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“Got his letter saying he was co for her,” the squire answered on a frown “So … was it you?”

“No, well, yes, but it is my brother who is now duke … he was to meet me here”

“Well, he er at her, he added, “Where is he, this brother duke of yours?”

She pulled a face “I am not certain He must have been detained on the road I was myself e lost a wheel”

“Well, whatever he wrote in that letter overset those two,” the squire said o found it, waved it in front of her face “This is what one of Flip’s servants found in her room”

She took the note and read it She then closed her eyes and opened them to say quietly, “My brother is short and to the point, and I can see how a young lady ht have taken it into her head … to think … but to bolt, and your son with her?”

“Miss Felicia Easton is not just any young lady Spirited lass, and my son is devoted to her Of course he would help her”

Daphne made a mental note to tear her brother from limb to limb with her own hands, but she set this all sorted out Do, Squire, be seated so that you may address me in a rational matter, and we may, between us, find a solution to our present predicament”

The squire, seerunt and another sound but did, in fact, pull up a chair and sit, though he still gruht then, m’lady Here is m’boy’s letter that he left for h I know better than to think he thought up these words—more than likely the little minx dictated this”

Lady Daphne heard the affection in his tone when he spoke of Felicia Easton and waited for hi her hands in her lap as she shifted in her seat

Dearest Father:

Don’t fly into the boughs and don’t be cross It is for the best Taking our Flip aith me was the only answer to our proble for it but to save her and I was the only one that could do that Can’t tell you more lest you feel the need to do your duty and come after us Mustn’t do that, you know Will see you soon and trust in your son to see our girl safe

Your loving son,

Scott

The squire put this letter away and looked into the Lady Daphne’s eyes to ask, “Did you ever hear such nonsense? You would think the h if it is true he e, I can’t say as I bla care that didn’t happen” He leveled a look at her “What sort of fellow is your brother to frighten her like that?”