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It suddenly occurred to her that he could not possibly be the same man she once knew They had spent five years apart, separated by the sea, the language, by circu that time had he known love, heartbreak? What events had shaped andelse ever compare to the level of satisfaction he had experienced elsewhere?

“The title and land are yours whether you reside in London or not,” she said In his youth, he had been a little reckless He’d thought nothing of disobeying his family then “You should follow your heart rather than what society expects or your position dictates”

His expression darkened “Do you truly believe that? When people depend on us, how can we ever be free? I’m afraid duty and responsibility are hats I must learn to wear comfortably and with pride”

“You sound so different from the man I used to know” The words fell froht or censure She sucked in a breath, wishing they would somehow find their way back “What I mean is maturity alters the e view the world We have come to realise our options are limited”

He snorted in both alorious adventure filled with endless possibilities”

Isabella sighed Whilst she recognised the truth to their words, a part of her wanted to kick off her slippers, take his hand and run through the garden like they used to do The ht They would sit by the fountain, splashing water, laughing He would kiss her beneath a blanket of heavenly stars Life would be perfect, just as it was then

Good Lord She was but three-and-twenty, yet she suspected every new experience awaiting her would fall hopelessly short of that one ht to draw all the air froainst her gloved fingers

“Listen to us” A weak chuckle left her lips “We sound so miserable, so morbid”

He stared at her for asomewhat “In France, my friends often remarked on my cheerful disposition I am known for my optinise myself when I an tofeels like a lie”

Isabella felt a fa his honest words In an instant, she was transported back to the night at the coaching inn, when they realised it was his father’s carriage ru into the courtyard She had put her hand on his cheek, told hi would ever keep them apart Their ability to be honest and speak so openly to one another was just one of the things she loved about being with him

How ironic that he should deceive her but a few hours later

“It can take ti a different life,” she said, though she wanted to say that she understood what it was like to deceive oneself, that her life had been one huge lie, too “Things are bound to feel strange, certain modes of conduct uncomfortable”

He narrowed his gaze “You always did knohat to say in any given situation It is one of the things—” he stopped abruptly, waved his hand in the air “The inal point” His tone was somewhat sharper “You said you wished to speak to me about And

rew Am I to assume it was to pay your respects privately?”

Isabella watched him draw back behind a solid wall of ice, a defensive h her