"You're dismissed, Maize," I said, sinking back into my chair, unable to say more. He did an about-face and left my room."You've been like ... a broth...r," I whispered, finishing his sentence.Ned looked askance when he picked me up on Friday afternoon. "Where are your books?" he asked."I don't need them. I'm ready for anything," I answered him."Did you see a domino?" No," I laughed."I've been thinking about what you said. Penelope thinks you may be psychic or something. She wants to talk to you. She ignored me for what felt like an eternity before finally pausing at her work, gazing across the room at me, her lips pressed firmly together.“Yes, Miss Spencer?”“I… can’t hold it… much…”I felt a deep blush covering my cheeks at the admission, knowing what was about to happen. I watched her glance at the clock on the wall, my gaze following her involuntarily.“Ten more minutes, Miss Spencer.”“But…”She raised her right eyebrow, silencing me as she went back to grading her student’s papers. How long were you planning to stay,” the hostess inquired.“A couple nights I guess,” reasoned Fat Tony. “That cool?”“Oh yes! That’s fine with me. What kind of work do you do?”“Right now I’m between gigs.”“Oh I see.”“Yeah! I’m kinda out here makin’ a new start.”“Nothing wrong with that. I’ve had to make a couple of new starts in my life.”“Oh yeah?”“Yep. I’ve been married and divorced three times.”“Damn! Men wasn’t treatin’ you right.”“Something like that,” she smirked. “Would you like some. "I sold the company," I told her."Hardacres?" she asked."Barnestone colliery, Barnestone estates, Hardacres and The Hall." I explained, "I came home to tell you." Sold, is there anything left, after debts I mean," she asked earnestly."Nothing much, a house in Leeds." I told her."Thank god, I've been so worried!" she said."Yes, it looks like it!" I agreed."I thought you might, you know, like Duffy Harrington." she said."Top myself!" I snorted, "No!" we had stopped now, I let her sit on the grass.