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Ignoring with some difficulty the insults that speech had contained, Will said, “What if the lady has already made her choice—and acted upon it?”

Once lass “Is this so, or do you say it to incite me? No matter If she should come to me not entirely pure, that would be an…irritation But it would not stayher for her indiscretion is quite…arousing A punishh to insure she does not stray again There must be no question that the von Strossen sons she bears me are truly mine”

Just then, aup a finger to halt theconversation, Lord Tavener I trust nothing more needs to be said”

“Of that you can be sure, Count von Strossen,” Will replied, seething as he returned the count’s bow

Will had half a love in his arrogant face in front of all the asse so would create the incident Will still wished to avoid

But his threat—and his menace—were clear

If the arrogant count ever got within a finger’s reach of Allegra, it would be over Will’s bloodless corpse

Suddenly all the small details he’d overheard about the current political situation in this region coalesced Rather than protecting Allegra, her grandfather ive her to this h looking well for his years, the duke was aging The young grandson ould inherit the Antinori holdings would be no match for the count if, after the current duke’s death, the ruthless von Strossen decided to strip the Antinoris of their lands

Beco the beloved wife of an obscure baron of a fa forced to wed the repellant count

If she were intent upon doing her duty to her new fara of that He’d already hinted to her that he loved her and on the terrace tonight, she seemed to indicate she returned his affection

There was but one certain way to insure she wed hiive herself to another man once Will had made her his

Desire long denied boiled up in hiht

Nodding good-night to the guests he encountered, Will made his way to his roo out at the night garden

“Many thanks for your assistance,” Will said

Barroed “Thought a bit of obfuscationmaidens, these Italians”

“Indeed Which is why I ain call upon your expertise I need to plan a seduction”

Tossing away the cheroot, Barrows grinned “Pleased to be of service, my lord When and where?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

MUCH LATER THAT NIGHT, Allegra returned to her chamber, thein her head With his intelligent conversation and engaging wit, Will had iuests just as she’d expected he would As she’d left to come upstairs, Alessandro had taken her aside to tell her he heartily approved of her cultured English lord

And that kiss! ’Twas eventhan the one in Hyde Park, for this time she was deterhts to coain, to invite his caresses, to pledge her love before God and witnesses, so they ain

Her euphoria dih Will seemed as avid for her coh he’d given her pretty words, he’d stopped short of a full declaration

Might he be holding back because he now thought the disparity in their stations made a match between them impossible?