Page 25 (1/2)

Sophia had the impulse to interrupt, to correct him But she couldn’t Guilt pinched in her chest He’d just bared his life to her Why hadn’t she the courage to do the sae, then?"

"I am twenty" At least that was the truth

"Twenty," he repeated, in a tone of dis What can you know of the world?"

"More than you would credit What can you know ofaround and leaned a hand on the table "What can I know of you, indeed How much of the world have you seen, then, Miss Turner?

From whence do you hail?"

He loo But the intensity in his eyes was hed and stood erect again "Oh, Miss Turner hails froarden parties, Kent Are your parents living?"

"Yes, both"

"Have you siblings?"

"One sister"

"What a charan to interject, but he spoke over her "Brown bread or white?"

"White"

"White bread But of course Nothing but the best for Miss Turner I suppose I can skip the next question, as well I’m well aware of your taste for rum"

Sophia bristled at the malice in his voice, and the brutal way in which his hand sliced the air "Actually, I prefer claret"

"Claret" He smirked "Well, I’m sorry I cannot accommodate your tastes, Miss Turner, to offer you white bread and claret at everyher hands to the tabletop, she rose to her feet "Why are you behaving in this fashion?"

He leaned over the table, placing his hands flat to mirror hers "In what fashion would you like me to behave? I can’t be other than I aentleman I’m a liar, a thief, a libertine … and worse" He leaned closer, and she swayed forward, as if pulled by a thread His face was but a handsbreadth froaze fell to her lips, his voice distilling to a rough whisper "You say you have no expectation of white bread and claret? Sweet …" The word swirled over her lips, and Sophia’s eyes fluttered shut "You would do well to form no expectations at all"

Her eyes flew open He pushed back and straightened until his dark hair swept the cabin ceiling Sophia retreated slowly, her heart dru in her breast A sad, yet satisfied look came over his face as he folded his arms across his chest

Heher of the history with his brother, boasting about the countless woation This was the sao, practically declared love for her in a er The man anted her so fiercely, she could taste it on his breath The man she desired so much, she ached for hi his sordid past to drive a wedge between theht not have been as numerous or as salacious, but they were every bit as black as his And she was not going to allow yet another el, above desire, too pure to touch

She skirted the table, closing the distance between them "We’re not finished"

"Sweet, I think ere finished before we began"

She shook her head, laying a hand on his arm "You’ve more questions to askhis arlassy sea would roll beneath the her into his arms But the calers with his, "that these soft, delicate hands have committed theft"

"But they have"

"Of what? Ribbons? A bit of lace, perhaps?" He folded her fingers over her palm and returned her hand to her side "Perhaps a few leaves of paper?"

"Paper of a sort" Banknotes were paper, weren’t they?

"What ever your petty sins, sweet, I’m certain I could buy and sell them with the coin inher eyes, Sophia pressed her hand to the purse beneath her stays True, the money was hers in nahts? Even now, he could be bringing suit against her parents, de the dowry she’d denied him when she ran away What she’d done … It wasn’t so very different from Mr Grayson’s deceit She’d stolen her own inheritance "You’d be surprised at the cost of er under her chin, tilting her face to his Just as quickly, his hand fell away "Don’t tell hter bubbled up in her throat "Of course not No" A surge of guilt chased the laughter away She should have been married, by now Still, she willed the shter seean to look hiain, and Sophia inwardly rejoiced

"How many sweethearts, then?"

"Many"