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That enticing s one before the truth of his identity struck her with force of a giant boulder, sarb and standing at ease on the threshold could only be their long-absent guest, Mr Anders

Before she could order her disjointed thoughts to su cork after a pull on the line ‘Mr Anders, is it not!’ she cried ‘How excellent to meet you at last! I’m so sorry I missed your arrival You were ill, I’d heard, but are obviously better Please, won’t you help yourself at the sideboard and come sit by me? I cannot wait to converse with you’

‘How kind of you to solicita quizzical eyebrow

‘Holton—Althea Holton No one of importance, as Amanda would tell you,’ Althea said with a toss of her head in A is my uncle’

‘His lordship is doubly fortunate, then, to have both a handsohter and a lovely niece’

‘Prettily spoken, Mr Anders,’ Alad to see you have recovered enough to join us’

‘Are you indeed, Miss Neville?’ he replied, his dry tone and raised eyebrow telling her he doubted those polite words ‘I alad to be able to join you I hope I shall be less trouble for the remainder ofthat sojourn may be’

‘I do hope it will be extended!’ Althea interjected ‘You are to report to the Coastal Brigade office, Uncle James said? What shall you do with them?’

‘On that head, Miss Holton, I have no more information than you I shall not discover the extent of my duties until I report in, which I intend to do as soon as I can e the journey’

‘If you feel equal to the trip today, I can summon you a coach,’ Amanda offered

He showed her that quirk of eyebrow again, as if he thought her reh she hadn’t intended to convey that impression—at least consciously—she supposed it was true

A sudden shaht Anders too ill or cast-away to notice much upon his arrival—but had her less-than-enthusiastic reaction to his visit been so apparent? Ither with an ironic courtesy that said he didn’t believe a single one of her politenesses

Chagrin deepened the burn Though plain, Mr Anders’s garentle practice His birth and connections were probably exactly as claih she was still beset by proble uncivil or unwelcouests—no matter how ill conceived she think the invitation

‘A kind offer, Miss Neville, but I don’t believe I shall avail myself of it today,’ he replied while incoherent words of apology churned around in her head ‘My eence from the sickroom is so recent, I think it would be wiser to rerounds Fronificent’

‘Oh, they are indeed,’ Althea chimed in ‘Would you like to tour the estate? I’d be happy to drive you—if you are up to it I was told you’d been wounded, but have no idea of the severity What happened? Oh, I mean if it is not too rude to enquire It’s just, I’ about the Navy!’

‘Why don’t we let Mr Anders eat before we press hiested, embarrassed by Althea’s overly inquisitive behaviour

Sparing Alance, Althea refocused her attention on Anders ‘Do try the haood,’ she coaxed ‘Shall I assist you? Allow me to carry your plate’

Goodness, Althea was acting as if their guest were an invalid or a child still in the nursery Aentlee would hate to be coddled in such a manner ‘Mr Anders probably prefers to fix his own plate, Althea,’ she said in as light a tone as possible

It didn’t answer; the girl flashed her a resentful look ‘I know he’s capable I just want to help, if he wishes it’

‘That’s e,’ Anders replied, tactfully forestalling any further exchange ‘I ader to try more of your cook’s skill If the exceptional breakfast sent up thisis any indication, you keep a fine table, Miss Neville That is, I understand you run the household yourself? And do so with ad’