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“They’re already gone” Sighing, she rested her head on his shoulder “All this tiainst so like the man I expected you to be”
“Portly and old, with a wig and a pipe,” he said, recalling what she had said the first day they met
Sophia smiled wearily “You have ruinedit impossible for me not to care for you”
The state Ross no pleasure “What if it turns out that I did indeed send your brother to his death?” His eyes were dark and troubled “When I becao, I had no practical experience For a while I one before ht it best to follow the procedures they had already initiated It was only later that I heeded an to run the court as I wished I have no doubt that I was too harsh on many of the defendants who came before h “Even so, I cannot fathom that I would have sent a mere pickpocket to a prison hulk”
Sophia was helplessly silent
His fingertips traced gently over the slender wings of her eyebrows “I have never allowed hts are futile, and the regrets would drive me insane But this is the first ti on soo” He raised hi over his forehead as he looked down at her
“How can I ask you to forgive me for your brother’s death? There is no way I could atone for it But the thought of losing you is so I can’t endure”
“I have already forgiven you,” she whispered “I knohat kind of man you are You punish yourself far more harshly than anyone else could Besides, how could I withhold iveness when you have offered yours so freely?”
He shook his head with a rueful sinal intentions were, you’ve done nothing but take care of me”
“I was trying toto break your heart”
“I have no objection to the first half of the plan,” he inforh I wouldn’t care much for the second half”
A wobbly smile curved her lips She put her arainst his throat “Neither would I”
Ross kissed her gently, and it seemed the passion between the that the path to happiness would not be easy for theiveness, and compromise, and blind trust Sophia tried to intensify the kiss, but he drew back and clasped her head in his hands
“I’ht,” heher teether, I don’t want there to be any regrets afterward”
“I won’t regret anything,” Sophia told him earnestly
“Now I know that you won’t blame me for what I tried to do to you That hat I feared ht”
He shook his head “Not until I find out the truth about your brother’s death Once we are in possession of all the facts, we can decide what is to be done”
She turned her face against his hand and kissed the waret every moment of my life before you”
“Oh, God” Ross released her with a savage groan and left the bed as if it were a torture rack “I want you more than I can bear Don’t make this even more difficult”
Sophia knew that she should help him in his resolve, but she couldn’t see recklessly, “Coether, if that is what you want Just hold me for a while”
He growled in frustration and headed to the door “You knoould happen if we tried that In about five minutes I would have you on your back with your heels in the air”
The crude ihten deliciously “Ross—”
“Lock the door behindthe threshold without a backward glance
After sleeping until latecards at the lakeside pavilion However, before Mattheas able to exit through the French doors at the rear of the mansion, Ross snared him
“Hello, Matthew,” Ross said pleasantly, resting a hand on his brother’s shoulder As Matthew attehtened into an unbreakable clamp “I see you’ve finally arisen Why don’t you join me in the study? I have a sudden desire for your company”
Matthew stared at him warily “Perhaps later, brother I must act as host to my friends You would not want me to be rude, I’m certain”
Ross gave hi saze swerved to the three young entle Matthew back inside, Ross ushered him down the hall to a private study
“What the hell is going on?” Matthew derip “Da my coat!”
“In here,” Ross co the heavy oak door to afford them some privacy
Clearly nettled, Matthewhis lapels and sleeves
Ross glanced around the study, which had been left exactly as their father had arranged it The cozy masculine room was small and lined with oak bookcases A French drop-leaf table and a writing chair were positioned in front of a trio of s Re correspondence or poring over account books at that desk, Ross scowled He could not help feeling that he had failed his father by allowing Matthew to become the spoiled, selfish creature that he was
Matthened “You’re looking at ate”
“Newgate would be a pleasure palace in comparison to the place I’d like to dispatch you to”
Hearing the griht, I apologize for last night—I suppose Miss Sydney has offered her version of the story, casting herself as the virtuous victim And I will admit, I was somewhat the worse for drink My friend Hatfield had opened a da an air of indifference, Mattheandered to the orn globe in the corner and spun it idly
“That isn’t good enough, Matthew Yes, I intend to discuss your behavior of last night, but first ill deal with another matter that has presented itself”
Matthew looked surprised “What do you mean?”
“I had a ”
“Who is Tanner?”
Ross shook his head in annoyance “Our estate agent The ed our land and properties for the past ten years”
“And you’ve already ?
Good God, do you ever rest? The last thing I want to discuss is some trivial business matter—“