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Henry had gone into his final decline a year ago, just before the birth of their second son, Stephen

In the one to live with her fa ho period was over, it was tile e that seemed Soon she would move back to the Clare estate in Essex—which Justin would inherit when he cae—and she try to raise her sons the way their beloved father would have wished

But first, she had to attend her brother Gabriel’s wedding

Knots of dread tightened in Phoebe’s stoe rolled toward the ancient estate of Eversby Priory This was the first event outside of her family’s home that she would take part in since Henry’s death Even knowing she would be a friends and relations, she was nervous But there was another reason she was so thoroughly unsettled

The bride’s last name was Ravenel

Gabriel was betrothed to a lovely and unique girl, Lady Pandora Ravenel, who seemed to adore him every bit as much as he did her It was easy to like Pandora, as outspoken and funny, and iinative in a way that reminded her a little of Henry Phoebe had also found herself liking the other Ravenels she’d met when they’d come to visit her family’s seaside home There was Pandora’s twin sister, Cassandra, and their distant cousin Devon Ravenel, who had recently inherited the earldom and was now styled Lord Trenear His wife, Kathleen, Lady Trenear, was friendly and char Had the family stopped there, all would have been well

But Fate had turned out to have a er brother was none other than West Ravenel

Phoebe was finally going to have to meet the man who’d made Henry’s years at school so wretched There was no way to avoid it

West lived on the estate, no doubt puttering about and pretending to be busy while sponging off his older brother’s inheritance Recalling Henry’s descriptions of the big, lazy sloth, Phoebe envisioned Ravenel drinking and lying about like a seal on the beach, and leering at the housemaids as they cleaned up after him

It didn’t seeood and kind as Henry should have been given so few years, whereas a cretin like Ravenel would probably live to be a hundred

“Mama, why are you cross?” her son Justin asked innocently froe seat The elderly nanny beside him had leaned back to doze in the corner

Phoebe cleared her expression instantly “I’”

“Your broere pointed down, and your lips were pinched up like a trout,” he said “You only do that when you’re cross, or when Stephen’s diaper is wet”

Looking down at the baby in her lap, who had been lulled by the repetitive e, she murmured, “Stephen is quite dry, and I’m not at all out of humor I’mwell, you know I haven’t kept co tis”

“When Graht me how to swim in cold water, he told o in up to your waist first, so your body knohat’s coood practice for you, Mama”

Considering her son’s point, Phoebe regarded hiht Even at a young age, Henry had been eradually,” she said “What a wise boy you are You do a good job of listening to people”

“I don’t listen to all people,” Justin told her in aup on the carriage seat, the child stared at the ancient Jacobean mansion in the near distance Once the fortified hohly ornamented structure bristled with rows of slender chimneys It was earthbound, stocky, but it also reached for the sky

“It’s big,” the child said in awe “The roof is big, the trees are big, the gardens are big, the hedges are bigwhat if I get lost?” He didn’t sound worried, however, only intrigued

“Stay where you are and shout until I find you,” Phoebe said “I’ll always find you But there’ll be no need for that, darling When I’m not with you, you’ll have Nannyshe won’t let you stray far”

Justin’s skeptical gaze went to the dozing elderly worin as he looked back at Phoebe

Nanny Bracegirdle had been Henry’s beloved priestion that she oversaw his own children’s nursery She was a calure stout in a way that made her lap the perfect place for children to sit while she read to the babies who needed soothing Her hair was a crisp white ue swirled beneath the caors of her occupation, such as chasing after ra chubby infants fro nursemaid Nanny’san extra nap here and there, she was as capable as she had always been

The caravan of fine carriages progressed along the drive, conveying the entourage of Challons and their servants, as well as a rounds, like the surrounding fares and old stone walls covered with cli roses and soft, fluttery bursts of purple wisteria Jases came to a slow halt in front of the portico