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He would never be as free as his brothers The order of their birth had ensured that George would inherit the title, the house, the land Most of the e came responsibility He was tied to this place It was in his blood, the same way Aubrey Hall was in hers

She wanted to ask hiiven the chance, would he trade places with Andrew or Edward?

"What will you do in London?" she said instead Because she could never have asked him what she really wanted to know Not while Edward’s fate was uncertain

He shrugged, although not so much with his shoulders as his head and eyes "Speak to people Make inquiries" He laughed bitterly "I’ inquiries"

"You kno to get things done," she agreed

"I kno to get other people to do things," he said derisively

She pressed her lips together before she could utter so inane like, "That’s an important skill" But it was an important skill, even if she’d never de to her father’s steward; he was surely the ht later; she always had And she could not bear to let someone else perform a task when she could do it better herself

And she could ale suddenly ain that it was still rather early for spirits

He walked over to the side table and poured hi one "Do you want one?"

Billie shook her head

"Surprising," Georgeal your pardon?"

But George only laughed, his brows arching into asalute "Oh, come now, Billie You live to shock I can hardly believe you wouldn’t take a brandy when offered"

She grit her teeth, ree was not hied and kicked back the rest of his brandy

"You shouldn’t be drinking"

"You shouldn’t be tellingthe long pause to express her disapproval Finally, because she needed to be as brittle as he, she gave hiards"

He gave her a look of disbelief

"She leaves today"

"How kind of you to convey her salutations"

She felt a cutting retort rising through her throat, but at the lastto stand here and speak in rhymes I came to help"