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"You’ve givento allow my sisters to plan the ball theyto come to you in the middle of it and ask you to dance with me In front of everyone"

She looked appalled "I would refuse"

"I’ to ask nevertheless"

"To make a mockery of entled "Just to dance, Marks"

Their gazes locked in a long, fascinated stare

And then to Leo’s surprise, Catherine smiled at hiiven hihten, and he went hot all over, as if soht to his nervous system

It felt like … happiness

He reo He didn’t want to feel it And yet the giddy war over him for no reason whatsoever

"Thank you," Catherine said, the s on her lips "That is kind of you, my lord But I will never dance with you"

Which, of course, oal of Leo’s life

Catherine turned to retrieve a sketchbook and roll of pencils from the saddle pouch

"I didn’t know you sketched," Leo said

"I’estured to the book in her hands "May I see that?"

"And give you reason to mock me?"

"I won’t My solemn promise Let lanced at his open hand, and then his face Hesitantly she gave the book to hih the sketches There was a series of the ruins froles, perhaps too careful and disciplined in places where a bit of looseness would have given the sketch more vitality But on the whole it was very well done "Lovely," he said "You have a nice feeling for line and for uncomfortable with the praise "I understand from your sisters that you are an accomplished artist"

"Co included a nurin "I’ periods of tih the book "Do you have any of Beatrix’s drawings?"

"On the last page," Catherine said "She began to sketch a protruding section of the wall, over there, but she beca into the foreground"

Leo found a perfectly rendered and detailed portrait of a squirrel He shook his head "Beatrix and her anirin

"Many people talk to their pets," Catherine said

"Yes, but very few understand the replies" Closing the sketchbook, Leo gave it back to her and began to walk the peri her way aorse studded with yelloers and shiny black pods "How deep was the original ht feet where it cuts into the higher ground" Leo shielded his eyes as he surveyed their surroundings "They must have diverted one of the streams to fill it You see those s and serf quarters, made of clay and stud"

"What was the manor home like?"

"The central keep was almost certainly made of stone, with the rest a combination of s, and serfs"

"Do you know the history of the original overlord?" Catherine sat on a portion of the exposed wall and arranged her skirts

"You e of the circular depression that had once been the aze traveled across the broken landscape "He started as Thomas of Blackmere, known for his lack ofvillages He was regarded as the left arm of Edward the Black Prince Between them, they virtually destroyed the practice of chivalry"

Glancing over his shoulder, he sht of Catherine’s wrinkled nose She sat with schoolgirl straightness, the sketchbook in her lap He would have liked to snatch her off the wall and do so she couldn’t read his thoughts, he continued the story

"After fighting in France and being held prisoner for four years, Thoht it was time to settle down, because he subsequently rode on this keep, killed the baron who had built it, seized his lands and ravished his "

Her eyes ide "Poor lady"

Leo shrugged "She must have had some influence on him He married her afterward and sired six children by her"

"Did they live to a peaceful old age?"

Leo shook his head, approaching her leisurely "Thomas went back to France, where they put an end to him at Castillon But the French were quite civilized about it and raised a monument to him on the field"

"I don’t think he deserved any kind of tribute"

"Don’t be too hard on the fellow--he was only doing what the tinantly "Regardless of the tiolden hair loose fro over her cheek

Unable to resist, Leo reached out and stroked the tendril back behind her ear Her skin was baby-fine and smooth "Most men are," he said "It’s only that they have more rules now" He removed his hat, set it on the wall, and stared into her upturned face "You may put a man in a cravat, teach him manners, and make him attend a soiree, but hardly any of us are truly civilized"

"Froave her a lance "What do you know of ed with ocean green "I know not to trust them"

"I would say the same of women" He shed his coat, tossed it over the wall, and went to the hill at the center of the ruins Surveying the surrounding land, Leo couldn’t help wondering if Tho over his property And now, centuries later, the estate was Leo’s to make of what he would, his to shape and order Everyone and everything on it was his responsibility

"How is the view from up there?" he heard Catherine’s voice from below

"Exceptional Come see it, if you like"

She left the sketchbook on the fence and began up the slope of theto watch Catherine, Leo let his gaze linger on her slender, pretty figure She was fortunate that ht with a private smile, or she would have found herself snapped up and devoured by so lord But the touch of ained the pri her up and carrying her to a soft patch of ground