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He scowled and sank deep into the tub until his head was beneath the water Holding his breath for as long as he could while he tried to reason out the fierce ache that had settled in the middle of his chest He had done what he proo on his way now, knowing she was going to be well looked after His ewith her in such close quarters and facing constant danger together Nothing more

She was beautiful, that ithout question The i across the table swam to the forefront of his mind and his body hardened in readiness It was inevitable that he would physically desire such an attractive woiven she was the only fe hiht for?

Surging out of the water, he gasped and shook water out of his eyes, staring at the wall as he considered what he actually wanted out of life He still wasn’t comfortable with the prospect but at some point in his life he would have to marry He was Earl to a title and wo

uld have to see to the continuation of the Earldo married to someone like Eliza?

She was brave She had faced the ordeal of the past few days with a stoical calm and endless fortitude that was iritted her teeth and endured everything that had been thrown at her He was incredibly lucky that she had been beside him The men he had faced would have overwhelical, less cool in the face of adversity

Edward scowled at the wall and considered the tur any woman throw his oants and needs into confusion was everything he had intended to avoid He shouldn’t be surprised or perplexed that Eliza had brought such trouble into his life; she was a fe such a profound effect on hie bed, oblivious to his emotional confusion

If he reroup and escorted her to Padstow, he kneouldn’t be able to keep his hands off her They would undoubtedly e would be a ardless of eed, or reality of their suitability His brothers had already assumed that he had bedded Eliza, and hadn’t bothered to question whether they should share a roo of the inn

Although he cared about her, he couldn’t be certain it was love and h to make him want to spend the rest of his life with her The circumstances over the past few days had et to know her, but it was iiven their sleeping arrangements

It really left him with only one option

He ran a weary hand down his face and wondered if he had the strength to ride away and leave her

Chapter Eight

Later that night, Eliza aith a raging thirst She couldn’t reroup of large, overpowering rees of concern on their faces

Now, having had so in her roo for a maid She didn’t want to cause any coo in search of the tap room or kitchens for a drink

She had no idea what tiular patrons having long since left in search of their beds As she moved down the darkened corridor towards the back of the inn and the kitchens, she passed the door to the private parlour

The sound of Edward’s raised voice fro but the sounds of heated arguainst the wall She quickly glanced up and down the corridor and with only a suilt, listened to Edward vent his fury