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Chapter One

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April, 1820

The spring washed in like the tide, advancing confidently ar the next On some days the new vibrant hues of the pansies and daffodils were bathed in tepid air that encouraged theusted fiercely - de a return to the bitterness of the months before

The previously denuded branches offered their wands of tight green bud to the brilliant rays of spring The wind had lost its bite, it had beco the hair of pedestrians - but no longer stealing their warmth The only clouds were fluffy, white and quite dispersed, there would be no rain today

On the plains there were years in which oldwould ride in on a gentle breeze, unhindered by any hill This April air would soothe the embattled flora with its sweet proales and hail

But the spring was patient, always returning in the cal until it had ebbed out the frigid blasts entirely Then for some months it rained down both water and soft heat Some days could still be a blanket of cloud, like the season passed, butthe brilliant light to strike the fields unhindered

The journey down fro forever Alexander Randall, Duke of Daventry, could not help feeling as if the world was holding hi him from his life and his love

It was a splendid day The winter cold was now banished and the finally the sun’s war halted by clouds The spring breeze was quite refreshing with the touch of the pleasant smell of the trees and flowers The place was so peaceful, the sun was shining bright and the cool , it see and the trees danced to itsand sti The hills were very attractive; the pleasant place was an attraction for those who desired peace

Randall had spent the last six h It was a private residence, and one which had not been lived in since Alexander’s father had been but a young boy However, Alexander’s father had never forgotten the time he’d spent in the home of his mother as a child

It had been a et’s letters seerown shorter and shorter, and the tier and larger

The last of her letters had been a brief yet perfect account of an afternoon buffet at the ho in her letter about Bridget herself, and nothing to say that she missed him at all

Worse still, that letter had arrived more than six weeks beforehand and, despite nuet was not inclined to respond any further