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reached the door before
    Gervase moved to cover me. He slid inside with one smooth movement of his hips. I
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    squeezed my internal muscles around his immense presence to hold him deep where I
    needed him.
    “I’ll expect you downstairs for dinner then.” Gideon’s amused voice floated over us
    but this time Gervase didn’t even bother to grunt and I was too busy moaning with
    pleasure to answer him.
    Sometime later, when we had exhausted our passions, I lay curled against
    Gervase’s chest, breathing in his unique scent. Something Gideon had said floated into
    my mind.
    “Do you have to leave soon, Gervase?”
    Gervase shifted against the pillows and propped an arm under his head so that he
    could look down on me. He half-smiled at me, relaxing the strong line of his jaw.
    “I have to go back to France, love. Don’t you ever read the newspapers? Napoleon
    has escaped and seeks to re-form his armies and make himself Emperor again.” His
    mouth hardened and for the first time I glimpsed the soldier beneath the sensualist. “I
    fear there will be a battle to end all battles before the year is out.”
    I came up onto my knees and stared down at him. “You will fight?”
    His eyebrow shot up. “Of course I will.” He swept me a makeshift bow. “Major
    Gervase Harcourt, at your service, ma’am.” His gaze roved over my nakedness and he
    pretended to leer. “Definitely at your service.”
    His expression sobered as I reached out to touch his smooth cheek. “Some of our
    crack regiments have been sent overseas to America. We can only hope someone has
    the sense to call them back before it is too late.”
    I sat back and looked at him. How could he contemplate exposing his body to
    musket fire, swords and cannon balls without fear? With an inarticulate cry, I threw
    myself over him in a vain attempt to offer him my protection.
    “I want you to stay here. I don’t want you to die.”
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    His deep laugh rumbled through his chest and he stroked my hair. “I appreciate
    your concern, love, but I expect to survive.” He laid me back on the bed and leaned
    over me, his blue eyes intent. “There is another thing we need to discuss before I give in
    to my urge to fuck you again.” He hesitated for a moment as if searching for the right
    words. “I have spilled my seed in you. You might bear my child.”
    Time seemed to stop as I fought to breathe and protect myself from his gaze. I’d
    forgotten that he didn’t know of my deepest shame. I turned away and buried my face
    in the pillow. His hand fell heavily on my shoulder and twisted me around to face him.
    I struggled hard not to give into the temptation to cry. “I do not think I can have
    children. I was barren during my marriage and my husband never let me forget it.”
    Gervase’s hand gentled on my arm and he stroked my shoulders in reassuring
    circles. His next question was quiet. “What do you mean?”
    “Your father arranged my marriage with Mr. Carstairs because I was young and
    because Mr. Carstairs desperately wanted a legitimate son. In truth, I have always
    wanted a family of my own. The thought of a child, even Mr. Carstairs’ child, was a
    welcome one.”
    I bit down on my lip as I strove to give Gervase the truth. “At first, he was forgiving
    when I did not conceive. Eventually he began to blame me.
    “Then, my husband, began to have difficulties in bed with me.” Gervase nodded
    and I thanked God that I was with the only person in the world who would accept my
    telling of the story and with whom I didn’t need to feel embarrassed.
    “He couldn’t get hard and naturally he decided it was my fault.” I took a deep
    breath. “One night he slapped me across the face and said I had cursed him.” I laughed
    with no humor in it. “Of course, because he had gotten angry he managed to get hard
    enough to force himself inside me. Unfortunately that made everything worse.”
    I sensed that Gervase had gone