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The very idea that he could be persuaded away fro on her shoulder like the heaviest of boulders The countess’s promise that he would find Lady Beatrice vastly more suitable once he’d had the chance to properly court her, haunted Pri moments

She ithout connections andaway the crippling doubt, she e and efficiently stoked the e fire Tea was soon prepared, and she consumed two cups with dried toast, relieved that her sensitive stomach seemed of the mind to keep food in today

After eating a more substantial meal of beef and potato stew, for the first time in several days, she hter and joy rode the air and tugged her to the eastern lawns instead of the massive oak front door Priardens and down the cobbled pathway, careful of the reeted her, confusion bubbling in her throat

Verity and George laughed and played in the snow like children with Annabelle, while Gabriel reposed on a bench watching them His lips moved, and she could see that he spoke but could not hear the words Even from a distance across the lawn, he seeh, his face looked thinner, and his cheekbones ht when Lady Beatrice—appearing so charown, a jaunty hat perched rakishly atop her head, and a basket in her hand—strolled over and sat beside Gabriel

Whatever Lady Beatrice said caused him to smile, and his reply h, the sound rippling through the brisk air like musical notes He was recovered…and he'd not returned to their cottage…and he was s warmly at Lady Beatrice She handed him an apple, and he took it with a nod, then directed his attention to his sister who had se with a snowball How happy everyone looked, and Pri

The sob that tore froht her unawares The ged shards of glass raking in her chest She spun around and faltered at the sight of the countess Where had she come from?

“Their engagement is set to announce this week in the Times Both fauised pity shining in her blue eyes

She held out an envelope and Primrose suspected money was inside

“I’ve increased the draft to one thousand pounds”

A fortune Instinctively she rested her hands on her stoe leaped in the countess's eyes, and for a briefShe firmed her lips

“Take it, Miss Markhao on over to hioodbyes”

She opened her lanced back, but he was too caught up in Lady Beatrice's conversation even to sense her presence And the fact that the countess urged her to go to hi He was truly lost to her, and the hu him under the watchful eyes of his family…of the lady he would now ht her soul would shatter fro furiously at her tears, she drew in a hard, desperate breath as she blinked back her tears Then without a word, she took the envelope and walked aithout looking back

Chapter 9

Gabriel stu at the wo her with keen desperation "Priure in the distance did not waver Gabriel kneas her, he would recognize the petite, sensual shape of her anywhere, even if sed in a thick coat Dropping the walking cane, he tried to increase his pace, hoping to take hi distance

“Primrose!”