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Alejandro frowned. ‘My father can be very strict in the way he lives, it is true, and sometimes his view of the world is narrow. But no more so than any other high-ranking Spanish noble. My family are not ogres. If I took you home, they would embrace you as my chosen wife. At least, my mother would.’
    I felt his hesitancy. ‘Are you sure?’
    ‘No,’ he admitted reluctantly. ‘But you will be my wife, and I would defend you to the death.’
    My heart hurt. ‘I know you would. And that’s the problem. Because, oddly enough, I would rather not be the cause of your death.’ I sighed, picking my next words carefully. ‘There is no hurry to make this decision, Alejandro. Let us put the thought of marriage away for now, and let our lives unfold as they should. There is no shame in service to a noble cause. I will serve the Lady Elizabeth by staying away from her, and you will serve her by returning to Hatfield. And perhaps that is our destiny.’
    My hand was still lying on his chest. He took a shuddering breath, then pressed it deeper against his warmth, his fingers covering mine.
    ‘
Mi querida
,’ he said hoarsely, and looked deep into my eyes. ‘If I do what you ask, if I return to the princess at Hatfield, promise me you will not work magick while I am no longer here to protect you.’
    ‘I will not be alone,’ I said tersely. ‘My brother William is good with a sword. And Richard has power. He will guard my back.’
    His eyes narrowed. ‘So long as that is all he does.’
    ‘Jealous?’ I forced myself to sound amused, desperate to lighten the darkening mood between us. ‘Of Richard?’
    ‘That boy loves you.’
    Heat flared in my cheeks. ‘Alejandro, don’t.’
    ‘You do not believe me, Meg? Or do you not wish to hear the truth?’ His eyes were very dark. ‘I saw Richard’s face the night you died at Hatfield and he carried your dead body back to the house. He looked like a man with nothing left to live for. I recognized his agony, what it meant. For it was on my face too that night, and stamped on my heart like a brand. I shall never shake it loose.’
    ‘Whatever you think you saw, you are wrong. I feel nothing for Richard.’
    ‘
De verdad?
’ he asked grimly, and I knew he did not believe me.
    ‘Come on, we should head back to the house before my father misses me and comes looking,’ I murmured.
    It was the most painful thing in the world to part from him, but I had little choice. For the more I knew Alejandro, the deeper I fell in love with him, the more I realized we were not suited to each other.
    I tried to wriggle my fingers out from under his. ‘Please, Alejandro. You know how little my father likes you. I do not wish to offend him further by being caught alone in your company.’
    But to my chagrin he did not move away. Instead, with incredible gentleness, like a butterfly’s wings brushing my skin, he leaned forward and put his lips against mine.
    My breath hissed in. Then my fingers raked through his hair, jerking him forward, clutching him to me. He made a rough sound under his breath, and suddenly he was kissing me in earnest, his arm about my waist, dragging me closer.
    My heart stuttered violently. Alejandro wanted me as much as I wanted him. He was lost to reason, his eyes closed, his mouth slanting over mine, possessing me.
    I was almost lost myself, yielding to the sweetness of his lips against mine. But part of me knew we had to stop. I had just hinted to Alejandro that we could never marry. All this kiss would achieve was confusion.
    Confusion and an aching heart.
    I had promised my father I would not work magick here at Lytton Park. But I had to distract Alejandro.
    I broke off the kiss. ‘Look,’ I whispered.
    His eyes opened slowly. The dark smoky pupils of his eyes had blurred with desire. ‘What is it,
mi alma
?’
    ‘The snow . . .’
    He lifted his head, following the line of my pointing finger. All around us, in a cold and silent pocket, the snow had