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Charlotte had never been so thankful for an interruption

With a s, the shopkeeper turned to help a pair of aging ladies replenish their supply of toilet water

While he did so, she took the opportunity to sniff her way through the entire tray of salands ht be represented therein, but she didn’t have the stomach to ask

Within a few h the entire tray No luck None of them was the distinctive perfume she’d smelled in the library at Parkhurst Manor

"Here you are I’ve been searching for you"

The words, spoken in a smooth, deep--and familiar--voice, startled her She wheeled about, nearly upsetting the entire tray of samples

"Lord Granville I didn’t hear you come in"

"I didn’t see you walk away"

"Everyone see"

"Looksto e the subject "You wouldn’t believe what goes in these things" She offered her perfumed wrists "Here, tell me which scent you prefer Lilies and whale vomit, or lemon balm and beaver’s arse"

The corner of his ht hand in his, lifted her wrist, bent his head, and inhaled deep

Then he repeated the saaze never left hers The exchange was intimate, sensual Despite the nearby conversation of the elderly ladies and shopkeeper, it felt almost indecent

"Well?" she prompted, her mouth suddenly dry

He lowered her hands but did not release theloved thu back and forth across the exposed skin--leather sliding over her tender flesh Her pulse quickened beneath his touch, pounded in her ears

She went hot all over

He stepped closer, closing the distance between them, and inclined his head until he hovered just inches from her neck Then he inhaled

Charlotte’s breath sucked in, as well

"I think," he murmured, "I prefer this one"

She sed hard "I’ any scent there"

"Are you certain?" He lifted one hand to her hair, pushing the carefully arranged ringlets behind her ear and tilting her head to expose the slope of her neck Then he breathed deeply again

This time, a small sound rose in his throat

A masculine sound

A sensual sound

A satisfied sound

She nearly whimpered in response

"Sun-dried linen," he murmured, "ironed smooth A lavender and rose-petal pomander in the cabinet Sips of chocolate at breakfast Beneath it all, warhtened "Yes That’s the scent I favor"

The hs quivered

How did he do this to her? His skin had barely brushed hers Not six paces away, a pair of elderly wo the inflated prices of toilet water And despite it all, Charlotte was