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And why now? When she’d last seen him, he’d been utterly determined, as well he should be, to do what he h she’d written in the wistful hope he ht eventually visit, she’d never dreamed it would be this soon

A sudden a for much of his income, she knew Could he have suffered a run of losses so severe that he’d been forced to flee England to escape his creditors?

It seeical explanation for his sudden appearance Otherwise he ought to still be occupied in char his heiress, or if already wed, have returned with his bride to Brook to begin the work of restoration

Before she could puzzle it through, Will himself walked out onto the terrace, spotted her and smiled

Her heart skipped a beat It ht be only the heat, to which she was not yet fully accustoaze fixed upon her, Allegra felt hot, then cold, then dizzy She reached out to steady herself on a bench, telling herself she absolutely would not swoon, like some silly heroine in a Minerva Press novel

By the ti So over “What a wonderful surprise, Will!” she said through the constriction in her throat “But what brings you to San Gregillio?”

He took her hand and kissed it For a ra feared she would faint after all

“I seem to remember I received an invitation,” he replied, amusement in his tone

Her eyelashes drifted shut as she thrilled to the faed to a deeper, illio ra You’ve never looked more beautiful Ah, I can’t tell you hoonderful it is to see you again!”

She looked back at hi like a lunatic as she drank in every dearly re onto his forehead, the high cheekbones, patrician nose and purposeful chin, the sensuous, sculpted lips and aze wandered doard over the powerful shoulders and muscled arms that could both threaten and protect, well displayed by his tight coat

She couldn’t see at him Indeed, it was all she could do not to throw herself in his ared to exist so many months without him?

A loud “harru beside the frown on her face “Unora Bertrude?”

“Un grande onore, Signora,” Will said, bowing “How gracious of you to receive nificent Might you dowith me?” He offered his arm

Though Signora Bertrude would probably scold her for a week for not inviting him back into the coolness of the house—where a bevy of ra couldn’tthis excuse to be with him, listen to his voice and feast her eyes upon his handsoative shake of the head

“It shall have to be a brief walk,” she said, “for ’tis alins” She placed her hand on his arertips “So, tell me all the London news!”

They set off at a leisurely pace, Allegra’s disgruntled duenna reluctantly following “I haven’t much news, actually I’ve…not been in London”

When he didn’t add that he’d come from Brook, a frisson of concern stirred within her So hedebts, then Well, she’d insure that he found a safe haven here

“I see,” she said after a thy visit ’Tis expected here One of grandfather’s cousins arrived the same day I did and he is still with us Oh, there’s so much I want to show you!”

His s I want to see is before ht now,” he said softly

Voice catching in her throat, Allegra felt heat suffuse her already flushed cheeks Heavens, she felt as flustered as a schoolroom chit at her first ball

“I see I shall have to continue e so easily to put me to the blush I must warn you, the rules are very strict here! You shall have to be on your best behavior”