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“My mother has taken to her bed and will not speak to me.”
Cynthia laughed. “So long as she does not blame me for it.”
“I will have to travel, Cyn. Not always. I have my duties as viscount, but—”
She kissed his neck. “Take me with you?”
“Yes, of course I will.”
“Ask me,” she whispered.
“Cynthia.” Nick eased one hand up to cup the back of her head in his hand. “Are you sure you understand? It’s not an honorable position for a man of my standing. Or a lady of yours.”
“Nick, this is…Oh, you are so very clever.” She smiled up at him.
Nick must have seen the truth in her eyes, because he finally nodded and pressed his lips to her temple, then lightly to her mouth.
“I am not clever. But I will work so hard to make you proud.”
“You do make me proud.”
His mouth moved to her ear, so that his words seemed to breathe straight into her. “Marry me, Cyn. Be my wife. Bring me joy.”
She’d thought herself impatient to hear this. Ready to marry just to get it over with and have him to herself, pragmatism be damned. But at those words, her heart stopped and swelled so large she couldn’t breathe.
“Cyn? Say yes. Please.”
She’d loved this man her whole life. Having him would be too much. But it was a sacrifice she’d have to make.
“Perhaps. Will you pose for my sketching?” she asked.
“Er, of course,” he answered, shuddering only a little. “I’d be…honored.”
She grinned up into his precious, familiar face. “Then yes,” she said. “Yes.”
That simple word seemed to wipe most thoughts of his pesky gentleman’s honor from his mind. He kissed her hard, and ran his hands over her hips and pressed himself against her belly. When she pulled her negligee up and off, he muttered something about insulting the trust of her aunt and uncle. When she cupped her breasts in her own hands and told him she was lonely, he protested that they would be married within days and he could behave decently until then.
But when she lay on her bed and pressed her wrists together, stretching her arms above her head, Nick didn’t say a word. He was far too busy nibbling his way down her stomach to speak. And Cynthia was too busy being dishonored to care.
