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into the hall and entered a library with plush leather chairs and a long sofa positioned near the hearth. Bookshelves lined all four walls, hundreds of volumes waiting to be read. Miss Bailey stopped, her mouth agape. “What a magnificent room.” She twirled about, her skirts billowing around her. “I could stay here for the rest of my days and be happy.” When she ceased spinning, she swayed to and fro. “Oh, my.”
    With low chuckle, he steadied her, his hands resting at her waist. “You don’t drink much do you?”
    “Never before,” she confessed with a small giggle.
    He pulled his hands away, and she glanced down as if first realizing he’d touched her. Her face pinkened sweetly, and she raised her gaze, but only got so far as his chest.
    Leaning toward him, she studied the lucky coin he wore on a chain about his neck. “What a unique charm,” she breathed, reaching out to touch the ancient metal.
    He drank his fill of her delicate cheekbones and striking eyes. “I’m told it’s a rare coin from China, said to ward against evil.”
    Her stare rose to his. “Are you superstitious?”
    Although he’d never thought so, he wore the amulet everywhere. He shrugged, admitting, “I am a sailor.”
    Miss Bailey worried her lip and studied his face. Her attention settling on his mouth, he wondered what she would do next.
    He didn’t have long to wait. His lips twitched as her eyelids drooped heavily, and she tilted her head up to his, her look almost dazed. “Are you well? You appear as though you may faint.”
    Raising one eyelid, she maintained her silly position, admitting through semi-pursed lips, “I’m enticing you to give me a kiss.”
    A laugh rose up, but he held it back. “I see.” What an unusual but most delightful woman. His coin was lucky indeed. “I suppose I am a pirate and I’ve cornered a captivating damsel alone and intoxicated.”
    Christopher glanced at the empty doorway, where a large potted plant shielded them from sight, and questioned the sanity of what he longed to do. If caught, her reputation would be sorely compromised. What’s more, she’d been Nathan’s love. Despite the year that had passed, he should honor that relationship. He should, and he would.
    He stared down at her upturned face, delicate, alluring. She waited, utterly unconcerned by the open door. He liked that she was so different from the other ladies of the bon ton , different from Adele. Miss Bailey’s free spirit, so open and real, appealed to him like no other. Her pale pink lips tempted him to no end. Her scent, cloves and warm woman, wrapped around him, drawing him in, making his blood pump faster and his mind slow.
    Would she taste as good as she smelled? Without thought, he cradled her face in his hands, the silky softness of her hair teasing his fingertips. He lowered his head, sampled her lips, and was lost.
    He drank in the sweet warmth she offered, greedy for more as she let out a long quavering breath and relaxed into him. Her arms crept up his chest, the duster clutched in her hand. The feathers tickled his ear. He tugged it from her grasp and tossed it to a nearby sofa.
    A thought surfaced from the depths of his mind. Have to stop. But it evaporated as his fingers grazed the soft skin at her nape, and he claimed her lips once more.
    Desire spread through his body as powerful as the rising tide. She felt so good, her curves pressed against him. He pulled her closer, reveling in her eager response. “I’d like to see you again. Where can I find you?”
    Her eyes closed, she answered shakily, “The Endicotts’.”
    He trailed light kisses along her jaw to her ear, enjoying the glow of her skin. A full minute passed before her reply registered in his muddled brain, and the realization of what he’d been doing hit hard. He set her away from him and bit back a curse. Nathan had asked him to protect her, not to make advances. And if he were any kind of friend, he would respect Nathan’s memory