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But she didn’t

Instead, she inched closer

He felt it, her sudden nearness A warm, feminine propinquity that drew his every nerve to attention He didn’t need to look

He didn’t need to, but he did

God, she truly was exquisite

Even his grief-blinded brother had called her beautiful, but that asn

’t quite enough There was a rightness to her face somehow, a quality that resonated in his bones Like the clear ring of fine crystal clinked in celebration, or the echo of a whisper in a cathedral

Exquisite

A raucous cheer announced young Davy’s success, and Gray looked up to the royal yard to see the square sail unfurling high above, like a handkerchief

The loud clanging of the bell cut through the crehoops and whistles Mr Brackett stood on the raised deck toward the ship’s stern, his expression forbidding "This isn’t a circus, you louts! All hands back to work!"

The sailors returned to their duties, gru the the sailors back to work, at least he couldDavy heartily on his descent

"Well done, boy" He clapped a hand on the youth’s tre shoulder

"You’ll be in the forecastle with the sailors soon enough Perhaps by the time we cross the Tropic"

"Thank you, sir" The boy wiped his broith his sleeve

"How do you feel?"

"Like I’hed and stepped back quickly "Just doa nervous giggle, Miss Turner gave the boy a warm smile "You’re very brave, Mr Linnet"

Gray observed the blanched, tight skin over her knuckles where she gripped the edges of her cloak He knew she’d been sick orry for the boy Even now, she was struggling to racious smile--because she understood, as Gray did, how important it was for Davy’s confidence, that he never see her fear

But Gray saw it He’d felt it, as she’d inched closer to hiether on the deck Her vulnerability disar a fifteen-year-old green hand like he’d never envied a prince Gray was seized by the absurd notion to climb the mast himself, just to bask in that warm approbation

Davy lurched off toward the rail, and Gray laid a hand at the base of Miss Turner’s spine, turning her in the opposite direction That lovely sht yet firm touch, he ushered her up the steps onto the elevated deck at the helm She made no protest Dained his hand could nearly span the width of her waist He tested the idea, fanning his fingers over the small of her back She shivered under his touch, but did not pull away

In fact, she seeht, sweetheart," he h it admirably So did you"

She wheeled to face hie swell of protectiveness rose in his chest Driven by some impulse he could no better understand than he could deny, Gray lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a warers

"Now," he ?" For the life of hiht in his head

"Paper You … you still owe ht shillings," he said softly "Not to mention a new pair of boots So I think you’re rather ahead"

Indeed, Gray was losing ground fast Those lovely eyes, her whisper-soft skin, the sweet scent that only grew more potent as the warer, he wouldn’t give tuppence for anything but gathering her in his ar that pert blossoe an English rose of a governess This was a girl who’d expect to be kissed sweetly Chastely Tenderly

Hell The word "chaste" wasn’t even in his vocabulary And Gray didn’t do anything tenderly

"Sweet, I hate to break it to you But no matter how many sheets of paper you fill with letters ho by"

"No, it’s not for letters You don’t understand"

"So explain it toeyes searching his There was a story behind that desperate gaze One that wouldn’t fit on two sheets of paper, nor even two hundred, he supposed