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His head understood all that But forride to Blenhe it

Other feelings surfaced as he neared the scene of his ill-fated es that had been visited upon the tenants while he sat in thehiht under his nose, he suspected he ht have been run out of Blenhen Hill, if Barksdale hadn’t knocked hiht

He doubted anyone around the estate would be pleased to see hi period of time, to win back the respect of the people he’d failed to serve

Such hile and necessary ould keep hisback tothe little voice that reminded him hard work had not yet produced that result Some day, he trusted, he’d be able to think of her with an affection no longer laced with the acid of anguish

After skirting the town of Hazelwick, he took the fa with recently acquired expertise that es were newly thatched, fences had been rebuilt of tihed He passed several far him by name

They hadn’t thrown rocks, at least

Then he was pulling up his horse before the reeted him cordially, showed him to the parlour and promised to fetch his sister immediately He barely had ti it was in its usual perfect order, when Joanna hurried in

‘Greville!’ she cried, delight on her face ‘How good it is to see you—and looking so well!’

‘All thanks to you, sister dear I would otherwise still be painfully crawling back to health whilst holystoning the quarterdeck’

‘Thanks to cousin Nicky as well But, here comes Ned I can’t wait for you to meet my husband!’

Not certain the man who’d had to repair Greville’s mistakes would be in any hurry to meet him, he prepared himself for some hard scrutiny

Greaves had taken good care of his sister, too, Greville noted Jo had always been a pretty lass, but now her pale skin and green eyes positively glowed The tender look that passed between husband and wife as Sir Edward enteredand envy

After the requisite introductions, Sir Edward said, ‘We’re delighted to see you, especially as it ain’

‘I aratulations are in order’

‘Thank you,’ Joanna replied, her glow increasing as her husband pressed her hand Greville suppressed another pang Would he ever have a loving wife, a son to whom he could pass down the estate he planned to acquire? Such a prospect now seemed as remote as the moon

‘Ned says Lord Englemere has sorted matters out with the Admiralty,’ his sister said ‘I do hope that ade can spare you for a visit’

‘I’, recently suffered an attack and was ordered to bed’

‘Good heavens!’ Sir Edward cried ‘Is he doing better? He will recover, I trust’

‘He is ress, but in the interireat deal…about things I should have knohile I was here’

He’d given Sir Edward a perfect opening, but his sister’s husband only said mildly, ‘There could be no better teacher’

Soh Sir Edas perfectly entitled to take Greville to task, apparently he did not intend to do so

Despite Sir Edward’s forbearance, Greville felt coise—to you and especially the tenants Barksdale ht have inflicted the actual injuries, but I allowed it to happen’

Sir Edward nodded ‘It sounds as if you’ve experienced a sea change indeed’

Greville smiled wryly ‘After my time aboard the Illustrious, I’m as different now frolish Channel is from the Bay of Marrakesh’

‘What will you do when you are released?’ Jo asked