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He stared at her for a moment “Your honesty is one of the qualities I always admired, which is why I believed you when you told me you wanted to marry Nikolai Despite all that has happened you have not changed You are still the sa beauty”
Her chest grew tight as all the air left her lungs She could feel her heart racing, the erratic thuhs She still wanted him More than ever The years of separation had only served to intensify the feeling It suddenly occurred to her that if she had to spend hours or days in excruciating pain, then perhaps she should seek a little pleasure
“I ht of feeling hisslowly over hers “Perhaps you should ith me Keep me company” One of thereatcoat, of course If the cold penetrates, it could be the death of you”
He smiled “I assumed you wanted to be alone”
“I have spent the last three years alone, Lachlan” When I should have spent the you with hts”
She sensed his slight hesitance, a thread of doubt, of fear
He folded his ar from the stand near the door “I suppose someone needs to make sure you stay out of mischief”
“Come with me because you want to, not because you feel it is your duty” She moved to walk past him If he chose not to follow, then she would insist he returned to Carrick Hall
His warht is cold, remember Give me a moment to ensure I'm suitably prepared”
They walked in coh the e The sky was clear now, like a sheet of black glass tinged with a faint indigo hue The crescent moon cast a silver streak over the river’s subdued ripples All was peaceful, serene, and quiet
“I could never leave here,” she said with a soft sigh as she bent down and trailed her fingers in the ice-cold water lapping at her feet “Some people love to travel to distant shores and far off lands I often wonder what it is they’re searching for Indeed, it is often easy to forget the beauty that exists around us e see it daily”
“Soo away to appreciate e have at hohtful shiver to race through her
“You sound as though you are speaking from experience”
He cleared his throat “I would say three years spent in the city has proved to be rather enlightening”
She stood and shook the excess droplets fro to face hih? Will you nothills that steal your breath ahenever you gaze upon theers to her lips and blew on them