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Of course, he’d made no real attempt to free hi London he’d thrown hi each step he took in its restoration brought hiland to search for her
With the aid of so with craftsmen hired from the city, the manor’s whole roof and all the rotten wall beaainst rain and wind He’d sent the tenants back to their fields with the interior still inco the winter while the land lay fallow Though much still needed to be done, he’d been able to have the furniture ned and to open up the library for daily use
The fields, too, had responded to the attention lavished on them If the weather held fair and the summer rains were plentiful, Brook should produce its first saleable crop since his father’s death
In fact, everything had been progressing toward realizing his drea with ripening wheat, its roo, the coffered ceilings restored to original splendor He’d slow of pride and anticipation war her fro her home to be mistress of Brook
Except she no longer needed hi better than it had in years, but he could offer Allegra nothing to compare to the wealth, power or position she now enjoyed
He sed hard, staring into his wineglass as he forced himself to face that bitter truth He should reply to her letter, congratulate her on her good fortune, and finally begin the process he should have started e her from his mind and heart
Except…except Snatching up her letter, he reread the last part again “My grandfather’s estate at San Gregillio is so beautiful, Will,” she wrote, “I would love you to see it If you—and your new bride, for I know you must soon be married—should ever embark on a tour of the Continent, I do hope you’ll stop and visit I should be so delighted tohined the letter, then added “Please do come if you can”
It seeood news and theEngland, did he detect a note of ho as desperately to see him as he was to see her?
Might he still have a chance to win her?
You, Will Tavener, are a hopeless dreaust Reading between the lines of her note not what she’s written but what you hope ht be there
The paper drifted down to settle next to the list of eligible iven him before her departure He kept it propped on his desk in honor of the lady who’d inspired hiin the restoration of Brook
With hard work—and Domcaster’s funds—he’d accoo Might he succeed too at the see her hand?
Was it even fair for hi her to come back to Brookould mean so enormous a drop in status for her?
Unable to decide, he ju back and forth between the desire to seek her out and the resolution to refrain
He was still pacing when Barrows entered to join hi far fro able to freely associate with this man who, like the Phillipses, had since boyhood been as much friend as servant
Observing Will’s activity and the expression on his face, Barrows raised his eyebrows as he walked over to pour hilass “What catastrophe has befallen us now?” he asked “Has Domcaster decided to call in his loan?”
“No disaster,” Will replied “At least, nothing of that sort”
“Then Ito do with the letter fro lady hasn’t fallen into difficulties”
Will laughed shortly “Quite the opposite It seems she rediscovered the family of her father—which just happens to possess a dukedom”
“How fortunate for the young lady,” Barrows replied, studying Will’s face “You will offer her ratulations when you send your own, I trust”
Will looked away “I…I aratulations in person She’s invitedover to his desk and holding up the letter “To tour her grandfather’s estate With the work on the house on hold until winter and the crops already planted, I’ve half a o ’Twould be a marvelous opportunity to visit the Continent—and see how she is faring, of course”
Barrows uttered a long-suffering sigh “I best begin packing our bags, then No, not a word about leavingoff to Italy You forced ht Miss Antinori to Brook the first time, and see what a botch you made of that”