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He pulled back, letting his hand slip down her leg toward the edge of her skirt "We can't do this here"wI know," she said, sounding so sad that his hand stilled on her knee, and he al and ht hard and fast It was possible that he could make love to her and no one would walk in on themHeaven knew that in his current state, it would be an e?" he groA ht?"

She thought about that for a moment "Bribery or blackmail Maybe both Ourhis hips sink against hers for one delicioushi to be his wife There would be plenty of time for midday tumbles on illicit sofas, but he owed it to her to use a bed for the first ti her dress and s topresentable without a ?"ant you," he whispered

She looked up at him, startledwI just wanted you to know that," he said "I didn't want you to think I stopped because you didn't please ; she looked al that"

He took her hand and squeezedwDo I look a mess?" she asked

He nodded "But you're lad for that

CHAPTER 16

Colin liked to walk, and in fact frequently did so to clear his mind, it was no surprise that he spentBloomsbury and Fitzrovia and Maryleboneand in fact several other London neighborhoods, until he looked up and realized that he was standing in the heart of Mayfair, in Grosvenor Square, to be precise, outside of Hastings House, town hos, the latest of whom happened to be married to his sister Daphne

It had been a while since they'd had a conversation, anything above the usual fas, Daphne was the closest in age to hih they didn't see each other as much as they used to, ith Colin's frequent travels and Daphne's busy fas House was one of those enorhout Mayfair and St Jaant Portland stone, it was thoroughly i in its ducal splendor

Which rin, that his sister was the current duchess He couldn't i In fact, Daphne had had difficulty finding a husband when she'd been outon the e mart, precisely because she was so friendly and easy to be with Gentlemen had tended to think of her as their friend and not as a prospective bride

But all that had changed when she'd s, and now she was a respectable society ht, and seven It still sometimes sees, while he still lived the free and unfettered life of a bachelor With only one year between thees of life together Even when she'd s hadn't seemed so very different; she and Simon attended the same parties he did and had many of the same interests and pursuits

But then she'd started reproducing, and while Colin was always delighted to welcoht home the fact that Daphne hadas Penelope's face drifted through his e

Children It was a rather nice thought, actually

He hadn't consciously ured he ht as well stop

by and say hello, so hebrass knocker a sturdy clanking Jeffries, the butler, opened the door alerton," he said "Your sister was not expecting you"wNo, I decided to surprise her Is she at hoh they both knew that Daphne would never refuse to see aroo idly about, feeling too restless to sit or even stand in one place After a few htly disheveled but happy as always

And why shouldn't she be? Colin wondered All she'd ever wanted in life was to be a wife and mother, and it seemed that reality had more than surpassed her dreamswHello there, sister," he said with a sloppy sot" He motioned to his shoulder

She looked down at her own shoulder, then se on the pale pink fabric of her dress "Charcoal," she explained ruefully "I've been trying to teach Caroline to draYou?" Colin asked doubtfullywI know, I know," she said "She really couldn't have picked a worse tutor, but she only decided yesterday that she loves art, so I'ot on such short notice"wYou should pack her off to see Benedict," Colin suggested "I'ht had already crossed my mind, but I'm sure she'll have moved on to soements" She ed cat over there, pacing as you are"