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Somehow, it was easy to be without shame with him

She yawned as he wrapped her in his arms and whispered, "Did you like thenoring the little twinge in her shoulder--she hadn’t thought of her wound in hours--and told the truth "Very, very ht at the next posting inn, and King left Sophie sleeping as he left the carriage to fetch wine, food, and hot water for her tea

He could not deny the guilt that coursed through him as he crossed the courtyard of the inn; he was keenly aware that he pushed the her to travel so far and without quarter--her shoulder only just having begun to heal--was ungentlemanly at best and irresponsible at worst

There were three ways to travel to Cu the straightest path rather than this one, which was the fastest At this point, he and Sophie were far enough froht She could have slept a few hours on a proper bed Had a proper bath

But he did not wish to think of her in a bath The vision was too clear and far too te

And as for a proper bed, after how easily he’d taken advantage her in the furthest possible thing froainst crisp sheets, hair spread across white pillows, skirts raised, bodice lowered, his hands on her skin

Bollocks

If theyBecause, of course, he wasn’t leaving her in Mossband, baker and silly drea her to Lyne, where he would keep her safe until her father caer

He was not a monster, after all, but he was also not in the market for Sophie Talbot He re for the carriage where she lay asleep, her bodice open and her skirts wrinkled, beckoning him for a repeat of the events inificantly entlemanly if he’d reminded hie

But he was only hulorious flesh it was If only he was in the market for it

He set the food and water inside the door quietly, leaving it ajar to avoid waking her with its closing, and went to assist in hitching the new horses No, he was in thehi died, the dukedom died with him That he’d never marry Never carry on the na his father’s response--the way the promise would break him

The duke had asked for it, had he not? He’d said the words hi a preference for the death of his line than King’s et The end of the dukedo would win

Were you ever happy?

Sophie’s words echoed through hi in her naiveté, even as she knew that happiness was no guarantee Her sister was in the e of them all, and still Sophie seeht, in fact, triumph

That she held even a sliver of wistful o was proof that he should be rid of Lady Sophie Talbot, and quickly

Then why didn’t he leave her?

He was saved froreeting "I must say, even without your curricle, you’vethe days before turning to face the s across the courtyard, cheroot in his hand, glea scowled "You were supposed to be here three nights ago," King said "You should be at your drafty keep by now"