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Several attractive young gentlemen had pursued her She’d felt a flurry of exciteue with knowing eyes and a wicked ser than was proper on her waist and wrist when he helped her in or out of her carriage

Mama would have been horrified had she ever learned, but she’d even let Lord J of the dancing sarden and steal a kiss behind the rose arbour

Like the scent of the autuun as a sweet, light sensation Then ca her lips, a fir her breast

Aghast, she’d broken away iarden…not sure whether it was the audacious Lord J or her own response to hihtened her the most She’d returned to Ashton Grove the next day, never able to decide whether she was glad or happy she wouldn’t see her rogue again

She was honest enough to adhted to repeat the experience—with Mr Anders’s hand at her breast and Mr Anders’s tongue tasting her lips

In fact, the thought of hih her,a rush of liquid heat between her thighs, far dwarfing in intensity the response she’d had to Lord J that long-ago afternoon

She drew in a shaky breath, not sure what had just happened She only kneas fortunate the rose garden at Ashton was now nothing but sad brown sticks stripped of foliage, awaiting spring

As she and her desiresan advantageousavailable men when the fancy struck her

Even though the urging to do so had been stealing over her with increasing frequency ever since that interlude on the terrace, she thought—and realised she’d instinctively slid closer to him

This would never do, she told herself,her thoughts away from his too-attractive torso

Ah, yes, it was tiet herself wedded and bedded indeed!

Since Mr Anders was not a member of the political elite into which she aspired to wed—assuiven her no reason whatever to believe—she’d do better to turn her thoughts to soe

If what their neighbour said was true, here was a gentleman who seemed a perfect choice to make all her plans a reality

Not that she doubted Mr William’s word, but he, like Papa, preferred to tend his acres and ree’s attractive exterior was matched by an excellence of character worthy of his faovernment

Lady Parnell would know Amanda would just have to wait until London, where she could rely upon that lady to guide her choice But in the interie better After finding a way to speak privately with Mr Anders, she would speak with Papa about arranging a dinner

She squelched a frisson of unease at the little voice pointing out that, despite her appreciation for his many assets of fa like the strong, instinctive attraction that pulled her towards Mr Anders

Stealing a few e than she’d hoped By the tiates at Ashton Grove, cloud banks had blown up, accoet in a ride before the weather turned, as soon as Mr Anders pulled the gig up before the entry Althea scrambled out and flew into the house While Anders waited for the footman to assist Amanda down, in a voice she hoped sounded quite natural, she informed him she’d like to continue on to the stables, as she needed to speak with the head groom, and would like to claim his escort to the house afterwards

He h she dared not sneak a glance at his expression

It took only a few ht to coroo of tack, a ency that she needed to seek him out this particular afternoon, thankfully he asked no aard questions while Mr Anders stood by, waiting politely

Then, finally thein nervous anticipation, she turned to Mr Anders, who offered her his arm The jolt of sensation as she laid her hand upon it, for a ht out of her head

Obviously not as affected by the contact as she, Mr Anders was able to chat politely about their pleasant day’s outing, giving her time to recover