page78 (1/2)

‘As long as you like it’

‘I love it I feelthis is foolish’

‘Tell me’

‘I feel I belong here I didn’t feel that in any of the other housesNot even in any of the houses I’ve lived in over the years It feels right Our own little island’

His htly over her tehtened again

‘You wanted a moat The river will have to do That toy boat can be our arht’

‘We will naod and chase off invaders from the water’

‘Excellent idea You can paint a toothy grin on it’

‘No, that will frighten the children’

His hands stuttered on her, dropped to her abdomen for a second and then withdrew abruptly Sam closed her eyes and cursed herself When would she learn to think before she spoke? She needed to have the word ‘patience’ stitched on to her pillow so she could ht

His hands returned, settling on her hips, but the one

‘I’ll tell Mr Grafton ill be relieving hie’

Sa herself and him

One word One si

You kneanted a family, she wanted to rail at him I told you when I proposed, you said you wished for one as well Whyfor the hills?

The words rumbled inside her head, but for once came nowhere near heraway froe She smiled a little sourly at how aptly she’d nao He was her boundary line and now controlled both sides of it

The carriage door opened and Edge came to sit beside her

‘It’s done, Saratulations on our new home’ His voice was so suspiciously bland she wondered if he’d rehearsed that line Well, she kne to knock a few bricks from his walls

‘I knohich rooed and he turned fro countryside

‘H’

‘If it is, I shall fight you for it’

‘You will likely win I had best concede in advance’

‘No need You want the one on the corner, with the view of the river, correct?’

‘That isn’t the one you wanted?’