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For the next hour she pondered and paced, worried and stressed, as wisdom warred with caution She still couldn’t deny that the only thing she wanted was Dominic Unfortunately he was now at his uncle’s house, soh the woods and she would be there Surely she couldn’t be so bold, could she? She had no idea of the layout of his uncle’s house, and didn’t knohich roo in

She felt driven toas she was discrete of course, and nobody saw her, what har the journey alone, in the dark Indeed, she was an excellent horsewoman and trusted Betsy, her mount Still, it was terribly audacious of her to , bring her fall frorace, and no doubt incur Dominic’s wrath She daren’t even think what Peter’s reaction would be

She was still pondering her actions while she quietly saddled her horse and set out through the trees in the direction of Lord Sedgwick’s residence on the far side of the village Wrapped securely in the voluh over her face and fervently prayed that should anyone be out and about at such an ungodly hour, they would not be able to recognise her

Warily, she arrived at the bottowick House She could ride up to the house, but that would be too bold Instead she tied Betsy securely to a fallen branch and walked on foot in the direction of the stable block Hidden in the depths of the shadows, Isobel scanned the area for any signs ofwas quiet and still It ell past ht, and all the staff had taken to their beds Quietly she h the stable courtyard towards the path that would lead to the main house

It happened with a flurry of movement so swift that she didn’t even have time to squeak in surprise One minute she was alone The next, a flurry of a dark shadow appeared by her side, and a large hand clamped securely over her mouth, at the sa her clear off the ground Before she could blink, she was dragged into the barn and thrust roughly against the rough wall in the shadoith a thue masculine hand remained over her mouth as her hood iftly pulled off her head She was about to kick out at her assailant, when the fa her fear

“What the hell are you doing here?” Doly

“I need to see you,” Isobel gasped, uncertainty beginning to creep in as she noted his deep scowl He certainly wasn’t pleased to see her

“What for? It had better be solanced outside the door before his hard glare snapped back towards her accusingly “- unchaperoned - to tell me what, pray tell?”

Isobel was suddenly at a loss for words “Where have you been? You left our house at least two hours ago, yet you have only just returned” It was a stab in the dark, and she knew her question was overstepping the ht when he didn’t argue

“I had to ements for to down at her Why was he explaining himself to her? She was the one who should be at home tucked up in bed

“Why are you here Isobel? Did you want to speak to my uncle?” Dominic knew the answer to that one, and took a fewher squirm uncomfortably as she tried to come up with an answer Instinct warned him he already knehy she had followed hiive her exactly what she was seeking

“You ument

“I need -” Isobel glared at hiht words Why was hethis so hard? Did she have to spell it out to hi before her Words failed her, but she ree her mother once told her Actions, after all, did speak louder than words

Without further ado, she placed a hand on either side of his head and tugged his face towards her A tiny thrill of delight swept through her as she glimpsed the look of shock on his face before her lips met his He didn’t push her away as she expected Unfortunately, neither did he pull her closer as he had when he had kissed her earlier in the study

Determined not to be put off by his reluctance, Isobel persisted, wanting this one night with hi away, his obvious reluctance towards her now told her more than she wanted to know A small part of her heart broke apart and crumbled, but she was reluctant to succuive in so easily