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her aroused, and sitting on the crest to ecstasy. “Eloise, how I’ve missed you. Missed us.” His deep baritone vibrated to her core and she climaxed. Cried out as wave after wave of pleasure shot through her body. Gabe’s clasp tightened about her hips, his fingers pinching her skin as he too came a second time.
    Her body hummed in sated rapture. With Gabe back in London, the boring life of a lady now seemed far less dull. And she wasn’t just any lady, soon she would be Gabe’s lady sanctioned by the act of marriage.
    She smiled. “I’ve missed you as well. Dreadfully so.”
    “I am very glad to hear it,” he said.
    Gabe kissed her before helping her to stand. Her legs felt wobbly after their interludes and she laughed at their escapades. “Does our betrothal men you’re going to living here in England from now on?”
    He nodded. “Yes, but with one stipulation.”
    “And that is,” she asked.
    “I would wish we visit Africa at least once a year. Given time, I know you'll love where I made my home, and our children will love the golden sandy beaches that run for miles. I would like to show you all of that.”
    She had loved what she’d seen of Africa, short as it was. And what Gabe was asking was not at all a great deal of trouble. In fact, yearly holidays sounded perfect. “Perhaps through the English winter months.”
    He smiled and hugged her to him. “Sounds perfect.” He kissed her, seemingly sealing the bargain on their future.
    A ruckus from the ballroom brought Eloise back to reality. “We had better return to the ball. The midnight unveiling will happen very soon.” Gabe retied her mask and opened the door.
    “Good evening, Your Grace.”
     
    Gabe looked at the man who stood at the door, and a shiver of unease prickled his skin from the cold, calculating tone.
    “Lord Fenshaw, to what do I owe the pleasure?” He walked into the corridor, pulling Eloise along and not allowing her the opportunity to speak or curtsy to the gentleman.
    “No pleasure, sir, for I believe you have already had more than enough pleasure for one night.” Fenshaw turned toward Eloise and bowed. “Lady Eloise.”
    Gabe beat back the urge to box the imprudent baron behind the ears. A bright flush swamped Eloise's neck, and Gabe squeezed her hand in unvoiced support.
    “Was there something you wished to discuss?” Gabe raised his brows and waited for the words he knew would spill from the gentleman's mouth.
    “Of course.” Fenshaw paused and smiled at Eloise, a gesture more like a sneer. “I wonder if the woman you have ruined has any idea what a rake and bounder you actually are.”
    Eloise met his eye but said nothing.
    “Rake and bounder no more, Fenshaw,” Gabe said.
    “Really?” He lifted his chin and looked down his nose. “I beg to differ. In fact, I would lay my entire fortune on the line Lady Eloise would dearly love to hear why I believe this to be true.”
    “I have no quarrel with you. Now, if you'll excuse us.” Gabe took a steadying breath and walked away, knew as soon as he heard Fenshaw's mocking laughter that the man was determined to expose him. Perhaps even forever ruin what he and Eloise had come to feel. He paused and turned back, bringing Eloise to a halt by his side.
    “Did you know, Lady Eloise, your esteemed duke ruined my sister?” Fenshaw paused and strolled to a nearby painting, seemed to take a great interest in the family drawing hanging on the wall.
    Eloise met Gabe's eye, then turned to face his nemesis. “Lord Fenshaw, perhaps you ought to speak to His Grace at some other time. Whatever your disagreement, Lord Durham's home is not the place to air such arguments.”
    “Oh, I disagree. I believe right here and now will do very well.” Fenshaw smirked. “Your esteemed duke raped my sister, threw—”
    “The sex was consensual. I never raped her.” Unable to look at Eloise for fear of her reactions to the man's words, Gabe kept his attention on Fenshaw. True or not,