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So his gaze away, he looked to Sophie, wanting to say so to tell her that he was sorry

Instead, he opened the door, stepping out to face the great behe hi to the River Esk on one side and to the Scottish border on the other; the remains of Hadrian’s Wall that made his nes, the castle’s housekeeper, the closest thing it had to ahe had to a oal--to raise a future duke

And Lorna Golden-haired and pale skinned, filled with promise The promise of love Of a future Of a life beyond na Too young for his were for hi to help Sophie down, his hands at her waist When she was on solid ground, she looked up at the stone walls of the castle and then to him, a question in her eyes "Are you well?"

Even now, the echo of her frustration around them, she found room for concern He released a breath he had not known he held, considering her big blue eyes, the color on her cheeks, the way she thought of him For a moment, he wondered ould happen if he leaned down and took those full pink lips for the kiss he’d wanted to give her since day had broken He’d linger there, at the soft skin, re theelse

But he knew better than to kiss her here, in this place where memories seemed to etch themselves into the ancient stones

Instead, he released her "As well as can be expected"

A shout punctuated the words and King turned to see a great grey horse in the distance, followed by a pack of dogs He squinted at the rider, tall and grey-haired, ruddy-cheeked and filled with vitality

It couldn’t be

"Shit," he whispered

"Who is that?" Sophie asked, and her soft words at his shoulder ht have pleased hi him a partner in her curiosity

He was too livid to find pleasure in anything, however "That is the Duke of Lyne"

"Your father?"

"The very one"

"He doesn’t look to be at death’s door to me," she said, and he was almost certain he heard pleasure in the observation

"The duke requests your co meal"

Sophie stood at the far corner of the rooant view She’d bathed and slept much of the day in the massive, deliciously comfortable bed, and she’d woken to a collection of no doubt borrowed gowns, several of which actually fit

Aher alone to wait there, in the , considering the labyrinth in the foreground and the rolling green hills of a North Country su rapped on the door and entered without suer she’d felt earlier in the day, when he’dbut scandal to hi to put the evening before--the way he’d touched her and kissed her and whispered her naaze, hating the way his presence had her breath quickening "Mine alone?"

He leaned against the jaaze lowered to her bad shoulder "Are you feeling well?"

She smiled, a brilliant, false expression that would have made her sisters proud "I am about to sup with two men who disdain me, so I have, in fact, felt better"

He cut her a look "I nored the last "The herbs and honey are working well"

"Did you bathe?"

Her cheeks warmed "Not that it is your business, but yes"

"It’s e?"