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“Lest your grandfather show me the door? Then I shall do my best to be perfectly conventional”
Allegra doubted he couldthat he meant to try “You randson and heir He will be delighted to have a British guest, as he loves to practice his English And Grandfather will be honored to host the gentleman who treated me with such kindness in London”
“I look forward tothem Should I describe to the duke how impressed and honored I was to attend one of your father’s concerts—or is his musical career not to be mentioned?”
“Grandfather will love hearing about it He never tires of asking h of course I don’t wish you to prevaricate, it ht be best if you don’t tell Grandfather about your losses I shall avoidthem to him as well”
“Losses?” Will repeated
Allegra cast a quick glance at the duenna plodding behind thelish, but ’twas better to be safe Lowering her voice, she said softly, “Your ga losses ’Tis why you came to Italy now, isn’t it, to avoid your creditors? Itto have to put off your plans for restoring Brook”
Will opened his lips to reply, then closed thera went on quickly, “No matter You must stay here until your fortunes are on the entleh stakes Once you’ve observed thea as he never suspects your financial straits, Grandfather will be happy to have a titled English gentle with us I’m sure you will charm him as you do everyone else”
By now they’dthe house “WeWill a ferocious glance, as if daring him to contradict her “’Tis late and you need your rest”
More likely, the signora needed hers But arden the whole afternoon, keeping Will’s conora Escort io, Grandfather’s majordomo, will prepare a room and provide you a valet if you need one”
“Barrows accoratulations”
Allegra felt a ri his rascal of a servant with him “Give hi with hio in”
Just then Signora bent down to re on ira went up on tiptoe and kissed Will’s cheek
“I’ain Then, reluctantly releasing his arm, she entered the house and proceeded up to her room
Giddy, Allegra danced around her cha to reown It was as if her life had been suspended since she’d come to Italy, frozen into ti or someone to set it back in motion
It see, that soain, to ith her hand on his arm, to share with him all her experiences Then she’d try to tactfully discover the true state of his affairs, so she ure out how best to help him
Guilty as it ought to make her feel, she rejoiced at the ill fortune that had forced hiht hihter, the sky bluer, the birdsong arden path
The beauty of her grandfather’s estate had soothed and delighted her since theits wonders with Will h it had brought her a deep satisfaction to discover she was not alone in the world after all, that she had a fa
Having Will here made her happiness complete
By now herher into the light robe she wore over her cheood nap, the girl withdrew
Hot as it was, Allegra wasn’t drowsy How could she sleep knowing Will was here in this very house? After months without him, it maddened her to knoas i to see hih he must even now be only a few rooms away