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“I am not a patient man,” the marquis answered “See to it that he does not dally”

“Ye havefrom him by the end of the week, ye will”

The ave thewoman off the table and into his arms!

The h he had not just been striking up a deal with the devil and broke out laughing as the woman toppled both Percy and herself to the floor

They laughed and kissed heartily, and then off she went tobroadly and the marquis to pronounce, “Too much woman for you, eh, ol’ man?”

“Eh, oh … I can’t think of any other Pledged heart, soul and—” He waved a hand over himself “—body … and body … to the love of ry In fact, ravenous Dinner, I say, but, damn, not here”

“Right you are! Dinner Come on, Percy, to the Warwick House for our meal!”

~ Thirteen ~

SASSY STOMPED AROUND her room for a few minutes, unclear just what had her more upset, the fact that the marquis had kissed and nearly propositioned her or the undeniable truth that she had wanted him to kiss her Oh faith, she had wanted him to kiss her!

She had learned on her second day at Netherby that the bathing tubs were located in a rooe kitchen and had already utilized it on two occasions The room had its own fireplace where one could warm the water for the tub Shewater to the fireplace and then to the tub, she was quite ready to sink into the welco bath suds and relax She pulled the screen in place, put a chair at the door, as it did not have a lock, and sank into the lovely soapy water

However, she could not get the marquis and his hot kisses off her s she was very sure a respectable and unmarried woman should not feel

Molly pushed at the door and, finding it blocked, called out, “Miss Winthrop, would ye be taking Sunday dinner with the others in the dining room?”

“No, thank you, Molly I think I’ll just take a plate and go on up to my room after my bath,” Sassy called back

“I’ll fetch it fer ye, I will”

A few moments later, as she toweled off and wrapped herself in a warm velvet robe, Molly arrived with a plateful of food She thanked her and made her way up the backstairs to her rooh and proceeded to pick at her food Finally, she set it aside and climbed into bed