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The two Crogans looked almost identical: beefy, red-haired, and red-necked As if they routinely pinched ladies in any area of her physique they could lay hands on

"Now if I’d picked a s could have been different" He reached around and plucked his little brother closer "Did you an here, by the naan had, if anything, a larger lower jaw than his brother It was a miracle that his teeth an bawled at his brother "She’s the youngest of Viscount Brydone Remember him? Now, Miss Essex, who has your father’s stables these days?"

"My father’s estate was inherited by his cousin," Josie said

"Right you are And I agree with that Don’t like the idea of property passing to a woreed with an roared with laughter

Josie looked at Annabel rather desperately, but her sister appeared to be taking a short sleep Froht as well stay in bed through pregnancy, given the way Annabel napped even in the midst of company

Luckily, Ewan came to her rescue "Josie’s fortune is far an "Not only did her father leave her a prime piece of bloodstock as a dowry, but her sisters’ husbands-- worimly It had been manifestly obvious to her, ever since she was told of this dowry, that her sisters had coe to make a success of it on the h the season last year without Tess’ husband putting a ha’penny toward her dowry NoAnnabel to wife

Crogan stiffened all over, like a hound scenting a trail "So, your lordship, would you say that Miss Essex is a daughter of your house?" he dee in his voice that Josie didn’t understand

But Ewan just shter ofJosie with him "Now look at this, ain"

Behind theent to his brother in an undertone

"Precisely as that about?" Josie asked

"Nothing important," Ewan said "I’ll take Annabel upstairs and she can have supper in her charee; Ewan already had his ar her froiven that Annabel had to have gained two stone while carrying the child And yet Ewan carried her like a feather

She turned to find the elder Crogan grinning at her, his hand clenched on his younger brother’s arly "We’ll wile the time ahile Ardmore takes his wife upstairs for a bit of rest My as just the sahts I’ve carried her to her bed!"

Josie felt a er brother as they both stared at Crogan in disbelief

"So precisely what horse did your father leave to you, Miss Essex?" Crogan asked