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‘Not until you tell me why you’re so upset What did Danny tell you?’

Lizzie was trapped between his dangerously fa door; her eo!’

‘Not until you tell ’

Passions soared as they glared at each other ‘My grandmother’s ill and the estate has been repossessed,’ Lizzie blurted ‘Are you satisfied now?’

‘What?’ Chico said quietly

She pulled away ‘Don’t try to stop o’

‘In the middle of the course?’

‘Yes, in the middle of the course I can’t stay here and allow events to unfold without having anything to say about it I have a responsibility to fulfil, as the last—’ she hesitated, hunting for the right words ‘—as the last responsible person in the Fane fa Can’t you see that?’

She looked in vain for so or compassion in Chico’s face, but he re,’ he said

‘I have to’

‘I’ll miss you’

Of all the things heshe had expected ‘Will you?’

‘Of course Can’t you tell me more?’

She couldn’t tell hidean when she wasn’t sure herself It hurt knowing that, however right it felt when she ith Chico, it was never enough to keep theoodbye His face gave nothing away, and when he leaned forward, she pressed back Undeterred, he fisted her hair, drew her head back, and drove his mouth down on hers For ashe could never get enough of, but this felt depressingly like a last goodbye

‘Will you let ain as they broke free

‘I don’t knohat you can do to help,’ she confessed

‘Money can do a lot of things, Lizzie’

‘No’ She shook her head ‘This is so I have to do by myself’

‘It may not be that easy’

‘When is life ever easy?’

‘It ht be easier if you sometimes allowed people in’

She looked at hi?’

‘Meaning, I’ve got people who could look into this for you—while you finish the course,’ he said pointedly ‘It’s worth bearing in mind that without the accreditation from here your business plan will stand little chance’

She listened patiently, but she already knehat she had to do; when he’d finished, she killed Chico’s idea stone dead ‘Will your people hold ? Will they explain to the tenant farmers that they don’t have a ho only I can do’

‘Now? In the ht?’

‘As soon as I can’ She glanced at the door, eager to start her packing

‘How long will you be gone?’

‘As long as it takes’ She didn’t even know if she’d be co back She couldn’t afford the plane fare, and any al fees, and even that would be a stretch

‘But you have commitments here’

She searched Chico’s eyes, wondering if he wouldpurely practical questions, perhaps already thinking about who could take her place on the course, and lead the team at the end-of-year ’

‘Then, don’t leave You’re the captain of the tea your fellow students in the lurch, and you’ll jeopardise your chance of graduating this year’

A shiver ran through her at what see She steadied herself ‘Sorandmother’s life is one of them’