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"There were"

She tried to s the enormous lump that suddenly popped up in her throat as she stepped aside to clear his path to the door "I think you should leave," she said quietly

He gripped her upper arms and forced her to look at him "I never touched any of theh to make her want to cry "Why not?" she whispered

"I kneas going to marry you I kno it feels to be cuckolded" He cleared his throat "I would not do that to you"

"Why not?" The words were barely a whisper

"Because I have a care for your feelings And I hold you in the highest regard"

She pulled away fro, but the days were long during the Scottish suh in the sky, and people were still walking to and fro, co their daily errands as if they didn't have a care in the world Miranda wanted to be one of those people, wanted to walk down the street away from her problems and never return

Turner wanted to marry her He had re with joy But she could not shake the feeling that he was doing this out of duty, not out of any love or affection for her Except for desire, of course It was abundantly clear that he desired her

A tear trickled down her face It wasn't enough It ht be, if she didn't love him so well But this…It was too uneven It would sicken her slowly, until she was nothing but a sad, lonely shell

"Turner, I…I appreciate your co trip And it was truly…" She searched for the right word "…honorable of you to stay away from all those women in Kent I'm sure they were very pretty"

"Not half as pretty as you," he whispered

She sed convulsively This was getting harder by the second She clutched at the sill "I cannot marry you"

Dead silence Miranda didn't turn around She could not see hi from his body Please , please just leave the room , she silently pleaded Don't come over here And please- oh , please , don't touch me

Her prayers went unanswered, and his hands descended brutally on her shoulders, spinning her around to face him "What did you say?"

"I said I cannot aze fall to the floor His blue eyes were burning holes into her

"Look at ? You have to marry me"

She shook her head

"You little fool"

Miranda didn't knohat to say to that so she said nothing

"Have you forgotten this?" He yanked her hard against him and plundered her lips with his "Have you?"

"No"

"Then have you forgotten that you told me you loved me?" he demanded