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He was upset, Sophia thought in aht, which she had never seen in him before Quickly she refastened her bodice and went downstairs How foolish she had been, not to realize what the neould do to him! Ross’s life had been shattered because his first wife had died in childbirth Now it ain

As Ross was a supremely rational ain were very slight However, he was no different from anyone else, in that his emotions occasionally eclipsed common sense Perhaps no one would believe it of the invincible Chief Magistrate, but he had fears of his own, and this was perhaps the greatest

Sophia went through the kitchen and out into the courtyard Ross’s back was turned toward her, and it stiffened as he sensed her approach He had given up the atte and merely stood with his hands shoved deep in his pockets, his head bowed

As she carowl “I want privacy”

Sophia did not stop until she had pressed herself against his back and wrapped her arh Ross could have pulled aith ridiculous ease, he rerasp Sophia’s heart ached with coe captive wolf, panicked by his confinement

“Ross,” she said softly, “everything is going to be fine”

“I know that”

“I don’t think you do” She laid her cheek on his back and tightened her arms around his lean waist while she fuile, as Eleanor was It won’t happen again You must believe me”

“Yes,” he agreed instantly “There’s no reason for worry” But the tre

“Tell hts, not what you believe I want to hear”

Ross waited so long to answer that she thought he had refused her, until he forced words out between abbreviated breaths “I knew this would happen… I prepared ical reason to fear it I want this child I want a family with you But no … Oh, God, you can’t knohat it was like!” His voice cracked, and she knew that the darkhim faster than he could defend himself

“Ross,” she demanded, “turn and face me Please”

He seemed dazed as he co herself to his big, warm body He seized her as if she were a lifeline, his ar onto her in a desperate vise

Sophia sers clenched in her hair and her clothes, and he gripped her while his lungs hs Sophia placed her hands on either side of his daed it to hers His thick lashes were spiked with tears, and he seeates of hell Tenderly she kissed his stiff lips

“You will never be alone again,” she prorandchildren, and ill grow old together”

He nodded, clearly trying to make himself believe her

“Ross,” she continued, “I’m not like Eleanor in any way, am I?”

“No,” he replied gruffly

“Our entire relationship, from the moment it started until now… not a moment of it has been similar to what you experienced with Eleanor, has it?”

“Of course not”

“Then why do you believe it will end the same way?”

He did not answer, only crushed his lips to her terip

“I don’t knohy Eleanor had to die in such a manner,” Sophia said “It wasn’t her fault, and it certainly wasn’t yours It was beyond your control Until you stop holding yourself responsible for what happened to her, you will continue to be haunted by the past And in punishing yourself, you will punish me as well”

“No,” he breathed, clu her hair, her neck, her back

“Your guilt does her no honor” Sophia drew back to stare into his contorted face “Eleanor would have hated to know that you orse off for having loved her”

“I’m not!”

“Then prove it,” she challenged, her own eyeswith emotion “Live as she would have wanted, and don’t blaer”

Ross huddled over her, and Sophia held hihened face scraped hers as he sought her lips, found the his passionate aggression His hands searched her body roughly, e into raw physical need

“Upstairs,” she said “Please”

With a savage groan, he picked her up and headed into the house, not stopping until he had reached their bedroom

Sophia awakened alone and naed beneath the ruily There was s with an interior decorator and a ardener, and a charity luncheon to attend But soht of all that did not bother her nearly as much as it should have

A drowsy smile curved her lips as she rolled onto her sto swirled in her head He had reached for her countless ti her with passionate attention until she had finally begged him to cease Now she was sore everywhere, and she felt the sting of whisker burns in indecent places, and her lips were chapped and kiss-swollen And she was utterly satisfied, her body filled with luxurious contentment

She asked Lucie to fill a slipper-bath for her, and she took her ti her clothes for the day, a peach corded silk trimmed with fluted bands at the waist and hem When the bath was ready, she lowered

Chapter 17

herself into the stea the heat soothe her abraded skin and sore ed her hair in a newly fashionable style, parted on the right with curls pinned on the left sideJust as she reached for a bonnet triea, Lucie entered the apartments with a hasty knock

“Have you come to empty the bath?” Sophia asked

“Yes, e Sir Ross wants ye, an’ ‘e’s asking for ye to come to ’is office”

The request was unusual, for Ross rarely sent for her in the h she was conscious of an inner throb of uneasiness “The carriage isat the front Will you tell the driver that I will be delayed for a few minutes?”