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A glow of errant tenderness softened the duke’s dia I insist on co, then”
Justin went to the duchess, locking his arrandchild “You can co onto the complex draperies of her blue silk dress
Her gentle hand, adorned only with a si band, s boy, but I would rather spend time with lance to her husband—“the Westcliffs have just arrived, and I haven’t seen Lillian for ages Do you mind if I—”
“Go,” the duke said “I know better than to stand between the two of you Tell Westcliff I’ll be along in a moment”
“I’ll take Ivo and Jack to the receiving room for lemonade,” Seraphina volunteered, and sent West a shy smile “We’re parched after the journey from London”
“So aer sister and the boys
She stopped, however, her back straightening as she heard Lord St Vincent reo on the farm tour It’s fallen to her to e, and she has much to learn”
Phoebe turned to St Vincent with led surprise and annoyance “As you’re well aware, brother, the Clare lands are already beinghis expertise by interfering”
“Sister,” St Vincent replied dryly, “I’ve been to your estate Larson’s a pleasant fellow, but his knowledge of far hardly counts as ‘expertise’”
West was fascinated to see a tidy of unruly pink sweep up Phoebe’s chest and throat It was like watching a cameo come to life
The brother and sister exchanged a hard stare, engaging in a wordless argument
“Mr Larson isat her brother, “and a great friend tothe estate lands and tenants in the traditional manner, exactly as Lord Clare asked him to do The tried-and-true methods have always served us well”
“The probleht better of it He broke off as Phoebe turned to give hilance
It felt like a collision, the way their gazes met
“Yes?” Phoebe prompted
Wishing he’d kept his ”
“What were you going to say?” she persisted
“I don’t want to overstep”
“It’s not overstepping if I’” She was irritated and defensive now, her face turning even pinker With that red hair, it was a riveting sight “Do go on”
“The proble,” West said, “is that it won’t work anymore”
“It’s worked for two hundred years,” Phoebe pointed out, not incorrectly “My husband was opposed to experiht put the estate at risk, and so is Mr Larson”
“Farmers are experiet the most they can from their fields”
“Mr Ravenel, with respect, what qualifications do you have to speak on the subject with such authority? Did you have far experience before you came to Eversby Priory?”
“God, no,” West said without hesitation “Before my brother inherited this estate, I’d never set soto the tenants, and learning about their situations, so quickly becaoing to be left behind It’s a matter of sirain, especially now that international freight prices have dropped On top of that, there are no young people left to do the backbreaking labor—they’re all heading north in search of factory jobs The only solution is to one, your countrywhite elephant, and you’ll be auctioning its contents to pay your tax bill”
A frown knitted Phoebe’s forehead “Edward Larson has a different view of the future”