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definitely something deeper about Miss Serafina McPhee. Beneath those calm waters on the surface, he had a feeling storms raged. He only wondered if she would ever trust him enough to let him see.
    “Is there anything else?” he asked.
    She shook her head. “No.”
    “Then I suppose it is a bargain,” he said. She held out her hand as if to shake and he ignored it. “In this case, I believe a kiss is the proper way to seal the terms.”
    Her lips parted and he could see protest on her face. He held up a hand. “I promised your father nothing untoward would happen, Serafina, and I meant it. I ask for a simple kiss. I promise not to ravish you.”
    “Why should I believe you when you have delighted in ravishing so many women before me?” she whispered.
    “I’m surprised someone would speak to you about such things,” he said, searching her face.
    She arched a brow. “Everyone knows it about you and your family. You are seducers and gamblers and rabble-rousers. And many have delighted in telling me so since Cyril’s death.”
    “Rabble-rousers,” Rafe said with a slight smile, despite her hesitation. “I have always liked that word.”
    “Lived it, you mean?” she asked softly.
    He grinned. “From time to time, yes. But I swear to you, on all of whatever honor I possess, that I shall not force you to do anything you do not desire. Just a kiss, Serafina. The rest will happen soon enough.”
    She winced at that sentence, but then lifted her chin slightly. “Do as you will,” she whispered.
    Rafe hesitated. He had kissed many a woman and none had ever seemed so resigned to unpleasantness beforehand. It drove him to change her mind about the act, about him . Only he had to do it delicately.
    He scooted closer and reached a hand out to gently cup the back of her head. Being careful not to disturb her hairstyle, he tilted her face for the best angle. She squeezed her eyes shut and her body went stiff as his lips descended.
    His mouth touched hers, just brushing back and forth against her tightly squeezed lips. He went slowly as her body relaxed a fraction beneath him and her lips became more accessible.
    She was so soft beneath him, he wanted to delve deeper, to taste her, but he forced himself to hold back and pull away before he went too far. When he did so, he found her eyes wide open, watching him with an expression of shock.
    “That—that was all?” she whispered.
    He arched a brow. Now he knew she had a female confidante who had explained some of what happened between a man and a woman. Though the fact that she had apparently never been kissed before was a bit shocking. What was wrong with Cyril?
    “For now,” he said softly.
    She turned away from him. “Will you take me back, please?”
    He opened his mouth to say more, to question her, to try to figure out why her shoulders were suddenly so stiff, her hands so tightly folded. But then he shook his head. It didn’t really matter, did it? If Serafina was afraid of him, interrogating her wouldn’t help.
    And if she was just a beautiful prude, it would take time to work on that as well.
    So he said nothing and simply urged his horses to turn back up the lane. This little outing of theirs had revealed a great deal indeed, and he had a feeling there was even more to come.

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Chapter Four

     
     
    Rafe helped Serafina down from the phaeton and saw her gaze dart to the side yet again. Their short ride from the park had been very quiet. Whatever headway he’d felt he was making with her seemed to be gone, though he couldn’t place why.
    “Did I offend you?” he asked as he held out an arm for her.
    She ignored the offer and they began to walk up the stairs side by side.
    “No, Your Grace, you didn’t.” Her voice was soft and her tone hard to read.
    He explored her face as they entered the house. No, she didn’t seem offended. Something else had brought their small connection to a halt. It was utterly frustrating. Only days or perhaps a week