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George shrugged, not wanting to concede the point, even though Andrew had always been a superb athlete "He’ll want the fresh air, at the very least He’s been cli to put him on broth and bedrest"

"For a broken arlanced at her sideways "Taking joy in the misery of others?"

"Always"

He smiled despite himself It was difficult to take offense, not when he’d spent the last week enjoying – nay, encouraging – his younger brother’s frustration

Billie gingerly shifted her position, bending her legs so that she could rest her chin on her knees

"Watch that foot," George said, alether they lapsed into silence George stared straight ahead, but he could feel every motion Billie made at his side She brushed an errant strand of hair from her eyes, then stretched one ar like an old wooden chair Then, with the tenacity she displayed in all aspects of her life, she circled back around to their previous conversation and said, "All the saot a ride"

He almost smiled "He could"

She was quiet for a few more seconds, then said, "It doesn’t look like rain"

He looked up It was overcast, but not thickly so The clouds were too pale to be holding much water

"And surely ill be missed"

He allowed himself a sh to e Rokesby" But she was grinning when she said it

He chuckled again, surprised by how ht fizz of amusement in his chest He wasn’t sure that he and Billie qualified as friends – they’d butted heads far too many times for that – but she was faht now…

It was

"Well," she announced, "I suppose there’s no one ho his head toward her "Why, Miss Bridgerton, was that a compliment?"

"You can’t tell?"

"Froly lopsided manner "I suppose I deserve that But, you know, you’re very dependable"

"Dependable," he repeated

She nodded "Very h for all that was holy, he had no idea why

"If I hadn’t hurt my ankle," Billie continued blithely, "I’arded her with clear skepticis to with his dependability… "Didn’t you just say that it’s too far to ju a dismissive little wave in front of her face, "but I would have thought of so"

"Of course," he said,else

"The point is," she continued, "that as long as I’m here with you…"