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Logan su , and boiled potatoes mashed with milk

“I'll only send it back,” Madeline said stubbornly “I can't eat anything tonight Perhaps I'll feel better tomorrow”

They exchanged aif I have to stuff it down your throat,” Logan said griotten yourself in this condition, you have a responsibility to the child”

The accusatory note in his voice stung “I had so myself in this condition,’” Madeline snapped, her own te “It was as much your fault asunsteadily and wishing that the waves of nausea would go away

There was a short silence “You're right,” Logan said abruptly “I didn't give a thought to the possible consequences of e did that night I was too eager to bed you” He sounded distinctly uncomfortable as he added, “Besides, I've never had to bother with that sort of thing The wo preventative measures”

Madeline peered at hiination, or did he look almost contrite? “Preventativeabout”

Logan smiled “We'll discuss it later After the baby is born” He moved his chair beside hers and slid his arlass, he held the cool cloth against her sweat-beaded forehead “Remember the milk toast you fed me when I was sick?” he e someday”

She roan “I should have left you alone”

“You saved an said “It doesn't matter what your motives were You took care of s and sickroom stench” The cool, da her “The least I can do is return the favor”

The tightness in her throat eased, the sickness receding a little Madeline opened her eyes and saw Logan's face very close to hers The way he looked at her aze she remembered from before…but at least the coldness and distance had been banished “You can have anything you want,” hea sick child “Just tell me”

“Anything?” She laughed shakily “You're putting yourself at risk,an offer like that”

His intense blue eyes held hers “I never say things I don't mean”

She stared at hily, until the footman returned with a new plate of food and set it before them

“Thank you, George,” Logan said, picking up a fork “That's all for now” His ar up a tiny morsel of mashed boiled potato, he held it to her lips “Do you think you could e one bite, sweet?”

Resignedly she opened herof her stoue Chewing slowly, she tried to keep fro

“Once an coaxed

He was unexpectedly patient, distracting her with light conversation, supporting her back with his hard are man Each bite went down a little easier than the last, until she had consumed half the food on the plate Finally she shook her head with a sigh “No more”

He seemed reluctant to withdraw his arm “Are you certain?”

Madeline nodded “You should eat now Your supper is getting cold” She sipped a goblet of water while Logan attended to his own plate She was fascinated by the ers tore chunks frolass As he realized that she atching him, some unvoiced question seemed to hover between them His expression was arrested…he see he shouldn't have

Waving away the offer of dessert with an abrupt gesture, Logan helped Madeline frohts they had spent an hour or two after dinner in a private parlor, reading and conversing before the fire Tonight, however, Logan seemed disinclined to share her co,” he said, casually flicking her chin with his forefinger “I have some work to do in the library”

Her brows knit together, and she kept her voice low,overheard “You won't…come to me later?”

His expression didn't change “No I won't bother you tonight”

Logan started to turn away, but she touched his wrist lightly, and he went very still Her clear amber eyes looked into his “I wouldn'therself to inviting him

An aard, charged silence ca very hat she was offering It was soh in frustration at the way Madeline doggedly refused to protect herself It was her peculiar strength, that she could take any setdown and still not close herself away He alth he didn't possess

He leaned over and touched his lips to her forehead, craving her silken skin, her supple body beneath his mouth and hands…but he pulled away after the chaste kiss “Good night,” he said gruffly

Madeline nodded, forcing an unconcerned sive him all the time he needed She would be patient with him, just as she would with a wild creature that feared her touch…a creature that ht be coaxed to eat from her hand or just as likely bite it off

Changing into a thin long-sleeved gown, she snuggled beneath the heavy silk covers Gradually the warmth of her body collected in the cocoon of bedclothes Her bones seeion of her spine, and she changed position many times until she found a comfortable place on her side

Sleep was elusive Madeline listened in vain for the sound of Logan entering his roo froht and knotted, and she flexed her calves to ease theht leg, thea sound, but she h the darkness, and she felt his weight as he climbed onto the mattress to reach her

“Maddy,” he said urgently, his hands sliding over her as she gathered herself in a ball of pain “Maddy, what the hell is wrong? Tell me—”

“My leg,” she gasped It hurt It paralyzed her so that no movement was possible “Don't touch me—”

“Let“Try to relax”

“I can't” But she leaned back against him and jerked as his hand closed around her calve He found the craan to ebb Madeline let out a sigh of relief, resting against Logan's chest as he continued to work out the soreness When he ed a soft ed it as well

“What happened?” he asked, pushing her nightgown to the tops of her thighs