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"To eat?"

Her eyes actually rolled up "To fall in love"

There was so such a disdainful look froer sister, but Turner decided that he would take, if not the high road, then at least soave her a somewhat arch look and returned with a pithy "And they intend to do this over biscuits and tea in a single afternoon?"

"It's a start," Olivia retorted "I don't see you doing anything to further the ht with unexpected forcefulness, was because any fool could see that it would be a dreadful h an esteem as anyone could hold a twenty-year-old boy, but he was clearly the wrong man for Miranda It was true that he had only come to know her well these past feeeks, but even he could see that she ise beyond her years She needed someone as more mature, older, better able to appreciate her finer points Someone who could keep a firm hand on her when her temper made one of its rare appearances

Winston, he supposed, could be that man…in ten years

Turner looked to his sister and said, rather firmly, "I need food"

"Turner, don't!" But Olivia couldn't stop him By the time she even tried he was halfway down the hall

The Bevelstokes had always run a relatively inforuests, and so none of the servants had been particularly surprised when Winston had poked his head into the kitchen,expression, and then plopped down at a table with Miranda to hile she whipped up some of her famous butter biscuits They had just been laid on the table, still stea like heaven, when Miranda heard a loud thump behind her

She turned, blinking, to see Turner standing at the base of the stairs, looking rakish, sheepish, and utterly adorable, all at once She sighed She couldn't help it

"Took the stairs two at a tih she wasn't quite certain of the significance of it

"Turner," Winston grunted, too busy eating his third biscuit to greet him more eloquently

"Olivia said you tere down here," Turner said "Good ti on my part I'm famished"

"We've a plate of biscuits if you want so to a dish on the table

Turner shrugged his shoulders and sat down next to her "Mrs Cook's?"

Winston nodded

Turner took three, then turned to Mrs Cook with the same puppyish expression Winston had adopted earlier "Oh, very well," she huffed, clearly adoring the attention, "I'll make more"

Just then Olivia appeared in the doorway, her lips pursed as she glared at her elder brother "Turner," she said in an irritated voice "I told you I wanted to show you the new, er, book I got"

Miranda stifled a groan She'd told Olivia to stop trying to force a round out

Miranda decided that if Olivia ever asked her about it, she'd say that she just could not help herself when she looked up, smiled sweetly, and asked, "And what book would that be?"

Olivia glared long pointy swords at her "You know the one"