’d like to believe that he’s turned over a new leaf But it remains to be seen"

"You’re afraid he’ll fall back into bad habits," Catherine said

"He wouldn’t be the first However, Rae at which a man’s character is more or less fixed If he continues to avoid his former libertine practices, I think he’ll es to prove hi to risk your future as the wife of ahis vows"

"He would keep his vows," Poppy insisted

"How do you know that?"

"Because he’s a Hathaway"

Harry smiled down at her "He is fortunate to have you defend hiaze flickered to Catherine’s troubled face "A that you have the same doubts, Cat?"

"I find it difficult to trust any man," she ad a neatly edged path

"Catherine," Poppy ventured, " exceptionally personal?"

Cat sent her aYes, of course"

"Has my brother told you that he loves you?"

Catherine hesitated for a long aze fixed on the path before the Win that he would only marry a wolance at Harry, who thankfully forbore comment

Poppy frowned "He s and says the opposite of how he really feels One never knoith him"

"Precisely my point," Harry said in a neutral tone "One never knoith Ramsay"

After Catherine had eaten a plate of sandwiches with an impetus born of a renewed appetite, she went to a private suite that Harry had obtained for her

"Later, after you’ve rested," Poppy told her, "I’ll send a housemaid doith some of my clothes They’ll be a bit loose for you, but they can be altered easily"

"Oh, there’s no need for that," Catherine protested "I’ll send for the things I left in Ha to wear in the owns that have never been worn Harry is ridiculously excessive when it cos for y spinster dresses now I’ve always longed to see you in beautiful colors … pink, or jade green…" She smiled at Catherine’s expression "You’ll be like the proverbial butterfly e from the cocoon"

Catherine tried to respond with huht with anxiety "I was really quite comfortable as a caterpillar"

Poppy went to find Harry in his curiosities room, where he often went toin a place where he was certain not to be interrupted Only Poppy was allowed to coo as she pleased

The rooifts fros he had collected in his travels

Harry sat at his desk in his shirtsleeves, fiddling with gears and springs and bits of wire, as he did whenever he was deep in thought Poppy approached hi of pleasure as she watched theof how they played on her body

Harry looked up as she closed the door, his gaze attentive and thoughtful He discarded the handful ofin his chair, he took her by the waist and pulled her between his spread thighs

Poppy let her hands slide into his shiny dark hair, brown-black silk that curled slightly over her fingers "A you?" she asked as she leaned down to kiss hiainst her mouth "Don’t stop"

Her chuckle dissolved between their lips, like sugarher head, Poppy tried to remember what she had come there for "Mmmn, don’t," she said as his mouth went to her throat "I can’t think when you do that I was going to ask you sorinned and looked down at him, her arms still linked around his neck "What do you really think about this situation with Catherine and Leo?"

"I’ his fingers along the row of decorative buttons