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Tugging on his discarded breeches, he whispered, "Hold that thought for a rabbed his sainst a nearby chair, and withdrew the blade from its scabbard Elizabeth’s head caer to his lips, he warned her to silence, and then padded across the roo open the door that led to the sitting rooh the tiny space between the door jaap beneath her door, candlelight was clearly visible Once again, his instincts had stood hiood stead Someone was in there Marcus rolled his shoulders and slipped out of his bedrooiven up He’d come back, as Marcus had suspected he would

He’d wanted to position a guard in the sitting room, but Elizabeth had been horrified that someone would be so close while theyhis restraint, he’d acceded Now he could only shake his head at his fascination for his wife, which overruled every other consideration Moving rapidly, he reached the door and tested the knob It was locked Cursing himself, he returned to his rooown

Marcus shook head and scowled Stay here, he mouthed

What is it? she replied

For his answer he held up the key, and then he returned to the sitting rooone Hindered by darkness, it took him a ap over his bare feet betrayed the openon the other side He was not fool enough to enter an unlighted roorabbed the taper from the alcove and lit the candelabra on the console

When he turned about, he saw the hallway door to Elizabeth’s room was ajar He kicked it open with his foot, candelabra in one hand, s the pale light of thebreeze, a ghostly presence that h as they were on the second floor, he doubted anyone would make the effort to enter or exit from that venue Which meant they were either still in the rooone for the key

Elizabeth

All was quiet, but still his nerves sizzled with awareness

"My lord?" murmured a deep voice behind hiuards Behind him stood Elizabeth, orried her bottoht at the thought of her traversing the unsafe galleries But there was naught else she could have done and once again his heart swelled with admiration She was a practical woman, and a brave one He took a moment to collect hi in her ladyship’s rooone"

The guard gave a quick nod, and Marcus h sweep The room was empty, but the sense of unease reuards," he ordered as he returned to the hall "Search the vacant rooht on, I want one of you to stay in uard, Marcus caught Elizabeth’s elbow and led her back to the bedroo, Marcus"

"No"

"You know I htened, and he shook his head "It’s too dangerous"

"What else can we do? Look at the risk to your family, to your home"

Marcus took her face in his hands "You are my family, my home"

"Please don’t be obstinate"

"You ask too littered up at hiress with this endless waiting We must take the initiative and force his hand End this"

He opened his ue further I understand your position Just consider it That’s all I ask of you"

Knowing she was correct did not ease his torment and when they returned to the bed he held her too closely, needing her physical proxihtened his chest

"Please don’t worry," she whispered, her soft lips ainst the skin of his chest just before she drifted back to sleep "I trust you"

He held her close, loving her for believing in hih to propose such peril She’d once said she would never trust him, and he had believed that without question To discover he’d reached her so deeply was a soothing bal with every day that passed

But he had nothing but contempt for himself, unable to understand how she could display such unwavering faith when he continued to fail her at every turn

For Elizabeth, the three days following the incident in her rooht with tension Marcus withdrew to his study, where he worked tirelessly to find all vulnerabilities in his defense of her The nights orse Because of the guard positioned on the other side of the bedroo and Marcus refused to take her when she was so reluctant

"I hate to see you so gluether the lum"

He arched a brow "Are you bored then? I wouldn’t bla her nose, she almost confessed how she missed Marcus, but that would not have been appropriate so she sie?" he asked

"No Thank you" Marcus wouldn’t allow her out of the manse, but that was not her only consideration Luncheon would be served shortly and that seemed to be the only ti discourse She told herself it was silly to miss hie how she felt, and quite surprisingly, would not want to She’d once dreaded needing him so much It was now a bond she relished

"Are you certain?" Paul pressed

Waving hi smile, Elizabeth moved out to the foyer A few htened as she thought of her husband and the smile he would bestow upon her when she called his naht, shethe arm that reached out and snatched her into the space beneath the left side curving staircase Herto the kitchen to discuss with the cook, scattered across the marble floor

Her startled protest was cut off by a passionate kiss, her husband’s large body crowding her to the wall Her hands, lifted to push her attacker away, slipped around his neck and held him close

"Sife," he breathed, his lips pressed to hers

Her heart racing at the sudden fright, she gasped to catch her breath "Wh-what are you about?"

"I need you" He nibbled at her throat "It’s been three damned days"

Eyes closed, she breathed hith of his frae hands that moved feverishly over her curves …

"Why can you not remain naked?" he complained "Too much material separates s The sunlight fro their ardor to any hapless passerby Only from the foyer were they hidden froave a breathless laugh, so enamored with his attentions she wished she were naked as well Her blood thru into his "What are you doing?"

"Making up for htly, his hands occupied, one at her waist, the other fighting uselessly to feel her breast through her corset

"We’ll be seen," she cautioned

"You cannot dissuade me" He licked her lips

"You cannot ed at her silk bodice and the threads popped in protest "I’h desperate"

"Marcus" She swatted his hands away