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Even away from his family, who loved him unconditionally but had no clue that what he really wanted, deep down inside, was so to do

His brother Anthony held the viscountcy, and with that caed the family's finances, and saw to the welfare of countless tenants and servants Benedict, his elder by four years, had gained renown as an artist He'd started with pencil and paper, but at the urging of his wife hadin the National Gallery

Anthony would be forever reerton Benedict would live through his paintings, long after he left this earth

But Colin had nothing He iven to him by his fa he didn't have fun, but so a little acy

He wanted, if not to know then at least to hope, that when he was gone, he'd be memorialized in some manner other than in Lady Whistledown's Society Papers

He sighed No wonder he spent so wColin?" his brother prompted

Colin turned to him and blinked He was fairly certain Anthony had asked his of his ht" Colin cleared his throat "I'll be here for the rest of the season, at least"

Anthony said nothing, but it was difficult toelse," Colin added, affixing his legendary crooked grin on his face, "someone has to spoil your children I don't think Charlotte has nearly enough dolls"wOnly fifty," Anthony agreed in a deadpan voice "The poor girl is horribly neglected"wHer birthday is at the end of this lect her so of birthdays," Anthony said, settling into the large chair behind his desk, "Mother's is a week from Sunday"wWhy do you think I hurried to return?"

Anthony raised a brow, and Colin had the distinct i to decide if Colin had truly rushed ho advantage of so a party for her," Anthony saidwShe's letting you?" It was Colin's experience that woe did not enjoy birthday celebrations And although his ly lovely, she was definitely of a certain ageere forced to resort to blackreed to the party or we revealed her true age"

Colin shouldn't have taken a sip of his brandy; he choked on it and just barelyit all over his brother "I should have liked to have seen that"

Anthony offered a rather satisfied smile "It was a brilliant maneuver on my part"