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Together they left theirthe shore until they reached a larger clearing There Around, the corner of which was held down by a basket filled with delicious s tarts and various cuts of e this?" she breathed, filled with pleasure by his thoughtfulness

"Dear A "You knoho I a"

She knew the rudie, and saw the poielded by her father, a viscount How nitude was the poielded by Ware, whose future held a ht

"Coed "Have a seat, enjoy a peach tart, and tell me about your day "

"My life is dreadfully boring, " she said, dropping to the ground with a sigh

"Then tell "

She dreaiven passionately by a dark-eyed Gypsy lover, but she would never say such a thing aloud She rose to her knees and dug into the basket to hide her blush "I lack iination," she muttered

"Very well, then" Ware situated himself on his back with his hands clasped at his neck and stared up at the sky He looked as at ease as she had ever seen hi pristine white stockings and polished heels--he was still a far o Amelia found that she rather liked the new earl and felt a touch of pleasure that she had wrought what she considered to be a positive change in hiale you with a story," he said

"Lovely" She settled back to a seated position and took a bite of her treat

"Once upon a time"

Ained kissing theh her, an effect of leaving her beloved ro unfaht of Colin and what he had done He certainly did not feel any sadness about leaving her behind

"Would you kisstart crumbs from the corners of her lips

The earl paused midsentence and turned his head to look at her His eyes ith surprise, but he appearedyour pardon Did I hear you correctly?"

"Have you kissed a girl before?" she asked, curious He o years older than she was, only one year younger than Colin It was quite possible that he had experience

Colin had an edgy, dark restlessness about him that was seductive even to her naïve senses Ware, on the other hand, was farfro the world was his for the taking Still, despite her high regard for Colin, she could see how Ware’s lazy charentles"

"Hoonderful! Somehow, I knew you would be discreet " She sain," heher carefully

"Would you kiss me?"

"Is this a hypothetical question, or a call to action?"

Suddenly shy and unsure, Amelia looked away

"Aaze back to his There was deep kindness there on his handsorateful for it He rolled to his side and then pushed up to a seated position

"Not hypothetical, " she whispered

"Why do you wish to be kissed?"

She shrugged "Because"

"I see" His lips pursed a moment "Would Benny suffice? Or a footman?"

"No!"

Hisflutter in her belly It was not an outright flip, as was caused by Colin’s dimples, but it was certainly a herald of her neareness of her friend

"I will not kiss you today," he said "I want you to think upon it further If you feel the same when next we meet, I will kiss you then"

Amelia wrinkled her nose "If you have no taste for me, simply say so"

"Ah,hers, his thu the back "You jump to conclusions just as you jump into trouble--with both feet I will catch you, fair A you "

"Oh," she breathed, blinking at the suggestive undertone to his words

"Oh," he agreed

Amelia akened by the knock that came to her bedchamber door She lay curled in a ball, her eyes closed, her sleep-foggythat she could drift back into sleep and rejoin her vivid dreams Dreams that reminded her of the rare connection she had with Ware and how precious that bond was to her

But the knocking caain, more insistent Harsh reality intruded, and she mourned the loss of her nocturnal reminiscences

"Amelia?"

Maria The one person in the household that she could not ignore

Calling out in a sleep-husky voice, Aled to a seated position and watched as the portal swung open and her sister stepped into view

"Hello, poppet," Maria said, gliding toward her with an elegance she had long envied "Sorry to wake you It is late th ofas you would like"

"I do so love that gown on you," A the cream-colored muslin and its appeal next to Maria’s olive skin