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b35675a
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After Ian left for the Greenleaf Inn, where he planned to stop for the night before continuing the trip to his own home, Elizabeth stayed downstairs to put out the candles and tidy up the drawing room. In one of the guest chambers above, Jordan glanced at his wife's faint, preoccupied smile and suppressed a knowing grin. "Now what do you think of the Marquess of Kensington?" he asked. Her eyes were shining as she lifted them to his. "I thin..
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Judith McNaught |
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af52d75
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Jake opened one eye and blinked confusedly at the sunlight pouring through the window high above. Disoriented, he rolled over on a lumpy, unfamiliar bed and found himself staring up at an enormous black animal who flattened his ears, bared his teeth, and tried to bite him through the slats of his stall. "You damned cannibal!" he swore at the evil-tempered horse. "Spawn of Lucifer!" Jake added, and for good measure he aimed a hard kick at th..
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Judith McNaught |
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9218dd6
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You will help, won't you?" Dragging his gaze from the doorway, he shook his head as if to clear it. " " he uttered dryly. "I'm tempted to offer her my very desirable hand in marriage! First I ought to know her name, though I'll tell you she suddenly seems damned familiar." "You will help?" "Didn't I just say so? Who is that delectable creature?" "Elizabeth Cameron. She made her debut last-" Alex stopped as Roddy's smile turned harsh and sar..
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Judith McNaught |
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a15aa85
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Why did you cry off?" She stiffened in surprise; then, trying to match his light, mocking tone, she said, "Viscount Mondevale proved to be a trifle high in the instep about things like his fiance cavorting about in cottages and greenhouses with you." She fired and missed. "How many contenders are there this Season?" he asked conversationally as he turned to the target, pausing to wipe the gun. She knew he meant contenders for her hand, and ..
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Judith McNaught |
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ad569a7
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I must say, you aren't being very mature very consistent!" His dark brows snapped together as their truce began to disintegrate. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Elizabeth bridled, looking at him like the haughty, disdainful young aristocrat she was born to be. "It means," she informed him, making a monumental effort to speak clearly and coolly, "that you have no right to act as if did something evil, when in truth you yourself..
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Judith McNaught |
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4a7625f
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Elizabeth was standing at the edge of the grassy plateau, a few yards beyond where they'd held their shooting match. Wind ruffled through the trees, blowing her magnificent hair about her shoulders like a shimmering veil. He stopped a few steps away from her, looking at her, but seeing her as she had looked long ago-a young goddess in royal blue, descending a staircase, aloof, untouchable; an angry angel defying a roomful of men in a card r..
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Judith McNaught |
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99b44fb
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The rock came loose, but Jake's satisfied grunt turned into a howl of outraged pain as a set of huge teeth in the next stall clamped into Jake's ample rear end. "You vicious bag of bones," he shouted, jumping to his feet and throwing himself half over the rail in an attempt to land a punch on Attila's body. As if the horse anticipated retribution, he sidled to the edge of his stall and regarded Jake from the corner of his eye with an expres..
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Judith McNaught |
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4d3ac43
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Mesmerized by the gilt ghastliness of it all, Elizabeth slowly turned in a full circle. Above the fireplace there was a gilt-framed painting of a lady attired in nothing whatsoever but a scrap of nearly-transparent red silk that had been draped across her hips. Elizabeth jerked her eyes away from that shocking display of nudity and found herself confronted by a veritable army of cavorting cupids. They reposed in chubby, gilt splendor atop t..
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Judith McNaught |
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63b1546
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Straightening reluctantly, she strolled about the room with forced nonchalance, her hands clasped behind her back, looking blindly at the cobwebs in the corner of the ceiling, trying to think what to say. And then inspiration struck. The solution was demeaning but practical, and properly presented, it could appear she was graciously doing him a favor. She paused a moment to arrange her features into what she hoped was the right expression o..
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Judith McNaught |
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0953f66
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Didn't anyone ever tell you that a lady never deserts her partner before the dance is over?" "It's over!" Elizabeth said in a choked whisper, and they both knew she referred to more than just the dancing. "I'm not nearly the greenhand you must take me for," she warning, frowning darkly at his frilled shirtfront. A ruby winked back at her from the folds of his white neckcloth. "I give you my word," he said quietly, "not to force myself upon ..
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Judith McNaught |
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85af184
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I'll wait for you at the cottage until noon tomorrow." "I won't be there." "I'll wait until noon," he insisted. "You will be wasting your time. Let go of me, please. This has all been a mistake!" "Then we may as well make two of them," he said harshly, and his arm abruptly tightened, bringing her closer to his body. "Look at me, Elizabeth," he whispered, and his warm breath stirred the hair at her temple. Warning bells screamed through her,..
