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"Yes," he insisted, straightening to his feet

He said goodbye to each of them in turn and started from the room Alanna had remained seated until she felt the expectant looks froht she would want to accoht alone With gritted teeth, she rose quickly

"I'll see you to the door, Rolt," she called after him

He halted in the doorway to the hall and waited until she had joined him "There isn't any need," he told her His hand cupped the side of her face "It's been a hectic evening, all things considered Have an early night and I'll see you tomorrow"

Her hand gripped his wrist She knew he intended to kiss her There was nothing she could do to stop hi on That was the way Rolt had planned it—the glint in his eyes told her so

His mouth closed warmly over hers She kept her lips cool and unresponsive She would show him that just because she had been putty in his hands once, it wasn't going to always be true In fact, she was deterain

When he lifted his head, her eyes glittered triuaze taunted His mouth twisted in dry amusement

"You can do better than that," healone "But I'll wait for another time to prove it to you"

"You're in for a long wait," shesweetly for her parents' benefit

His thumb rubbed the corner of her mouth for a second, then he released her

"Goodnight, darling Sleep well"

The endearood night's sleep Neither was true She would never he his darling and she knew she wouldn't sleep

"Goodnight, Rolt"

It was the first of a succession of nights that Alanna had to endure Her parents expected her to be with Rolt and she had little recourse but to see hiainst his touch or an arm around her shoulders, an occasional kiss, Rolt didn't make any attempt to make love to her

In a way, she found it strange But she reasoned that he was trying to win her by degrees, getting her to trust hie of it As far as she was concerned he had proved that he wasn't to be trusted