Page 18 (1/2)

God help him if Annabelle ever came to realize the power she had over him…a power that posed a perilous threat to pride and self-control He wanted to possess every part of her body and soul, in every i depth of his passion for her shocked him And no one of his acquaintance, least of all Westcliff, would understand Westcliff had always kept his own e contempt for those who made fools of themselves for the sake of love

Not that this was love…Sio that far And yet it was farless than outright ownership

Forcing his features into a blank mask, Simon followed Westcliff into his study

It was a s and ornalass s on one side With its hard angles and unforgiving furniture, the study was not a cohly masculine place, where one could s himself to one of the hard chairs positioned by the desk, Simon accepted a brandy fro it He held out the snifter and nodded in wordless thanks as the earl replenished it

Before Westcliff could launch into an unwanted diatribe regarding Annabelle, Siht to distract him "You don’t seem to rub on ith Miss Bowman," he remarked

As a diversionary tactic, the mention of Lillian Boas suprerunt "The ill-mannered brat dared to i a brandy for himself

Simon raised his brows "How could it be your fault?"

"Miss Bowman seems to think that, as their host, it was my responsibility to ensure that ue of poisonous vipers,’ as she put it"

"How did you reply?"

"I pointed out to Miss Bowuests who choose to remain clothed when they venture out of doors don’t usually see at that "Miss Bowman is rireement "She can’t afford to lose one of the, Simon stared into the depths of his brandy "What a difficult evening you’ve had," he heard Westcliff remark sardonically "First you were co body all the way to her bedroo How terribly inconvenient for you"

Si"

The earl regarded him shrewdly "You didn’t have to I know you too well to presume that you would overlook such an opportunity"

"I’ll admit that I looked at her ankle And I also cut her corset strings when it becaaze dared the earl to object

"Helpful lad," Westcliff murmured

Simon scowled "Difficult as it may be for you to believe, I receive no lascivious pleasure fro back in his chair, Westcliff regarded him with a cool speculation that raised Sih to fall in love with such a creature You know my opinion of Miss Peyton--"

"Yes, you’ve aired it repeatedly"

"And furthermore," the earl continued, "I would hate to see one of the fewfools who run about pollenating the atmosphere with maudlin senti," Westcliff insisted "In all the years I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you look so mawkish as you did outside her bedroo si"

The earl snorted "Whose drawers you’re itching to get into"

The blunt accuracy of the observation caused Sio," he adhing groan, Westcliff rubbed the narrow bridge of his nose with his thu I hate worse than watching a friend charge blindly into disaster Your weakness, Hunt, is your inability to resist a challenge Even when the challenge is unworthy of you"

"I like a challenge" Si to do with my interest in her"

"Good God," the earlwith it You’ll bruise the liquor by swishing it around like that"

Silance "How, exactly, does one ‘bruise’ a glass of brandy? No, don’t tell rasp the concept" Obediently, he took a s and set the glass aside "Noere we talking about…? Oh yes, my weakness Before we discuss that any more, I want you to adreater shrift to desire than to co to you any further about this"

"Of course I have Every her intellect is to prevent us fro such mistakes--"