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With her brain still sleepas her bare feet hit the cold floor "I often tell eous and yet soes it"

"Elizabeth"

She ignored the soft query in Marcus’s tone and ht rail at the foot of the bed It ard, this ht before and the brazen way she’d elicited his pro She’d agreed to marry this man, for no other reason than sexual affinity and misplaced possessiveness She was daft

"You can stay abed, love," he htening with her gar on breeches As hehis arlanced up, caught her staring, and sht, all sleep ht," she said

"I but delectable"

He rounded the bed, took the night rail from her hands, and dropped it over her head Then he kissed the tip of her nose "Nowise did I plan for us to be rushed thishis head, he"Keep the bed warm and wait for me"

"It would be best if you learned now that I won’t be ordered about Williahed internally at Elizabeth’s stubbornness, acknowledging to hirow accustomed to it, and went to the door "As you wish, love"

He raked her barely clad body with an affectionate glance before closing the portal behind hith of the hall He really shouldn’t be surprised they’d been discovered, but he was, and disappointed Their agreement was too new, the tie too tentative to set his mind at ease

The first time he’d proposed he’d sat in the study of Chesterfield Hall and discussed the marital disbursements in cold, hard facts with her father The banns had been read, and the papers notified Teas and dinners had been held He could not have expected she would bolt He could not have anticipated she would marry another man And at this moment he had far less than he’d had then At this moment he had only her promise and she had proven that was not to be trusted

Years of frustration and anger rose like bile in his throat Until she made restitution for what she’d done to him he would never find peace

He entered the parlor "Barclay, your ti leaves much to be desired You are--quite lamentably--de trop"

William paced before the fireplace, his hands clasped at his back "I am scarred for life," he muttered

"A knock would have been wise"

"The door was open"

"Well it’s moot in any case; you shouldn’t have come"

"Elizabeth had run off" Willialared

"After the tantrum in her room, I had to find her and see if she ell"

Marcus ran his hands through his tu "She sent word I suppose I should have as well"

"At the very least Debauching someone else’s sister would also be preferable"

"I a her"

Williaain?"

"We never quite finished the business the last time, if you recall"

"Damn you, Westfield" William’s fists clenched until the knuckles hite "If this has anything to do with that idiotic wager, I will call you out"

Rounding the settee, Marcus sat and bit back the harsh words that longed to be freed "Your sterling esti"

"Why in hell would you want to wed Elizabeth after what transpired before?"

"We have an affinity," Elizabeth said fro the two men who held such important places in her life--both of them so obviously restless "Or so he attests"

"An affinity?" Williaaze "What the devil does that have to do with anything?"

Then he paled and held up his hands "On further consideration, I don’t wish to hear the answer to that"

She didn’tto decide whether to enter or not The tension in the rooaret?"

"At home The journey wouldn’t be wise for her now She becomes ill easily"

"You should be with her," she admonished

"I orried about you," he said defensively "Especially when Westfield conveniently disappeared at the sa of your mind-set or your location You are both daive ripped her elbow "Come outside with me"

"It’s too cold," she protested

Williaed out of his coat and tossed it about her shoulders Then he dragged her outside

"Are you daft?" he grohen they were alone The chilly bite of the coastalwas rivaled by the chill of her brother’s tone

"I thought so earlier," she said dryly

"I understand You’ve had a taste of …" he choked, "carnal pleasure, one denied you before It can be heady and unduly influencing for women"