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When Court woke Anna early the next , she was slow to rouse, but when she did, she s why his chest reacted to the sight of it "How do you feel?"

She sat up and gave hin but more comfortable body "I feel wonderful" She didn’ t seeh the blanket bundled in her lap covered so over one breast Which left one uncovered -

When she put her hands above her head to stretch, he ran his palrated, "Mind the arm, lass" If she were his, he’ d always be there to see her stretch in the ht that she had no clothes on to conceal her

"Oh, I’ d forgotten about it coht nod "I’ ll leave you to dress We’ ll go on the crossing soon"

Before he could escape, she asked in a small voice, "Why are youdifferent?"

Because he’ d realized in the long hours of the night that she could never be his Even if he didn’ t have a five-hundred-year-old curse shadowing him and even if he could somehow convince a fine woman like her to want to stay with him, Court could never have her And now he cared about her enough that he refused to ruin her "Because things will no’ be the saether as ere last night"

"Then I want to stay here," she said, surprising him

"No, you knoe canna do that"

When she began to reply, he said, "Here I al into his pocket "I have your choker" He’ d finally figured out the secret behind the choker, and held it with the length dropping down and swinging in front of her, hoping this would startle sonized it wasn’ t merely a piece of jewelry - it was a talisman that had been her mother’ s Her mother wasn’ t buried with her father, but alone in Paris, away from Andorra and from her family in Castile She’ d somehow been disowned by both By the way Annal&urotto, he suspected he knehy

She wore it so she wouldn’ t be like her aze flickered over it without interest, then returned, intent only on his face "I don’ t want it It doesn’ t fit any longer"

When she wouldn’ t accept it, he stuffed it into his pocket, then strode froainst it, thinking that once he got to London, his brothers would see that this woman had him twisted inside They’ d wonder how, if Court cared about her at all, he could let it get this far

He wondered, too How could he explain that as things developed between hi ht?

He had felt that finally - finally - the pieces were falling into place

Even the exciting stea to break up the tension between Annal¨ªa and MacCarrick

He hadn’ t spoken to her in anything but one-word answers, except when he’ d asked if she was seasick She’ d glanced around and seen that most everyone else was, but when she answered no, he appeared bothered, which hurt her feelings

She scarcely cared that he was surly to her because she had much to think on She wanted to ht before because she never, never wanted to forget even the tiniest detail

Before MacCarrick she’ d gone about her life coive a wo at her fro and bit her lip And the pleasure a woive a man She’ d seen it

He’ d always been in control, yet she’ d wrested it froers, and made hie body going rigid

Just rerow fuller and ripping the railingShe frowned They’ d tightened so lanced up, caught hi at his hands She parted her lips, and a breath shuddered out He turned sharply away

This wouldn’ t do She couldn’ t keep thinking of the night before without longingwithout lusting There She could adhland mercenary

Yet she felt tied to hiht, she’ d acted blas&u her behind, but to tell the truth, she hated the thought She’ d actually entertained the idea of keeping the Highlander Did that mean she loved him? She couldn’ t say, but she knew she couldn’ t stand the idea of being away from him

She’ d hadand cajoled half grins, but she didn’ t kno she’ d accomplish this since she’ d never be allowed to marry MacCarrick even if he’ d "ruined" her

Not that MacCarrick wished for e to her He’ d made what he wanted clear "Why have one when you can have ry She’ d rather not have hiht coirl ouldn’ t share her ribbon She knew better than ever to be proprietary over acould keep a man by a woman’ s side - she’ d seen it in rare couples - and that was love

When the stea, and he took her ar?"

"Anna, everyabout"

"Oh" Annal&u obvious

"Every one of them would have taken you up on it" He sounded furious as he steered her toward a railed gangway

He was furious? She was the one who had reason to be She looked back at the ship and in an innocent tone asked, "Were any of thelowered at her so fiercely any other woarters After that, he said nothing, and his expression defied her to speak to hiive hi unbearable

He was taking her to London on a train At the station, she had many questions, and she knew he could provide all the answers It was like having a book in your hand with knowledge you wanted, but the pages were glued together Sooner or later you’ d want nothing ainst the wall

Then London was a chaotic snarl of noise and wares and food sot them a hanso into a charardens queued along the brick-paved street Trees abounded and lawns stretched in front of each with spotless perfection "Fifteenth fro when she’ d said Brits had taste

They stopped in front of a grand property with a stately red brick house Large without being overbloith every detail tasteful, the property bespoke the wealth of the owners As was fitting

"We’ re here"