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“Good God man, let me help you”

Gabriel lowered hilare “Did you deliver es to Miss Markham?”

“I told you I went by the cottage”

Gabriel stared at his brother, and slowly said, “Yes, but did you actually deliver es as you promised?”

George griard “It appears as if she packed her belongings and left a week ago That is why I doubted the woman you saas her”

A week? A peculiar hollowness forut Had Pri? Dear God, why? With what money?

“Tell ain,” Gabriel said softly “From the moment she dropped me off here What did she say, as her countenance?”

George scrubbed a hand over his face with a wary so She bloody well du, walked away and never looked back I did as you bid and visited and she was no longer living at the cottage”

“Surely theresickly

“There is ret and soaze “Mother inforotiated for a larger sum”

Sharp edges of pain, confusion, and denial darted through hih his soul was shaper than the bullet which had ripped through his side and almost taken his life twice And in the ht with love and trust floated through his memories

It centered hiled to his feet andhall With a e followed His mother sat at the table beside the earl who read a freshly pressed e boy had delivered His mother slathered jam on toast, and her eyes lit up with pleasure when she saw him

“Gabriel! Hoonderful you look today I detect a certain spring in your steps Will you join us?”

He paused at the head of the table, waiting until George entered the room Then he looked at his family who froe to deliver several es to Miss Markham for me She did not reply to any, nor did she visit He infore I rented to be our home, and that she has taken the money you offered her"

The countess lowered the knife and lifted her chin “It was crass of me to offer it, but I did”