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“Well, I would want you to feel at home Of course, ill share a bedcha in separate roo caused his heart to race “And ill spend part of the year at Kempston Hall”

He expected to see a brilliant siveobtuse,” she said quietly, “but what exactly are you suggesting?”

Did he need to spell it out? Were his intentions not perfectly clear?

Then again, he suspected her experiences had made her cautious

He crossed the carriage to sit at her side, pushed the stray curl from her face “I love you I have loved you from the moment I met you and will love you until I draw my last breath Marry me, Isabella Take your place at my side as it was always destined to be”

She sed deeply as she stared into his eyes “Tristan, I love youWhat you offer sounds like heaven here on earth, but what if I aentleman in your position must produce an heir The few times with Samuel—”

He put his fingers on her lips “Do you honestly think I care about that?” Even now her thoughts were only for hio? “My cousin Harold can have what’s left should that prove to be the case”

She placed her hand on his cheek, kissed him tenderly on the mouth “You are the love of hts indulging in far more illicit pleasures”

His heart swelled, as did another part of his anatoain “We could ride in this carriage all the way to Scotland Pretend the last five years never existed”

She gazed longingly into his eyes “It sounds wonderful But we cannot abandon Mr Chandler and Miss Ss could have ended so differently for us And I have a feeling they are going to need our help”

She was right, of course

He gave a weary sigh “I doubt five years of daily prayer and a vow of chastity would reform Matthew Chandler”

The corners of her mouth twitched in amusement “Is that how you spent your five years in the monastery?”

“I prayed every night” Begged was perhaps the appropriate word “I prayed that the Lord would ease my pain and torment”

“Well, you can take comfort in the fact that he listened” She placed her hand on his leg, caressed his thigh with sensual strokes “Do you recall how excited ere the day we eloped? Do you recall how our excitee?”