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He gave her a look that did not disguise his desire ‘I , but I have passion enough, I assure you Or are you referring to what is co in love”?’

He shook his head ‘I’m afraid I discount the emotion Since those friends who clairet the experience, it seee, I believe, should be founded on respect,affection’

Aupon the chaos into which her feelings for Greville Anders so often tossed her, perhaps he was right

‘True, we’ve not known each other long, so perhaps you have reason for believing you don’t yet knoell enough,’ he continued ‘I ad impatient A lady as lovely and unique as you, reat deal of notice, and I couldn’t bear to have the prize I value so highly claimed by someone else’

Is that all she was to him…a prize to be claimed, another valuable possession to embellish his home?

When she ree out the proper words about being honoured and gratified, he continued, a bit anxiously, ‘I hope you don’t think badly ofit boldly If you feel I’ to wait I’ll not press you for an answer immediately Talk with your father first, if you want, and when you’re ready, I’ll call on him’

He gave her a wry s you without first obtaining his permission Understandably, I think, I didn’t wish to make the journey to Ashton Grove unless I was certain of obtaining your consent I’ll not entreat you further, but si that will land’

Taking her numb hands, he kissed them, then looked ardently into her eyes

Did he want to claim her lips? While she stood irresolute, torn between curiosity and a desire to flee, he bent and kissed her

A soft, gentle brush of the h her, whether of unease or satisfaction she couldn’t tell

Then his hands clutched her shoulders and he kissed her again, his tongue tasting her lips briefly before releasing her ‘I’ll show you ht,’ he said, his voice rough ‘Now I’d better get you back before Lady Parnell sends Kindle after us’

He offered her his arled finances of Royal Dukes were creating in the hts scattered, she barely heard him

So with other guests until calling hours concluded Thelook, she fled to her room

Too restless to sit, she stood at the , gazing out at London streets and rooftops, feeling a pang of longing for the green fields and ept Devon coastline whose intensity would have astonished her only a few months previous

What was she to do, now that she’d received the declaration she’d dreaded?

Accept him, and the landscape outside her ould be her new ho Mauarantee herself a life of affluence and ease, obtain an important position in society and beco her husband shape their nation

He would be a husband who estee beside him, wanted to show her off as one h he desired her, didn’t believe in nor wish to experience thein love

Except, she was very much afraid she had already experienced it

She touched her lips Trowbridge’s kiss had been…pleasant It didn’t sear and burn and make her want to wrap herself around him, pull his hands to her breasts and have him bury himself deep within her

In fact, when he’d kissed her again, she’d aled to another

Was she an idiot? She wasn’t even sure if the man who’d created such havoc in her heart and ht He’d saved only a few moments out of his visit to London to spend with her, and then spoke al of himself, as if he didn’t think she needed to know much about his future

Had their interlude at Ashton Grove been for him merely a pleasant flirtation to pass the time, and the episode in the Neville Tour just a virile e a maiden who’d shown herself more wanton than she should be?

Even if it had meant more, he’d made it quite plain he had no interest in London or the affairs of state She se as his father’s ‘assistant’ when he defended the valour of the common sailor