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"Ahhh, God!" He jerked, his hips pu mindlessly

She’d hed and rolled his head against the wood Once again he tried to catch his breath Slowly, he drew out a handkerchief and wiped his hand, trying not to let self-loathing drown his soul Then he walked to the tiny dresser and splashed water into the basin there He doused his face and neck and hung his head, dripping, over the basin

He was losing control

A laugh burst from his lips, loud in the quiet room He’d already lost control God knehat he’d say to her on the led in her bath and whose privacy he’d stolen Sihtened painfully, dried his face, and lay down on the bed without bothering to undress

It was past time to leave

Chapter Six

Lucy pulled her gray woolen cloak more fir It drove icy fingers under her skirt to wrap around her bones Normally, she wouldn’t have ventured forth, especially on foot, but she needed time to think alone, and the house was full of e, and Sie was irritating even in the best of circumstances Hence a country ramble seemed in order

Lucy kicked a pebble in the lane How did one go about entleman across the luncheon table when he’d last seen one nude and caressing one’s own breasts? If she wasn’t so embarrassed, she’d ask Patricia Her friend would be sure to have soht one And hastly self-consciousness It had been so horrible, last night when he’d seen her Horrible, but also wonderful, in a secret, wicked way She’d liked hi at her If she was honest with herself, she’d admit that she wished he’d stayed Stayed and--

Footfalls, rapid and heavy, came from behind her

Lucy suddenly realized she was alone in the road, no cottage in sight Maiden Hill was usually a sleepy hamlet, but stillShe whirled to confront whoever was about to overtake her

It wasn’t a footpad

No, ain

"Wait" His voice was subdued He opened his ain but shut it abruptly as if he didn’t knohat else to say

That unusual dumbness made her feel a little better Could he possibly be as embarrassed as she? He’d stopped several paces away He was bareheaded, without either a hat or a wig, and he stared at herAl fro for a walk over to the chalk downs Would you like to accoels"

And suddenly it was all right She set off once again, and he , these woods are full of bluebells" She gestured to the surrounding trees "It’s really too bad you’ve co is so bleak"

"I shall try to be set upon in su, actually"

He glanced at her

She smiled wryly "That’s when the bluebells bloo, Ma after we’d been cooped up inside all winter Papa ay at sea most of the time, naturally David and I would pick as many bluebells as our arms could hold and dump them into her lap"

"She sounds a patient mother"

"She was"

"When did she die?" His words were soft, intiain that this ht ahead "Eleven years ago noas thirteen"

"A hard age to lose a parent"

She looked at him The only family he’dout herhis own "Is your mother alive?" Obviously, his father must already be dead for him to have inherited the title

"No She died a few years ago, before" He stopped

"Before?"

"Before Ethan, my brother, died Thank God" He tilted his head back and seeh perhaps he looked at so apple of her eye Her one greatest accomplishment, the person she lovedand the old--and he could lead men The local farmers came to him with their squabbles He never met a soul who didn’t like him"

Lucy watched him His voice was expressionless as he described his brother, but his hands twisted slowly at his waist She wondered if he was even aware of their on"

"He was But he was alsoto think about it, without any doubts Very few people can do that" He looked down and seeer He clasped his hands behind his back

She lanced at her "My elder brother was the most moral person I’ve ever known"

Lucy frowned, thinking about this perfect, dead brother "Did he look like you?"

He seemed startled

She raised her brows and waited

"Actually, he did a little" He half smiled "Ethan was a bit shorter than I--no more than an inch or so--but he was broader and heavier"

"What about his hair?" She looked at his nearly colorless locks "Was he fair as well?"

"Molden color with curls He left it long and didn’t igs or powder I think he was a bit vain about it" He smiled at her mischievously

She s and carefree, and suddenly realized that despite Simon’s careless manner, he was very rarely at ease

"His eyes were a clear blue," he continued "Mother used to say they were her favorite color"

"I think I prefer gray"

He boith a flourish "My lady honors me"