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Judith McNaught |
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d94ddf8
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Elizabeth," he interrupted in a husky whisper, and suddenly his eyes were smoldering as he held out his hand, sensing victory before Elizabeth ever realized she was defeated. "Come here." Of its own accord Elizabeth's hand lifted, his fingers closed around it, and suddenly she was hauled forward; arms like steel bands encircled her, and a warm, searching mouth descended on hers. Parted lips, tender and insistent, stroked hers, molding and s..
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Judith McNaught |
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4e9be95
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He remembered the sheer perfection of her creamy breasts; the incredible silkiness of her skin; the exquisite taste of her lips; the way she had kissed him and held him to her... "Nick," the chairman said sharply, "I assume you are in favor of this proposal?" Nick dragged his gaze from the windows. He had no idea what proposal was being discussed. "I'd like to hear more about it before I decide," he prevaricated. Seven surprised faces turne..
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Judith McNaught |
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ab68ba2
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I'm willing to bargain with you," he said gently, "for the same reason anyone tries to bargain-you have something I want." Desperately trying to prove to her she wasn't powerless or empty-handed, he added, "I want it badly, Elizabeth." "What is it?" she asked warily, but much of the resentment in her lovely face was already being replaced by surprise. "This," he whispered huskily. His hands tightened on her shoulders, pulling her close as h..
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Judith McNaught |
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3c20a86
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Elizabeth, we're going to have to stop." Elizabeth's swirling senses began to return to reality, slowly at first, and then with a sickening plummet. Passion gave way to fear and then to anguished shame as she realized she was lying in a man's arms, her shirt unfastened, her flesh exposed to his gaze and touch. Closing her eyes, she fought back the sting of tears and shoved his hand away, lurching into an upright position. "Let me rise, plea..
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Judith McNaught |
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5f60b7e
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What are your terms?" he asked, and he made a final effort to tip the balance of power into her hands and out of his by adding, "I'm scarcely in a position to argue." Elizabeth hesitated and then slowly began stating her terms: "I want to be allowed to look after Havenhurst without interference or criticism." "Done," he agreed with alacrity while relief and delight built apace in him. "And I'd like a stipulated amount set aside for that and..
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Judith McNaught |
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f66e90f
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Ian saw only that the beautiful girl who had daringly come to his defense in a roomful of men, who had kissed him with tender passion, now seemed to be passionately attached not to any man, but to a pile of stones instead. Two years ago he'd been furious when he discovered she was a countess, a shallow little debutante already betrothed-to some bloodless fop, no doubt-and merely looking about for someone more exciting to warm her bed. Now, ..
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Judith McNaught |
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3915aa7
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For the next twenty minutes Elizabeth asked for concessions, Ian conceded, Duncan wrote, and the dowager duchess and Lucinda listened with ill-concealed glee.. In the entire time Ian made but one stipulation, and only after he was finally driven to it out of sheer perversity over the way everyone was enjoying his discomfort: He stipulated that none of Elizabeth's freedoms could give rise to any gossip that she was cuckolding him. The duches..
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Judith McNaught |
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fc312f9
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When Lauren returned from lunch there were two dozen breathtakingly gorgeous red roses in a vase on her desk. She removed the card from its envelope and stared at it in blank amazement. On it was written "Thank you, sweetheart," followed by the initial J. When Lauren looked up,Nick was standing in the doorway,his shoulder casually propped against the frame. But there was nothing casual about the rigid set of his jaw or the freezing look in ..
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Judith McNaught |
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5a4da97
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I'm going to sleep now," she said in a strangled voice. " " she added, and his face whitened as if she had slapped him. During his entire adult life Ian had relied almost as much on his intuition as on his intellect, and at that moment he didn't want to believe in the explanation they were both offering. His wife did not want him in her bed; she recoiled from his touch; she had been away for two consecutive nights; and-more alarming than an..
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Judith McNaught |
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c21f83a
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They won't do it, Ian," Jordan Townsende said the night after Ian was released on his own recognizance. Pacing back and forth across Ian's drawing room, he said again, "They will not do it." "They'll do it," Ian said dispassionately. The words were devoid of concern; not even his eyes showed interest. Days ago Ian had passed the point of caring about the investigation. Elizabeth was gone; there had been no ransom note, nothing whatever-no r..
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Judith McNaught |
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2976a6e
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Elizabeth glanced up as Ian handed her a glass of champagne. "Thank you," she said, smiling up at him and gesturing to Duncan, the duke, and Jake, who were now convulsed with loud hilarity. "They certainly seem to be enjoying themselves," she remarked. Ian absently glanced the group of laughing men, then back at her. "You're breathtaking when you smile." Elizabeth heard the huskiness in his voice and saw the almost slumberous look in his ey..
