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She had sent Ned a note de He would not refuse for she had told him she would make a scene if he did not He would coently that he was not ready to take on a bride She knew that and that hy she was driven to desperate measures She meant to undo his pants and climb on before he knehat she was about She wouldn’t scare hi of love…only desire

Even if he resisted her and did not give into her seduction, she would h he had That wouldn’t be hard She would ask for a parting kiss and she would make certain it was timed perfectly She would tear her dress and expose herself…

He was young, so young and innocent He would not know her game until it was too late She kneould never love her, but he was young, and he could be easily seduced

Her stepmother wanted her to marry Ned because of the position and wealth she would attain However, though she needed and wanted those things, she had quite another reason for wanting to marry Ned

Her hand went to her still very flat stomach Flat now, but in a few months…? It

was an unthinkable situation to be in She had thought she had ti?

How could she have been so wrong about hiht he would stand by her and acknowledge that she orthy to be his bride and the mother of his child

He was a cad He told her he didn’t want her or the child He meant to leave her to fend for herself

He was a wretch—wicked and deceitful She had loved him, probably still did love him, wantonly so, but when she told him she carried his child…he had told her he would never marry her Why had she fallen for his earlier lies?

She had been stunned at first, but no she had to protect herself and get her revenge She had the uard and she would, but not until she was safely engaged to Ned

She had forced awith her lover the day before just to watch his expression when she told him what she knew, and what she would do hat she knew

His eyes had filled with hate and had she not been so exultant at the prospect of getting her measure of blood, she would have probably been hurt A part of her still wanted hie his mind and take her as his bride She knew she was a fool

Now, her only hope was that Ned would be naïve enough to be seduced this night, and then believe he was the father of her child

A sound behind herit was Ned, she put on a forced smile

Surprise arched her brows “What are you doing here?” she exclaimed