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"Of course" She gave a short, hua idiot"

Lucien shifted closer, his breath brushing the bare skin of her neck with delicious warmth

"What happened?"

Her hands unconsciously clenched in tight fists, the nails biting into her palhtLady Glendale’s ball It was absurdly stuffy, and I stepped onto the terrace

Lord Patten joined rew annoyed at hisbreath "I inforht er to discover the truth of your words?" he de tones

"He dared reed"

Without warning Lucien was gently but quite firaze She was startled to discover the griant features

"He attempted to seduce you?"

Embarrassed heat flooded her cheeks at his blunt question "Yes"

The golden eyes shier "Did he harave a slow shake of her head In truth it would be easier to admit if Lord Patten had forced himself upon her At least then she could lay the blame upon him But she could not in all honesty deny that she was quite eager to explore the heat of his kisses

"No It was all terribly exciting for a brief tier I had desired Then

rimaced "That was no doubt unpleasant"

A sharp, ruthless pain flared through her as the bitter words of her father echoed through her mind

"He was furious, of course He demanded that Lord Patten wed me by special license"

"But the nobleman refused?"

"Yes He clairotto and tossed myself upon him"

Disdain rippled over Lucien’s countenance "A coward as well as a rake"

"And a liar," she added for good measure "In truth I was relieved I was not to be forced to wed hie would be a misery"

His hand lifted to cup her cheek "I am relieved as well You deserve much better than the likes of Lord Patten Still, it could not have been easy for you"

"It was horrid," she retorted, her storet "The word ofMy parents"

"What, Jocelyn?" he demanded as her words trailed to silence "What did they do?"

She struggled to s the sudden lump in her throat Never before had she confessed to anyone the bitter confrontation she had endured with her parents She was uncertain that she could even speak the words

"I they inforht upon theet out in bleak tones "As far as they were concerned, I was now dead and would be sent to live with a distant cousin I would be given a quarterly allowance, but I was never to enter their house or atteht

Lucien sh hilys were pathetic, unworthy fools who cared more for their reputation than their own child They should be publicly disdained along with the wretched Lord Patten

Still, his concern was for Jocelyn and the bitterness that lingered within her A bitterness that would eventually destroy her if she did not discover a eance ently stroke the skin of her pale cheek, he gazed deep into her troubled eyes

"Oh, my dove," he murmured softly "It is no wonder that you carry such wounds"

She shuddered at his words, but she grimly attempted to keep her expression calave a slow shake of his head He was too closely bound to this woman not to sense the pain just below the surface He could feel it as if it were his own