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“If you do not kiss me now,” she said slowly, “I will shoot you, and you’ll never have another chance

“‘The grave’s a fine and private place,/ But none, I think, do there embrace’ That is Marvell, is it not?”

Mr Langdon had had enough He yanked the pistol fro a small weapon, it made only a small thud

“Not so much noise,” she warned “Do you want to wake everyone?”

“Delilah, don’t ame of me”

“Jack, don’t be such a damned, thick-headed fool Kiss me at once or I’ll scream my head off”

He kissed her It was not the chaste kiss on the cheek he had intended but he kne that was never what he’d intended His lips touched soft, cool ones and he was lost, caught, helpless, because her hands came up to caress his face, then wandered into his hair He wondered if he’d been killed after all and had flown up straight to heaven

Several devastating minutes later, he dreay “I can’t stay,” he said “You’re driving er you’re in”

“I know,” she said wistfully “I hate being respectable Oh, Jack, I wish you would kiss me forever”

Being an exceedingly courteous fellow, he instantly set out to oblige her, which was a great ardless how polite He soon found himself on top of the bedclothes, and the need to slip under the painful He shuddered and pulled himself away

“You are ih “You know I can’t stay, yet you do all you can to keep ht struck hied!”

“Not at all You haven’t asked uorous “You’d better, you know There’s no getting out of it now”

Jack grasped her shoulders to shake her back into the real world “Tony,” he said “What of Tony?”

“There’s no need to be so ferocious, Jack I declined his offer Really, do you think I would be entertaining you now if I hadn’t? Though it would have served you right if I had,” she went on petulantly “You and your dratted honour and loyalty and I don’t knohat else” Her hands reached up to bury themselves in his hair once more “Oh, Jack, how difficult you’ve been”

“I?” he answered indignantly “I’ve been getting slapped and screamed at and insulted and—”

“How else was I to get your attention?” she interrupted “Do you have any idea how hard it is to penetrate that wall of politeness of yours? How frustrating—” She broke off abruptly

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the palm “If you only knew,” he said softly, “how very difficult it’s been to be polite and gentlemanly I’ve wanted you from the moment I knocked you down Wanted you desperately And no ot worse”

“Then you should have offered right off That would have been the proper thing” She paused “Or were you appalled at the prospect of shackling yourself to a wanton adventuress with a beastly temper and unspeakable manners? That must be it You wanted a ladylike, intellectual, sweet-tempered woman like—like Catherine”

He drew back a bit, much surprised “What about Catherine?”

“You loved her—love her That’s what everyone says,” came the rather wistful reply

Jack considered briefly “I see,” he said “You’re jealous”

“Yes If I didn’t like her sosince, I promise you”

He smiled “Good I hope you remain insanely jealous of her all the rest of your life Perhaps t

hat will eable”

“You are a coxcodon” Her hand slipped to his neckcloth to pull hieable at all, and I will et her Rely upon it”

Evidently, she planned to begin this task immediately, for a most passionate embrace ensued

Mr Langdon did not wish to discourage his coe from his heart On the other hand, he had a ticklish conscience and a powerful sense of honour These won the day, and he rave i propriety in the process

“That is quite enough,” he said thickly “I had better go—now Tomorrow I’ll speak to your father”

He got up from the bed and turned to leave