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With sos on behind “As always you are a fountain of wisdom”

It was odd how one word could conjure a host of vivid ies, stir one’s sensibilities Had Tristan’s arden on the pretence of seeing his splendid fountain, Priscilla would never have met Matthew Chandler A sudden ache in her chest forced her to catch her breath

Misinterpreting the sound of her anxiety, Matthew ood six inches taller, he pressed his body against hers, enveloping her in a war responded instantly The faint thruered fro roo to be near hirew

“Is that better?” His mouth hovered but an inch from her ear “Do you feel safer now?”

“I always feel safe with you” It was theshe’d ever said

Matth

ew chuckled “No one has ever spoken those words to erous ht to be afraid when inmy touch”

Priscilla leant back into him “Well, I’ve recently discovered that I thrive on adventure Dangerous men excite me”

“Men?” The single word brimmed with reproof

“A slight slip of the tongue What I meant to say was you excite me”

He bowed his head until the faint bristles on his jaw grazed her cheek “The feeling is mutual”

No doubt anyone glancing their ould find her wide, satisfied grin odd considering she was staring at Lord Boden as he inspected the cards “Hush now,” she said though wished they had no reason to remain at The Diamond Club “If we’re not careful, we’ll miss the first hand of whist”

A undy waistcoat shuffled the deck His nimble hands worked so quickly it

“The Dia their own dealers,” Matthew informed “There’s no person alive who can keep up with Stanley’s shuffling skills A club’s reputation rests on its ability to guarantee honest play Anyone caught cheating is liable to face the barrel of a pistol at dawn”

“Then a man would have to be supremely confident to deceive the house” Priscilla noted Lord Boden’s excessive preening: a flippant brush of the hair, a straightening of the sleeve Either he found his fingernails fascinating, or he had a severe forits to curl into claws