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He knew But not nearly enough

"I would love to own Aubrey," she said wistfully "I know every corner I can name every crop in every field, and every name of every tenant, and half of their birthdays, too"

He looked at her in wonderment She was so much more than he’d ever allowed hierton"

"Your brother will learn his way," George said gently He sat down in the chair by the desk She wasn’t sitting down, but she wasn’t exactly standing, either, and as he was alone with her behind a closed door, he rather thought this would not be the critical breach of propriety

"Oh, I knoill," Billie said "Ed"

"He’s fifteen He can’t help being annoying"

She gave hi e"

He lifted a lazy brow There were so many droll rejoinders to such a statement, but he decided to let them all pass and simply enjoy the easy camaraderie of the moment

"How do you bear it?" she asked

"Bear what?"

"This" She raised her hands in a gesture of defeat "The helplessness"

He sat up a little straighter, blinking her into focus

"You do feel it, don’t you?"

"I’," hehe did

"I know you wish you could have taken a commission I see it in your face every time your brothers talk about it"

Was he that obvious? He’d hoped not But at the saone very silent," she said

"I was just thinking…"

She s him to think aloud

"I don’t wish I’d taken a commission"

She drew back, her surprise evident in the way her chin tucked into her neck

"My place is here," he said