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“Townsend is well-known amongst the ton for acquiring properties he desires through such means. He has the capital and the contacts in the right places to be quite successful at it. Separately, the debts are not enough for any one man to call in and claim the estate; together…they are dangerous. He collects debts and vows like some collect knickknacks; once his collection is large enough, he strikes.”

The letter fluttered from Mina’s fingers, and she dropped her head into her hands. The only other time Harry had witnessed such a dejected curve to her shoulders was the last night they’d been together…when everything had changed. He clenched his fists to prevent himself from reaching for her. He no longer felt as if he was allowed to hold Mina, to touch her, to comfort her. What did it say about him that—while he’d initially set off with the security of Ravenshire Manor in the forefront of his mind—only a few minutes in her presence resurrected all the feelings he’d once believed suppressed and forgotten? That the forefront of his mind was quickly becoming dedicated to caring for Mina above all else? Harry shook his head and cleared his throat.

“I know you have been trying⁠—”

“I have spent every available hour doing my best to return everything to rights,” Mina interrupted without lifting her head. “Six months,” she sighed and met his eyes. “Six months of my life have been dedicated to repairing this situation. All of it was for naught.”

A muscle in Harry’s jaw flexed. Seeing the telltale glitter in her eyes was agonizing, but he could not lie to her about the severity of the situation. He could not utter an incantation and make it all disappear.

“I appreciate all of your efforts, Mina; truly, I do. But a matter of months will not cure years of mismanagement. I might still salvage some dignity and keep my other holdings intact if we accept the fate of Ravenshire Manor before it infects anything else.”

Mina’s teeth sank into her lower lip, he knew, to prevent her tears from spilling over.

Finally, Harry could take it no more. He leaned forward and enfolded Mina in his arms. It was a relief when she melted against him, curling into his chest and giving over to his support.

“I tried,” she sobbed. “I tried so hard. I am so…so tired, Harry…”

“I know, darling,” Harry murmured, pulling her flush and caressing small circles on her heaving back with his palm. “I know you have.” This seemed only to make her cry harder. His thoughts only on comforting her, Harry smoothly scooped Mina into his lap and cradled her, tucking her head beneath his chin and pressing his lips to her sweetly scented hair.

This wasn’t fair.

The thought struck Harry like a blow to his gut.

None of this was fair. Why would fate have brought her into his life when they were both grieving children, allowed them to bond so closely, gave him the chance to know her and love her, and then sent her off to marry another man? And now that they’d been reunited again, why would it have to be under such horrendous circumstances? Both were yet again suffering losses, and they were thrown into a frustrating, complicated situation not of their own making. Why couldn’t it all have been different? His arms tightened around Mina as the thoughts raced through his mind ‘round and ‘round.

“I am so sorry,” Mina said through her tears.

“For what?”

“For what my father did.”

“He is not your responsibility.”

“Still, what he did was wrong; it damaged part of your inheritance and a place that you love.” She heaved a tremulous sigh and settled against him more fully. Harry, savoring her warmth and her softness, held perfectly still in the hopes that she might remain there forever. “And I believe he knew what he was doing long before he was left with what remains of his mind.”

“Why do you say that?”

There was a hesitation before Mina replied. “I think it was why he arranged my marriage to Robert. I was able to uncover some minor discrepancies dating that far back. He was able to reconcile them, but they kept occurring with more frequency.” Mina leaned back and looked up into his face. Her dark eyes were luminous in the firelight. “He wanted to remove me from any possibility of blame, but he could not leave the position. Without the income, he would have become destitute. If he had been discovered, then he’d never find another position.”

“My father is to blame as well, you know,” said Harry, revealing something that had been troubling him as well. “For a man so centered on his role and business, he neglected to inspect this property at regular intervals. If he’d spoken to your father even once in person over the years, then I do not doubt even he would have recognized his suffering. Instead, he avoided the place his late wife and his son held most dear and focused his efforts elsewhere. He allowed all of this to happen. He may not have made the deals or signed the loans against the property, but he failed all the same.” Harry swiped a tear from Mina’s cheek with the side of his thumb. His touch lingered longer than was proper, but neither of them seemed to care.

“I wish we had more time…If we did, I know my plans could work,” she said with a sniff.

“I don’t doubt that you are correct.” And that was the truth; Harry believed in her. Mina had always possessed a gift when it came to tracking accounts. From a young age, she’d displayed significant prowess with juggling advanced sums and mitigating factors that might impact the running of an estate. Despite the current state of things, Fletcher had had many good years as the estate’s steward, and Mina had learned from one of the best. “I’ve always admired your genius.”

“I have no genius,” she chuckled sadly.

“But you are,” Harry insisted, turning her face back to his when she would have looked away. “You’ve always been brilliant. And brave. And resourceful.” She blinked up at him and Harry felt himself falling into the dark pools of her eyes, clinging to the streaks of mahogany and gold streaking through the irises. He felt the shift between them, the moment Mina’s chin tilted up, the soft sigh as she parted her lips. They were transported to that last night all those years ago…and Harry did not have the strength to turn her away again; his soul would not allow it. The rational part of his mind that still moved reminded him that she was a recent widow; she was distraught over her father and Ravenshire Manor, and he would not take advantage of her.

That was why, when Mina closed the small gap remaining between them, slung her arm around his neck, and pressed her lips to his, Harry could only close his eyes and thank whatever higher power existed for granting him this gift to treasure for the rest of his days.

CHAPTER 9

The moment Mina’s lips touched Harry’s, he crushed her to him in a welcome embrace, tangling his fingers in her hair and dropping pins to the floor. His lips were firm and sweet at the same time; passion and tenderness personified.

And Mina wanted more.

She needed it.