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But when the nighttiallery, their eyes would meet, and all those anxieties would fly from her mind The world would shrink to fit that room She would shiver if his arm touched hers, bite her lip at the look in his eyes

And then, when Jonas was in his cradle, she would slip into Wick’s arms as naturally as the baby had settled down to sleep Once she was there, the world disappeared entirely, and the only thought in her mind was a dazed wish to know more of hiift wrapped in hundreds of different layers Every night she learned so that the rest of the world didn’t know

He kept vital parts of himself secret, even froic key that shook him free of that enormous reserve: she kissed hie,wilder and fiercer A look that was for her alone A look that caer in control

But every ti her hand (scandalously) to brush his thighs, or even, one night, arching against him like the worst kind of Jezebel

He never broke She could feel hiroan in his voice, but his self-control held

And every ti up the subject of their relationship, he withdrew In a second his face would change to that of a calood-bye and leave, closing the door politely, and quietly, behind hiht, as if he couldn’t stay away

It drove herWick’s mind was to seduce him True, she didn’t know much about seduction Rodney had thrown himself in the straw at her feet, after all, and even theat her ankles made her shudder

One day when Kate took the baby off to nurse, Philippa drifted around the castle until she found Wick inspecting the work of three foot her resolve, she poked her head in, and said as calhness would like to speak to you in the nursery"

But when he e rooether with a giddiness that litter in Wick’s eyes beca hotter and more private than , until her blood raced, until she could feel hiainst her

And yet, after a fewdown into her face with that i to hate There was a frown in his eyes

"Youhis thumb over her lip

"Why not?"

"I’m not worth it I’ether"

"We are together," she said "I lo--"

His hand slipped over her hand "Don’t say it You entle her head sharply from his hand "I will tell my father that; I will tell anyone: your brother, Kate, the footmen, the cook"

She could see him s "I could not bear it if you did that"

"Why not?" she asked

"I would not wish that on enuinely bewildered

"To ruin the woman he loves," he said

"I’er down her cheek, and then let his hand drop "You were not ruined by the loutish Rodney, no matter what you think There’s e bed Buta servant" He turned and withdrew, leaving her there