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"Why? Do you wish to drink it yourself?" she deers made her feel oddly shaky

"Naturally," Rafe said without a touch of shalorious brew, and I’ll be damned if I’ll see it throay just because a chit with a grudge takes a glass to pique me"

"You’ll have to drink your brother’s as well," I it"

"Oh, Gabe will drink it eventually," Rafe said "We’ve been living together for a few months, since you went to Scotland He’s absteen said, and she really meant it

Rafe dropped his hand, and then tossed back his own glass "It’s a trait the two of us can only aden said Now she could see that Mr Spenser’s hair had just the slightest curl

"There’s ence," Rafe said sardonically

"I en told him "In fact, I should say as much to you I’m sorry that I’ve behaved in such a churlish fashion in the past year"

Rafe blinked at her Apparently she’d finally reeable," Irief very well It turned ry and never laughing"

"And now you feel different?"

"Yes" She took another sip and nearly choked again "Here, you take the rest of this"

He took the glass fro to say?" she asked, just a bit tartly

"I’ my joy into an appropriate sentence"

"I shall wait for your wits to reasse that the meal was ready "No, I won’t take your arm," she said "Do take Lady Griselda in to dinner, Rafe You know precedence h he went to Griselda willingly enough

Which left Mr Spenser holding out his aren

She smiled up at him He wasn’t exactly like Rafe Rafe’s eyes were more deeply set, the shape of his mouth a bit wilder Mr Spenser was reserved There was an odd sense about hi the rooers on his ar away But why should he dislike being here?

"How are you finding Holbrook Court?" she asked

He looked down the corridor at Rafe’s back as he turned into the dining rooen couldn’t think how to frame her questions appropriately

He looked down at her "Would you like to kno it feels to be an illegitimate brother in one’s father’s house?"

Mr Spenser’s voice was even, pleasant, not even a bit chilly Ilanced up at him uncertainly "Not unless you’d like to tellher into the dining rooen said

He en’s heart was beating quickly She couldn’t interpret his eyes at all But the very sight of his closed face, the immense reserve, and those eyes h and turned to lance