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She stopped

The space was circular The glass walls flew up into a miniature dome, like the ones she’d seen in pictures of Russia In the center, a marble fountain played softly, and around the outside were hed Reds and pinks, creams, and pure whites, the roses’ heavy scent filled the air, topping off the sense of wonder and delight Simon had a fairyland in his house

"You’ve found me"

She started and looked in the direction of his voice, and her heart fluttered at the sight Sireen apron over his waistcoat to protect it, and he’d rolled his sleeves up, exposing his forearms, which were dusted with blond hair

Lucy s attire This was an aspect of hiued her Since they’d come to London, he’d always been so polished, so very much a man of the world "I hope you don’t mind Newton showed me in"

"Not at all Where’s Rosalind?"

"I came alone"

He stilled and darted a look at her that she found hard to interpret "All alone?"

So that was his worry He’d made it very plain when she first came to London that she was never to leave the house by herself She’d nearly forgotten the injunction in the intervening week, for nothing had happened as far as she could tell Obviously, he still worried about his enemies "Well, except for the coache" She smiled easily at him

"Ah" His shoulders relaxed, and he started to take off his apron "In that case, may I offer you some tea?"

"You don’t have to stop because of me," she said "That is, if I don’t disturb you"

"You always disturb el" He retied his apron and turned back to the workbench

She saw that he was busy, but they were to be ht whispered at the back of her rown bored of her already, or worse, was having second thoughts She walked to his side "What are you doing?"

He see roses Not a very exciting chore, I’m afraid, but you’re welcome to watch"

"You’re sure you don’t mind?"

"No, of course not" He stooped over the bench, not looking at her He had a prickly stick in front of hi the end into a point

"We haven’t been alone together in several days, and I thought it would be nice just totalk" She found it hard to speak to him while he was half turned away

His back was stiff, as if he wereher away, but he made no move "Yes?"

Lucy bit her lip "I know I shouldn’t be calling so late, but Rosalind hasclothes and such You wouldn’t believe hoded the streets were this afternoon It took us an hour to drive ho Lucy sat on a nearby stool and took a breath "Siot his attention He looked up, frowning "What?"

She esture of frustration "You seem so preoccupied all the time, and you haven’t kissed me since you proposed I wondered if perhaps you had ti me"

"No!" He threw the knife down and leaned straight-armed on the bench, head bowed "No, I’ to marry you, now more than ever, I assure you I count the days until we are finally wed I drea you in ofor the day The problem is mine"

"What problem?" Lucy was relieved but honestly confused "Tell ether"

He blew out a sigh, shook his head, and turned his face to her "I don’t think so This proble with it must be my own cross to bear Thank God it will disappear in a e’re bound by the holy vows ofin riddles"

"So militant," he crooned "I can picture you with a fiery sword in one hand, s Sa eyebrows" He laughed under his breath "Let’s just say I’ you"

She sed You can touch htened and picked up the paring knife again "If I touch you, I’m not certain I’ll be able to stop" He bent and peered at the rose as he made another deliberate cut in the stem "In fact, I’m fairly certain I won’t stop I’d be intoxicated by your scent and the feel of your white, white skin"

Lucy felt warmth in her cheeks She doubted very ht now But he’d hardly touched her at all in Maiden Hill Surely if he could restrain himself then, he could now "I--"

"No" He took a breath and shook his head as if clearing it "I’d have you on your back, your skirts tossed around your shoulders like a common cull before I could think, be in you before I could reflect, and once started, I sure as hell wouldn’t stop before we’d both reached heaven itself Maybe not even then"

Lucy opened her mouth, but no sound came out Heaven itself

He shut his eyes and groaned "Jesus I can’t believe I said that to you"

"Well" She cleared her throat His words had made her feel shaky and hot "Well That’s certainly flattering"

"Is it?" He glanced at her He had spots of color high on his cheekbones "I’ your fiancé’s lack of control over his anio" She made to rise

"No, stay with me, please Justjust don’t coht and folded her hands in her lap

His mouth curled down at one corner "I’ve missed you"

"And I, you"

They exchanged a sain, but this time she knew the cause and was unperturbed She watched him set aside the stem and pick up a pot that contained what looked like a sround, and the stars began to fill the sky above the do me about that fairy tale," she said "The Serpent Prince I won’t be able to finish the illustrations if you don’t tellillustrations?"