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gales. How could a kiss affect one so profoundly? Oddly stirred by his light sandalwood scent, she experienced a comforting feeling of security from the way his large body cocooned her own.
    The kiss went from passionate to incredibly tender, the touch of his lips as soft as down. Like his gossamer touch, her eyelids drifted downward, and she stopped trying to push him away.
    In the span of a few seconds, she came to understand how so intimate an act could blend two such diverse beings.
    Then she realized how scandalous her behavior was. It was bad enough that she'd come alone with him to an unoccupied house, but now she was behaving like a strumpet.
    She jerked away and spoke with rebuke. "You mean to completely ruin me!"
    His lids heavy, he shook his head and spoke in a husky voice. "No, Elizabeth, I want you for my wife."
    Why did he persist with such a ridiculous notion? She stalked away, and this time he didn't  try to stop her. She began to climb the stairs. Seconds later, she heard the click of his boot heels behind her.
    Her hand on the banister trembled, but she schooled herself to act calm. "I wonder how many bedchambers there are." Her cheeks stung. The mention of bedchambers so soon after their intimacy embarrassed her.
    "Something tells me we're going to find that out."
    She watched him through narrowed eyes. "Don't expect me to be stupid enough to enter a bedchamber with you." He was entirely too virile.
    His only response was a quirked brow and half smile.
    She went straight to the second story where she strolled casually through a drawing room, dinner room, and small library. "Perhaps the library would make a better school room," she said.
    He came into the chamber. "And may I ask who's going to instruct the children?"
    "The mothers--most of whom are officers' wives--can take turns. One can teach French, another reading, another can work with sums."
    His dark eyes flashed. "I can see you've given this a lot of thought."
    Afraid he would try to steal another kiss, she merely nodded as she swept from the room and began to mount the wooden stairs to the next level, which was the first to feature bedchambers.
    The first bedchamber they came to was furnished with two narrow beds that appeared to have been made up with fresh linens. "Oh, this will be perfect for Mrs. Hudson and her little girl!" She spun around to face him, unable to suppress her gleeful expression. "Oh, your grace, do you think she can come live here straight away?"
    "Before the house is in order?"
    She nodded. "You see, she had nowhere to sleep, so I used the last of my pin money to procure temporary lodgings for her, but my money has run out. I won't have another farthing until the next quarter."
    His gaze softened. "That was very generous of you to use your last farthing to help the unfortunate woman."
    She shrugged. "It brought me a great deal more happiness than purchasing a hat for myself."
    "Well, Lady Do Gooder, have you considered how much you could assist these poor creatures if you had my fortune at your disposal?"
    At least he wasn't trying to smash her against another wall to force kisses on her! "I declare, your grace, I believe you're trying to bribe me."
    His dark eyes smoldered as he peered into hers. "Bribe. Purchase. Whatever it takes. I mean to have you, Elizabeth."
    There he went--using that low, provocative voice--and causing wild fluctuations in her pulse. "You know I am not in love with you?"
    "As I said, I always get what I want. You'll fall in love with me. After we're wed."
    "You are positively insufferable!" She scurried from the chamber before he had the opportunity to corner her.
    "To belatedly answer your question," he said, "I have no objection to allowing this Mrs. Hudson of yours to move in straight away."
    She could have flung her grateful self into his arms. "Thank you, your grace."
    For the rest of the tour, she would only enter rooms where chamber maids were cleaning. She hoped the duke was gentlemanly enough