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It ful, the resent so corrosive?

‘Yes, now I remember I’m so sorry It was a plane crash, wasn’t it?’

‘They had been told it wasn’t safe but the rules didn’t apply to theht’

Daisy pushed her seat back and stood up, collecting up the plates and waving away his offer of help ‘No, you cooked, I’ll clear’

He sat for a moment and watched as she competently piled the dishes and saucepans up by the side of the sink, rinsing the plates He had to make it clear to her, e is a business’

Daisy carried on rinsing, running hot water into the old ceramic sink ‘Once, perhaps’

‘I have to marry, have children, there are no other direct heirs and there’s a danger the title will go extinct if I don’t But I don’t want’ He squeezed his eyes shut for a briefhis pulse to stay calm ‘I won’t have all the emotional craziness that comes with romantic expectations’

She put the dishcloth down and turned, leaning against the sink as she regarded him ‘Seb, your parents, they weren’t normal, you do know that? That level of drama isn’t usual’

He laughed ‘They were extreme, sure But abnormal? They just didn’t hide it the way the rest of the world does I look at my friends, their parents Sure, it’s all hearts and flowers and nickna but I’ve lost count of how es turn into resenter No,with a businesslike arrangement—compatibility, rules, peace’

‘My parents love each other even ot married’ A wistful smile curved Daisy’s lips ‘Sometimes it’s like it’s just the two of them even e’re all there They just look at each other and you can tell that at that moment it’s like there’s no one else in the room’

‘And how do you feel at those moments?’

Her eyelashes fluttered down ‘It can be a little lonely but’

Exactly! Strengthened by her concession he carried on, his voice as persuasive as he couldyou romance because I don’t believe in it I can promise you respect, hopefully affection I can proether, then I will love the baby and do my utmost to be the best parent I can’