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“Ross,” Sophia said anxiously, “ht?”

“Yes” His gaze dared her to protest

Prudently she kept her ed to plead for her brother’s sake

“It’s all right, Sophia,” Gentry murmured “I’ve stayed in worse places than this” He slanted a baleful glance at Ross as he added, “Courtesy of your husband”

Over the course of a ten-year relationship, Ross had neverto Bow Street No 3, he went directly to Morgan’s office and described the agreement he had reached with Gentry

Morgan stared at him with complete incomprehension “What did you say? Nick Gentry can’t be a runner”

“Why not?”

“Because he’s Nick Gentry, that’s why!”

“You can make him into a runner”

“Oh, no,” Morgan said vehe his head “God, no I haven’t complained about the extra work you’ve heaped on h And if the appointh, I’ll doto retire and leaveNick Gentry! If you think he can be a runner, train him yourself!”

“You are better equipped than I to e him You were a runner—you came from the streets just as he did And reh to be influenced”

“He’s a hardened case, and only a fool would believe otherwise!”

“In tiht be the best erous jobs without flinching I a you a weapon, Grant—one that could be used very effectively”

“Or blow up inback in his chair, he stared up at the ceiling with a surly grunt Clearly, he was envisioning the prospect of training Nick Gentry Suddenly he let out a sardonic laugh “It h After all the trouble that little bastard has caused us, I would enjoy running hier”

Ross s that only soan’s stature could refer to him as “little”

“You’ll give it some consideration, then”

“Are you giving me a choice?”

Ross gave a brief shake of his head

“I didn’t think so,” Morgan muttered “Damnation I hope you retire soon, Cannon”

Sophia was in bed by the time Ross entered the darkened roo he would think she was asleep He had refrained froe ride froate, and she knew that he intended to wait until they were in the privacy of their apart She reasoned that if she could delay hiht cool

Unfortunately, it seemed that Ross was not inclined to wait He lit the lalow

Slowly Sophia sat up and gave hi smile “What did Sir Grant say when you told him—”

“We’ll discuss that later,” he said tersely, refusing to be distracted Sitting on the edge of the bed, he placed his large hands on either side of her, pinning her in place beneath the covers “Right noant to discuss your actions this evening And you’re going to explain how you could have taken such a risk when you kno I feel about your safety!”

Sophia shrank backward against the pillows as he proceeded to deliver a blistering lecture that would have caused anyone else to wither However, she knew that his ire was born of his love for her, and so she received every ith huree a breath before resu—she broke in remorsefully

“You are absolutely right,” she said “If I were in your position, I would feel the sae as you asked”

“That’s right,” Rossto ease when it becaue with him

“With your experience, you know best in these situations And not only did I put er, but I jeopardized the baby’s welfare, and I am very sorry about that”

“As well you should be”

Leaning forward, Sophia rested her cheek against his shoulder “I would never intentionally cause you a moment of worry”

“I know that,” he said gruffly “But dammit, Sophia, I refuse to be known as a man who can’t control his oife”

Sophia sainst his shoulder “No one would dare think such a thing” Slowly she eased onto his lap “Ross… what you did for my brother was so wonderful…”

“I didn’t do it for him I did it for you”

“I know And I adore you for that” Gently she plucked at the knot of his cravat, loosening the dark silk

“Only for that?” he asked, his ar around her slender body

“For a thousand different reasons” Deliberately she rubbed her brsts against his chest “Let me show you how much I love you How I need you in every way”

Abandoning the lecture, Ross pulled his shirt over his head and threw it to the floor When he turned back to Sophia, she was s deliciously inside her

“What is so funny?” he asked, jerking the heown up to her waist

“I just thought of how the Cockney phrase for wife is ‘trouble and strife,’”she said, gasping a little as his hand settled on her bare stomach “In my case, it has turned out to be accurate, hasn’t it?”

Ross’s eyes glinted with an answering smile, and he bent to capture her mouth with his “Never too much trouble for ht proving it

After the birth of their daughter, Dr Linley commented that it was the first delivery at which he had fearedthan the mother’s Ross had remained in a corner of the bedroom despite everyone’s efforts to ripped the edges until the satinwood threatened to splinter in his fingers Although his expression was blank, Sophia understood his fear She tried to reassure hiht, that the pain was horrid butbirth required all her attention, and she alot his presence in the room

“You’re being awfully quiet,” Linley said, regarding her with an encouraging smile “Give a shout when the pains come, if it helps At this point in labor, I’ve had wo me and my entire ancestry”

Sophia giggled weakly and shook her head “My husband ht faint if I scream”

Epilogue

“He’ll survive,” Linley said drylyToward the end, when the pain finally overwhelmed her, she did let out a cry of distress, and Linley supported her neck with his arm and held a dah this,” he murmured