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He headed for the door The footlance

Oh, God, what had she done? Why had she never seen that before, why had she never recognized the depth of his feelings?

"Are you all right?" Sterling asked, co his hands on her shoulders

Tears burned her eyes "I should leave now"

"I’ll have the coach readied"

She nodded, as the full measure of what they’d done and what they must now do loomed before her Slowly, he turned her around and held her close She inhaled his scent, absorbed his strength Then he tipped her head up His eyes an to leisurely lower his mouth--

"Thank you, Your Grace," she said softly

He stilled She watched his throat work as he sed His arms moved sloay fro"

Leaving hi in the entry hallway, she headed for the stairs so she could change into her clothes and return to her world Her chest ached so badly that she thought it ht cave in on itself She wouldn’t cry here, but later, in her apartment where no one could hear her, she would let the tears fall And she prayed that eventually they would stop

Chapter 19

With a sigh, Frannie placed her elbow on the desk and her chin on her pal nu, Duke on a piece of paper at randoles Once, she’d even written Duchess, but she scratched it out She wouldn’t be his duchess--ever

It had been two nights since she’d gone to his residence She’d visited the secret balcony at least half a dozen ti tables If he was there, he was as hidden as she was