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"A fine lot of good that'll do you once it's soaked from your shirt," he commented

"I don't have much choice, do I?"

"That's up to you, I suppose As for ers went to the buttons on his shirt

"Maybe I should go to the other room," she whispered

Turner noted that she didn't ed his shirt off entirely

"I should go," she whispered again

"Then go," he said But his lips curved

She opened her , then closed it "I- " She broke off, a look of horror crossing her features

"You what?"

"I should go" And this ti the room with alacrity

Turner shook his head as she left Women Did anyone understand them? First she said she loved him Then she said she wanted to seduce him Then she avoided him for two days Now she looked terrified

He shook his head again, this ti one of the blankets around his shoulders, he stood in front of the fire and dried hih He shot a sidelong look at the door Miranda had shut it behind her when she left, and given her present state of maidenly e

He peeled off his breeches with great haste The fire began to warain at the door Just to be on the safe side, he lowered the blanket and tucked it around his waist It looked a bit like a kilt, actually

He thought again about the expression on her face just before she'd run fro else Was it fascination? Desire?

And what had she been about to say? It hadn't been "I should go," which hat she did say

If he had stepped up to her, taken her face in his hands, and whispered, "Tell me," ould she have said?

3 July 1819

I alain And I think he knew it I think he knehat I was going to say

Chapter 11

Turner was so busy thinking about how much he'd like to touch Miranda- anywhere and everywhere- that he co her backside off in the other room It was only when he realized that he was finally toasty war himself up and down and ten times for an idiot, he stood up and strode to the door that she had shut between them He yanked it open and then uttered another strea with near violence

"You little fool," he said "Are you trying to kill yourself?"