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“We’re doing all right now,” he said

“Yes, we are” She stretched up to brush a kiss across his lips “You will let e must be extensive”

“It is, and we are dealing with it”

She pushed up on her elbow and peered down at hioing to need attention And we need to do so about the castle, too, before it all falls in on itself”

“One thing at a time But yes, you will be allowed to spend your money liberally”

“And to be involved, to be included in the decision-”

“Yes” He stroked her hair again “Of course”

Satisfied for the e I knew you’d done well for yourself And I pros with the lawyers last week” She tried to think how to finish

But then she didn’t need to finish, because he understood “You always pictured yourself co to Hartmore’s rescue, didn’t you?”

“That’s it I would ride in on a white horse, brandishing a giant checkbook”

“That hen you were going to marry Edward” He said it evenly, without heat, it seemed to her But she couldn’t see his expression in the dark

She dared to take it further “Not that he ever ca me”

“He would have asked you” The words were flat, bleak The conversation had veered very close to forbidden territory

Still, she pushed for more “How do you know that?”

“Gen Please We all knew it Just as we all knew you couldn’t wait to say yes to him”

Because I wanted Harte—or the integrity—to say out loud Dear God No wonder Brooke hated her

She was a princess by birth An heiress with money to burn She had it all, but she’d wanted more She wanted to be countess of Hartmore, to be a DeValery in fact as well as in her heart She would have et what she wanted Deep down, she’d always known that