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Aurora stilled,a protest "What a wretched ultimatum"

"Not an ultih her hair "Only a delay"

"I hate waiting"

"I know" He chuckled, tracing the curve of her lips "When it comes to you, so do I"

"Very well If we o" She hesitated, fully awake now "Julian, wi

ll you give soht to what I said before?"

"Oh, I already have" He withdrew froown "The whole time you were asleep" He smoothed her skirts back into place "We'll talk later, after tonight's adventure is over"

"All right" Aurora searched his face as if seeking an answer she sensed hovered just beneath the surface Her gaze dropped and fell on her ruhts veered off in another direction "I can't go out wearing this," she own's ripped layers and muddied hem

"No, you can't" Julian's eyes twinkled as he refastened his breeches—which looked equally as pathetic as his wife's gown "That's why I woke you If we hurry, we'll have tie of clothes I'll have Gin arrange for both All we have to do is slip upstairs to our rooms"

"Roohed "You scarcely let me peek into my new chambers, much less explore them I hardly knohere they are, or what they look like"

"They're pale blue and adjoining mine That's all you need to know Trust rin, Julian unbolted the door "Shall we?"

"Absolutely" Aurora crossed over, s her palms up her husband's shirtfront "You look hopelessly disheveled, you know As if you've beenlove all afternoon"

"Do I?" Julian caught her wrist, brought her palm to his lips "That's because I have What'sinto evening, then into night"

"I'll remind you of that later"

"I'ue traced a fine line to her thumb