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Harry’s jaw clenched.

“Surprisingly, that is not why we are here,” Mina said before Harry could interject. The brothers chuckled in unison at the jest. “Despite the years of torture you put me through⁠—”

“And all the trouble you caused,” Harry interjected under his breath.

“—it appears you have become trustworthy and hardworking tenants. Considering this, the Ravenshire estate would like to gauge your interest in possibly taking over a farm of your own.”

The brothers’ eyes widened, and they shared another brief, silent conversation before Samuel said, “I was unaware there was availability.”

“Did someone die?” Michael blurted out.

“No one died,” Mina replied.

“Of course no one died.” Samuel whacked the back of his hand against his brother’s chest. “We would have heard of it.”

“Is new land being bought? Here in Kent?” Michael asked.

Harry held up his hand to stop the speculation, but the men did not stop their back and forth until he barked, “Let the lady speak and perhaps all your questions might be answered.”

Samuel’s brows rose, and his mouth curled into an amused smile. “Little Harry has found his voice, hasn’t he?”

“He is the earl now, and you’d best remember that,” Mina cautioned, and both brothers’ mouths snapped shut. She sighed and began again. “Now, there is the potential for some changes in lands currently being leased. It may take a bit of time, but we are gauging interest from individuals we’ve determined would make beneficial new tenants. Both of you were at the top of the list.”

“We were?” Samuel asked, stunned.

“Yes, you clod,” Mina said lightly. “This cannot be a surprise to you. You are hardworking, and your family’s land is some of the best. It stands to reason that the estate would benefit from your quality of work on your own land.”

Samuel shook his head in disbelief while Michael scrubbed his hair until it stood at wild angles. “Truly?” Michael still sounded as if he believed he were dreaming.

“This is not a trick as revenge for all the horrid things we did as children?” asked Samuel.

Harry laughed through his nose. “No, but that is a brilliant idea.”

The twins glared at him.

“I will not lie and say it will be easy,” Harry said, sharing a glance with Mina. “There are many things to take into account, and the estate will require some restructuring to allow for it, but…Mrs. Brown feels as though you both have shown enough promise and initiative to be trustworthy tenants of your own land. What say you?”

The brothers shared one last glance before turning broad, joyful smiles back on Mina and Harry.

That night as he prepared for sleep, a smile was still affixed to Harry’s face. Despite his misgivings, Mina had convinced him that Samuel and Michael Stinson would be valuable tenants of their own land on the Ravenshire estate. He also had to admit that it was good to see them again. For all the bickering and pranks, the four of them had spent a great deal of time together as children, and Harry still held those memories close.

By the time they left the Stinson farm, Harry knew he had nothing to worry about when it came to Mina’s relationship with the brothers. They were friends, nothing more. Besides, Mina had admitted to him that she desired him—that she had for a long time. It was exhilarating to hear, and so bloody arousing.

She wanted him.

The woman he’d craved above all others reciprocated the sentiment.

Despite the troubles they faced, it made him feel as if he floated above the ground.

It made it all the more pleasurable for him to tell Mina that he’d arranged for a woman from the village to look in on her father; to help with the cooking, cleaning, and his general care. He’d confirmed she had experience with senility, and she came with recommendations from another family with whom she’d spent three years caring for an elderly relative. If her father wouldn’t accept the care for what it was, then they would claim she was to be his new assistant—anything to make sure he was safe and healthy. He hoped that it might set Mina’s mind at ease knowing her father was cared for; what he hadn’t anticipated was Mina launching herself at him and wrapping her arms around his neck and clinging to him as she peppered his face with kisses of gratitude.

“Didn’t I tell you on the very first day we met that you were a good man?” She had beamed up at him, a single tear tracking a path down her cheek, and—for the first time—Harry truly felt as if he lived up to that assessment. Caring for his estate and his tenants was his job; caring for Mina was his heart’s mission.

“You take care of everyone else,” Harry had said, “so it is a pleasure to take care of you for a change.”

Clasping his fingers behind his head, Harry lay back on his pillow and stared up at the paneled ceiling of his bedchamber. Fate certainly worked in mysterious ways.

He’d just begun drifting into a deep sleep, his mind filled with visions of Mina’s smile and her intoxicating scent, when there was the soft click of a latch opening, a gentle creak of old hinges followed by the whisper of fabric.