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“When did you get back?”

“About half an hour ago” He licked his finger and turned the page, tilting his head to read the top corner “You had a phone call while I was out”

I frowned “I did?”

“Yes” He finally looked up at aze that made me freeze in place “From a…”

There was a scrap of paper on the table in front of him that I hadn’t noticed until nohen he picked it up

“Oh, yes A Matthew Hornby He said he’s your horticulture tutor”

Oh, no

Oh, no, no, no, no, no

I was in so much trouble

“Daddy—”

“He wanted me to pass on that you’d left one of your textbooks and your ulasses and pulled the note closer “And if I would be so kind as to pass on that he hopes you’re doing ith your current assign the final outcome”

“I can explain—”

“I don’t wish for you to explain, Gabriella” He tossed the note down on the table and turned back to his paper “What I would like is for you to leave me alone so that I can read my paper”

My heart had sunk so far it wasn’t even in h my feet, the floor, the surface of the Earth

This wasn’t hoas supposed to find out

“I understand,” I said in a sain and I’d been caught s biscuits out of the biscuit tin under my t-shirt “I’ll be in my room if you need me”

He didn’t respond, so I left him to his newspaper I wrappedbackwards when I saw Aunt Cat standing there, hugging her books about plu

“He’s so oats,” she saidtheive him an aneurysm”

I forced a weak smile

“And let’s face it Your brother wouldn’t kno to run this estate unless rote the instructions on the back of a vodka bottle”