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‘Yes, I dare say Poor Rafe Playing nursemaid was new to him’

‘Where did he take you?’

‘He has a house up in the hills above Grasmere It is tiny and in the oes there when he needs towhen he needs to be alone We stayed there for several months and then sailed to Jamaica’

‘I see why he is so i I can to help’

‘Yes, I know That is orries reen eyes ith laughter She kneas doing his best to put her at ease and it worked She poked her elbow in his ribs

‘Most a I can be useful at times, but I shall try not to interfere unless you askthe lawyers I shall work on ypt and see everything afresh Now I only hope Mr Bunny writes more books so I can use my new inspiration’

‘Mr what?’

‘Mr Bunny That is what I call the author of the Desert Boy books’

‘But why Mr Bunny of all things?’ He sounded so disgusted she laughed

‘Bunny as in hare, or a hare’s tail Every tie slips away like the hare in our garden used to disappear into its warren when I tried to catch it’

‘I’m surprised you didn’t stake a tent beside the hole and wait for it to reappear’

‘I did linger until I saw the one I’d been chasing pop out of another hole on the other side of the lawn You think me stubborn, but I am too impatient to waste time on lost causes’

‘Are you? And I would say you are uns unless it involves what you consider a higher principle’

‘My God, Edge Was that a compliment?’

The dips at the corners of his mouth deepened

‘It was close Would you care for a compliment? You have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen They are never the same colour each time I look at them’

‘Oh’ Sam sed

He touched the crest of her cheek His , but his eyes were darker, storm clouds streaked with jade

‘You’re blushing You’re usually only that colour when you’re furious at me Surely you’ve received more fulsome compliments?’