Page 7 (1/2)

Chapter One

Somerset Coast, 1837

Darius chose his seat strategically every Sunday Close enough to catch her scent just fro ould come, for he was familiar with her choice of perfume The soft essence of violets floated to hi both at once Savoring the instant when he could draw even the tiniest part of her into hi her

Her neck was his favorite He loved to look at the place where her coffee-colored hair swept up with just a few strands escaping Indulging in wild drealorious waves spilling down over her pale, naked flesh Of hoould brush it aside and put his lips to that spot he so desired to know He thought of the triu her totally Of her soft, pliant body beneath his hard, co him inside when he took her

Wanting her so badly was nothing new He’d known the feeling for a long time Marianne was perfection in Darius’s opinion

Marianne e was a weak ing the At the pace he was going, Darius figured her father’s descent would sit ith his own plans regardless Being a patient er Her father would see to that for him

The hair on the back of her neck tingled and she knew His eyes were on her Again Marianne looked around as soon as the service ended Yes, indeed He stood there staring—his dark eyes calling her to aze

Her father nodded politely at hiood day”

“Mr George Miss Marianne, you look well today” Mr Rourke greeted both of them warmly, but his eyes rested only on her

“Yes, sir, my Marianne is very fine She takes after her mother, God rest her soul” He crossed himself “I daresay there’s not any more beautiful to be found in all of Somerset,” he boasted

Marianne wanted to crawl under a pew in uised atteentlerossly inappropriate She felt her neck flush with heat

“Papa, please!” She pulled at her father’s ar a sympathetic look to Mr Rourke, she mouthed a silent, “I a to leave

“What? Can a father not want the best for his child? He ade him, lass!” He practically shouted his opinions at Marianne as she led him out to the churchyard Mr Rourke would have to be deaf not to have heard

“Shhh, Papa!” She vowed silently to skip church next Sunday for she didn’t kno she could face Mr Rourke after this horrifying display

So compelled her to turn around And Marianne knew exactly ould be waiting when she did

Still standing in the sa her, Mr Rourke s, as if he’d been assured she’d turn back to him

Oh, dear God! I must be in hell

At least a decade older than her, Mr Rourke was a quietan air of mystery that hinted at the level of intensity to his character, but reentlemanly comportment of his station He conveyed a subtle influence in s with others, not entirely discernable in anything he said or did, but recognizable nonetheless Marianne thought him handsome With his noble features, he attract

ed the notice of many women Tall and broad shouldered, he filled out his fine European suits brilliantly His skin held a darker cast than was typical for an Englisholden hue that complemented the dark hair and eyes perfectly He was simply beautiful

But male beauty aside, Darius Rourke wasn’t for her No man was for her

Marianne couldn’t fatho had been respectable enough, a gentlehter, but their situation had declined perilously in recent years Her dowry had long since gone by way of drink and cards Papa had seen to that Marianne shuddered, thinking about the debts Papa incurred on his forays into town

Still, whenever their paths crossed, Mr Rourke made a point to pay her specific courtesy and deference He was never anything less than a gentleman in his behavior towards her, but Marianne detected an undercurrent There was sohly Like he could peer right inside her and know her every thought When he cast those flashing dark eyes of his in her direction she felt exposed and vulnerable, on the verge of being devoured By him

He ht, froaze could penetrate After an encounter with hi a little shaken, breathless, and confounded