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The green eyes flashed ‘You do that’

Daisy didn’t want to ad week, excite with shock, happiness orry and sleep had been elusive It was soothing leaning back in the chair, the war her bones Monty rested his head on her feet as she watched Seb expertly chopping onions and grilling steaks

‘From the estate farm,’ he said as he heated the oil ‘I’m pretty much self-sufficient, well, thanks to the tenant farmers I am’

Neither of them mentioned the elephant in the roo round and round her head Marriage

Was this what it would be like? Cosy evenings in the kitchen? Rocking in a chair by the fire while Seb cooked Maybe she should take up knitting

‘Did you e is a business?’

He didn’t turn round but she saw his shoulders set rigid, the careless grace gone as he continued to sauté the vegetables

‘Absolutely It’s the only way it works’

‘Why?’

Seb stopped stirring and shot her a quick glance

‘What do you mean?’

Daisy was leaning back in the chair, her eyes half closed His eyes flickered over her The bright waistcoat, the hat and the lipstick were at odd with her pallor; she was pale, paler than he would have expected even at the end of a long, cold winter and the shadows under her eyes were a deep blue-grey She looked exhausted A primal protectiveness as unexpected as it was fierce rose up in hi in its intensity It wasn’t what he wanted, the path he had chosen, but this was his responsibility; she was his responsibility

She probably deserved better, deserved more than he could offer But this was all he had

‘Why do you think that?’