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I fancy you! she wanted to scream Then she was horrified because she hadn't realized until that moment just how much she did fancy him But beyond this infatuation--and she was loath to call it anything deeper than that--he had struck a chord She did want children, although she had refused to let herself think about itso to ht dryly--had always been so reht only pain But now--oh, Lord, as she suddenly picturing children who looked exactly like Dunford? Right down to his war sine because she knew that the adorable imps never would be hers

"Henry? Henry?"

"What? Oh, I' about what you said"

"Don't you agree then? Come to London, if only for just a little while If you don't like any of the men there, you may return to Cornwall, but at least then you can say you explored all your options"

"I could always marry you," she blurted out She clapped her hand to her mouth, horrified Where had that come from?

"Me?" he croaked

"Well, I mean" Oh dear, oh dear, how to patch this up? "What I o to London to look for a husband so I would be happy, and you wouldn't have to pay e Park so you would be happy, andum"

"Me?"

"I can see you're surprised I'ested it"

"Henry," he said gently, "I know exactly why you suggested it"

He did? She suddenly felt very warm

"You don't know very many men," he continued "You are co out and entlemen in London"

That's not it at all! she wanted to yell But of course she didn't And of course she didn't tell him the real reason those words had burst forth from her mouth Better just to let hie is a very big step," he said

"Not so big," she said, wildly thinking that she'd already half-dug herself into a ditch--why not broaden the hole? "What I e bed and all that, and I must admit I have no experience in that direction beyond, well, you know But I was raised on a farnorant There are sheep here, and we breed those, and I can't see hoould be so very different and--"