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“Is that a proposal?”
“I’m not certain”
“H closer I take some comfort in that”
She studied hi impatient?”
“I can wait”
The ansas vague, and Amelia frowned
“No fretting,” Ware ad her out a pair of open French doors to a crowded terrace “I a as you are”
The cool evening breeze blew across her skin, and she inhaled deeply “You are not being entirely truthful”
A and faced hi in various conversations, but all were casting curious glances in their direction Despite the shadows created by the cloud-covered lea perusals
“This is not the place to discuss so up to untie hisa profile so noble it should have graced a coin
“You know that will not dissuade me”
“And you know that is why I like you so well” His slow si is orderly and firmly in its place I know my role and I fulfill the expectations of Society exactly”
“Except for courting me”
“Except for courting you,” he agreed His gloved hand found hers and held it He adjusted his stance to hide the scandalous contact from the curious “You are my fair princess, rescued frohter of a viscount hanged for treason and sister to a true femme fatale, a woman widely considered to have erous to kill You are my folly, my aberration, my peccadillo”
He brushed his thu her shiver “But I serve the opposite purpose in your life I a to aze lifted to look over her head at the others who shared the terrace with them He bent closer and irl who so boldly demanded a first kiss from me, and I wish I had responded differently”
“You do?”
Ware nodded
“Have I changed so much since then?”
With hisfrom one hand and her hand captured in the other, he turned abruptly and led her down the nearby flight of stairs to the garden A gravel pathway bordered lo hedges, which in turn bordered a lush center lawn and impressive fountain
“The passing of ties all of us,” he said “But I think it was the passing of your dear Colin that changed you the most”
The sound of Colin’s na sadness and regret He had been her dearest friend, who later became the love of her heart He was the nephew of her coachman and a Gypsy, but in her sheltered world they were equals They had been playmates as children, then found their interest in each other changing Deepening Beco less innocent
Colin had th of character had stirred her in ways she had not been prepared for Thoughts of him had ruled her days, and dreahts He had been wiser than she, understanding that it was iether He had pushed her away, pretended to feel nothing for her, and broken her adolescent heart
But in the end he had died for her
Her silent exhale was shaky Sometimes, just before she drifted into sleep, she permitted herself to think of him She opened her heart and let theand budding desire She had never felt that depth of eain and knew she never would Some childish infatuations faded away Her love for Colin had been built with fir fire, but a softer warratefulness for his sacrifice Trapped between her father’s ents of the Crown, she could have been killed had Colin not spirited her away A reckless, love-fueled rescue that had delivered her to safety at the cost of his precious life
“You are thinking of hiain,” Ware murmured
“Am I so transparent?”
“As clear as glass” He squeezed her hand, and she smiled fondly
“Perhaps you thinkaffection for Colin, but it is my affection for you that restrains me”
“Oh?”
Amelia could see that she had surprised hiing of the path Brilliant light and the glorious strains of stringed instruments spilled out in abundance froer close to the festivities Others wended their way through the rear garden as they did, but all resisted straying too far
“Yes, reat love”
Ware laughed softly “How fanciful you are” He grinned and looked so handsoer to ads when you wear that faraway look, but that is the extent of my interest in affairs of the heart”
“You have no notion of what you are ”
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“Forgiveis the s to you, I want none of it It is attractive on you and lends you an air of mystery that I find irresistible Sadly, I fear I would not fare so well I suspect I would appear wretched, and we cannot have that”
“The Earl of Ware wretched?”
He gave a mock shudder “Quite impossible, of course”
“Quite”
“So you see, you are perfect for me, Amelia I enjoy your company I enjoy your honesty and our ability to converse freely about nearly everything There is no uncertainty or fear of reprisal for a careless act You cannot hurt me, and I cannot hurt you, because we do not attribute actions to ehtless, it is not because I seek to injure you, and you know this Our association is one I will appreciate and value until I take my last breath”
Ware paused when they reached the bottom step that would lead them back up to the terrace Their brief spell of privacy was nearly at an end Her desire to spend unhindered tie It was only the sexual congress that would end their evenings that she resisted
The ed kisses with Colin haunted her, and she could not bring herself to risk disappointment with Ware She dreaded the possibility of aardness intruding on their closeness The earl was co and perfect Hoould he look when he was flushed and disheveled? What sounds would he make? Hoould he move? What would he expect of her?
It was apprehension that goaded these ponderings, not anticipation
“And what of the sex?” she asked
His head swiveled toward her, and he froze with his foot poised above the step The depth of his blue eyes sparkled with merriment Ware backed down from the stair and faced her directly “What of it?”
“Do you not worry that it will be?” She struggled to find the correct word