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Theo nodded "And she specified that you had to bring me into conversation about the estate"

"No, she said nothing of the sort I had the papers drawn up so that you and I are both executors"

This time Theo’s mouth actually fell open "You did what?"

"It’s entailed, of course You cannot sell it, any more than I can"

"This was my mother’s idea?"

"No Actually, she wasn’t enthusiastic, and my father was apoplectic, to put it leam of satisfaction shone in his eyes "You know I’m hopeless when it comes to nuether about what’s to be done We used to coaped at him She’d never heard of an estate administered by a woman Well, at least by a woman asn’t a

"I’edly, "and if you tell me to pick the best horse in a race, I can do it with a fair degree of accuracy If you think we should i stock of the sheep on the estate, I can certainly do that But sitting in the library and listening to a string of nuo mad"

"I’oing to cry "I’m just--I’m so honored that you wish me to help"

"No reason to be," Jaht as well kno that round It’s your inheritance that has to get it solvent again So it’s only fair that you be part of it all"

Theo blinked at that revelation but pushed the thought away for the moment "I don’t think there are manyas you know that I didn’t learn double-entry bookkeeping or anything truly useful froovernesses"

"You can learn From what my father has told me, my mother ran the estate while she was alive, and she wouldn’t have had any training, either And I’ll be there, Daisy I just don’t want to do it without you"

"All right," Theo said She felt a burst of happiness so acute that she couldn’t say another word

But her new husbandrather aard Finally he said, "Was last night acceptable? You aren’t injured, are you?"

"Ja pink!" Theo exclai," she observed "I can see through you every tily nice Although I have thought of one thing we should do differently"

He instantly looked wary "What?"

"I shall co to mine"

"Oh"

"How often does one do this marital business?" Theo asked, with soly delicious In fact, she could quite i him at that veryspontaneously, and certainly not during the day

"As often as one wants," James replied His cheeks were undeniably rosy now

She dropped into a chair "I realize that I do have a question about last night" She waved her hand at the chair opposite "Please sit down"

He sat, if with obvious reluctance

It was strangely wanton to sit opposite a ht silk negligee Early ht streah her hair was an odd color, it always looked best in natural light, so she pulled it forward over her shoulder