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Daniel won’t speak out of turn. Perhaps she was well enough at times to leave her apartments so only those with intimate contact could tell she was addle-brained.
    Her condition explained why his uncle had decided to declare Daniel his heir. Kendrick probably feared a child with Isabel would have the mother’s malady. He couldn’t help feeling sorry for the man.
    â€œDo you know Lady Isabel’s maid, Tess?” he asked Wilmont.
    â€œAye, she seems a jolly sort.”
    What did he mean by that? Daniel felt his face twist into a scowl and turned away to hide his displeasure. He chided himself for feeling anger over the possibility Tess dispensed her favors to others in the castle. He knew she must. No woman could be as skilled in lovemaking as she was without having had a good deal of practice. But sometimes she seemed almost innocent, especially when he took special pains to pleasure her. Perhaps the country bumpkins here at Tewsbarrow didn’t know that pleasing the woman would make the bedding more pleasurable for the man.
    He realized how little he actually knew about Tess and renewed his questioning of Wilmont. “Does she come from Tewsbarrow?”
    â€œDo you mean Tess or Lady Isabel?”
    Daniel realized it would sound peculiar for the baron’s heir to be asking about a lady’s maid. “Lady Isabel.”
    â€œAye, her father was the steward for Lord Kendrick’s eastern manor. He died sudden like, leaving a wife and five children. Lady Isabel was the eldest. Lord Kendrick married her and now takes care of the whole family.”
    His uncle must be a better man than Daniel had thought to have a defective bride palmed off on him and still support her family.
    * * * *
    Isabel waited impatiently for Kendrick to come for her. She wished she could wear something besides the plain cloak she wore every night. She would love for Daniel to see her in a fine gown bedecked with some of her jewelry. But a lady’s maid did not have such finery. Besides, Kendrick had given her all her finery. It wouldn’t do to wear his gifts to impress another man, would it?
    But Daniel seemed impressed enough with her unadorned self. Just thinking of the thrills he gave her each night caused her pulse to race. As Esmeralda’s pupil, Isabel had gotten the impression making love was a carefully controlled game the woman played, but with Daniel she was rarely in control of herself, let alone him. And she liked it. She truly liked it. After Kendrick’s beddings, she hadn’t believed that possible.
    What makes lying with Daniel so different? Is it his youth and strength or his determination to pleasure me? Could any like-minded man do the same? If she didn’t get with child now, she’d have an opportunity to find out, but the idea of a string of lovers did not appeal to her. She couldn’t imagine any other man being Daniel’s equal.
    She heard her door opening and schooled her features into the put-upon expression she wore for Kendrick’s benefit.
    * * * *
    Daniel had told a servant to bring ale and food to his bedroom, claiming he sometimes awoke during the night feeling hungry. He’d also left a brace of candles burning and was wearing a sleeveless robe as he waited impatiently for Tess. Tonight he intended to talk a bit before bedding her.
    At last, she entered the room, and he went to her, caught her in his arms and kissed her tenderly. Then he led her over the table where a tray rested with an ewer of ale and cheese and fruit. “What’s this?” she asked, looking a bit disconcerted by this deviation in their behavior.
    â€œI thought you might like some refreshments,” he said, while enjoying this opportunity to feast his eyes upon her.
    â€œI ate a full meal tonight.”
    â€œWouldn’t you like to talk a bit before we go to bed?”
    â€œAh—I don’t have a lot of time.”
    He cupped his hand under her chin and