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"Essence of Eleanor," he whispered "If I could bottle it, I would become faain He e

"I aher parts of his brain were considering the logistics oflove in the midst of a river, and he barely understood her

"You aren’t?"

"No"

"It doesn’t ht with you?"

"You’re seducing iven that he felt like a ravening animal "Don’t pick this moment to become chaste, Eleanor"

"What if I did?" she said, and there was so in her eyes, some sort of confused hurt

He kissed her hard, the kind of kiss that stole his breath and ers curl with the wish to touch her But he didn’t "I’d seduce you anyway," he told her, honestly enough "God, Eleanor, I’ve never felt this way Ever"

And then he stood up and wrenched off his neck cloth Threw his heavy silk jacket over one rock and his fine linen shirt over another

The wohed at hi individual hairs into spun gold and glossy bronze and darker hues, like brewed tea He didn’t care how she laughed as long as she didn’t leave

And she didn’t, falling silent when he eased his breeches down over that aching, hot part of himself He didn’t see fear in her eyes, thank God Or reluctance, either

Naked, he walked back through the pool, not even feeling the chilly water on his ankles She kept her hands at her sides

"You can’t mean…" she whispered

Her eyes were very wide and very dark But not reluctant

"Yes" Her body was curves and shadows, pink here, creaown off, taste all of her She had buttons all the way down her dress It was the work of merethose that flew off, sinking into the pool with tiny splashes

"We can’t do this," she whispered

He glanced over his shoulder They were far from the house, and even if someone did come down the path, they were around the curve of the streaht

"No one will co up her chemise "We are alone, Eleanor Do you realize that we are al around my bedchamber, and there’s your maid--"

"We can’tso scandalous We are, both of us, pro for the sake of my children" He said it flatly "I have every expectation that Lisette and I will be quite coether And I will be faithful to her But I am not yet married In fact, I haven’t even proposed"

"She announced your engagerip on her ches

"That surprised me, but not asher a little kiss at the edge of her e of her che circles on her so on one knee," she said "Gideon didn’t either; at this rate, I’ll never have a proper proposal"