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Judith McNaught |
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123ef8c
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Lady Thornton," Sutherland said in an awful, silky voice that made Elizabeth shake inside, "does the word 'perjury' have any meaning to you?" "I believe," Elizabeth said, "it means to tell a lie in a place like this." "Do you know how the Crown punishes perjurers? They are sentenced to gaol, and they live their lives in a dark, dank cell. Would you want that to happen to you?" "It certainly doesn't sound very agreeable," Elizabeth said. "Wo..
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Judith McNaught |
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682e059
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Unfortunately, the Hospital Fund Raising Committee, to which Elizabeth was assigned, spent most of its time mired down in petty trivialities and rarely made a decision on anything. In a fit of bored frustration, Elizabeth finally asked Ian to step into their drawing room one day, while the committee was meeting there, and to give them the benefit of his expertise. "And," she laughingly warned him in the privacy of his study when he agreed t..
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Judith McNaught |
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9014c2b
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What did she say?" Lauren breathed. "She told me to check the oil," Nick replied imperturbably. Despite his outward attitude of total indifference, Lauren couldn't believe that as a younger man he'd been so vulnerable. Surely having his own mother treat him as if he didn't exist must have hurt him terribly. "Is that all she said?" she asked tightly. Unaware that Lauren was not sharing his ironic humor in the story,he said, "No-I think she a..
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Judith McNaught |
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005146b
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Elizabeth's concern that Ian might insult them, either intentionally or otherwise, soon gave way to admiration and then to helpless amusement as he sat for the next half-hour, charming them all with an occasional lazy smile or interjecting a gallant compliment, while they spent the entire time debating whether to sell the chocolates being donated by Gunther's for $5 or $6 per box. Despite Ian's outwardly bland demeanor, Elizabeth waited une..
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Judith McNaught |
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68de15d
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In the first place, you aren't qualified or experienced enough to work at this level.In the second place, I don't want you here." His contempt brought Lauren's simmering fury to a rolling boil, and she couldn't stop herself from goading him. "Perfect!" she said brightly, backing away a step. "Now would you just be kind enough to call Mr. Weatherby and tell him that? I've already given him reasons for not wanting to work for you, but he in..
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Judith McNaught |
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9a62279
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Nick,please let me go." "I can't." His forehead creased into a dark frown of irritated bewilderment. "Whenever I see you,I can't seem to let you go." "You fired me!" He grinned. "I just rehired you."
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Judith McNaught |
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a6d0adb
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By the way-" Jim stopped her "-I spoke with Mary and set her straight about who was seduced by whom a few weeks ago." Lauren sighed defeatedly. "I wish you hadn't..." "Be damned glad I did. Mary worked for Nick's grandfather, and she's known Nick since he was a baby.She's fiercely loyal to him. She's also a staunch moralist with a particular dislike for aggressive young women who pursue Nick. She'd have made your life a living hell." "If sh..
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Judith McNaught |
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c57f086
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You were wearing your hair up like that the day we left for Harbor Springs," he said, his deep voice pitched seductively low. "I like it." "In that case," Lauren said lightly, "I'll start wearing it down." He grinned. "So that's the way we're going to play it,is it?" "Play what?" "This little game we started yesterday." "I am not playing your game," she said with quiet firmness. "I do not want the prize."
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Judith McNaught |
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57b7a17
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He turned over the application, and Lauren watched him scanning it, his gaze nearing the bottom where she had listed her job preferences. She knew the exact instant he spotted what she had written. "What the...!" he said, astonished, and then he burst out laughing. "Weatherby and I are going to have to be careful. Which of our jobs do you want most?" "Neither," Lauren said shortly. "I did that because on my way to the interview at Sinco,I d..
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Judith McNaught |
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89d26e9
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Why is it," Royce murmured, gazing into her intoxicating eyes, "that every time you surrender willingly, like this, you make me feel like a king who has conquered. Yet when I conquer you against your will, you make me feel like a defeated beggar?" --
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Judith McNaught |
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0e9fcc3
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The waltz was dwindling away, and with a supreme effort he let her go. They talked through the crowd together, smiling politely at people who intercepted them without the slightest idea of anything that was said. When they neared the Townsendes' group Ian delayed her with a touch of his hand. "There's something I've wanted to tell you," he said. Scrupulously keeping up appearances, he reached out to take a drink from a tray being passed by ..
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Judith McNaught |
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ca63193
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I also suspect that he loves you." Trying to suppress the anguished hope that flared in her heart, Lauren turned her face to the stained-glass window near their table. "What makes you think so?" "To begin with, he isn't treating you the way he normally treats the women in his life." "I know that. He's nice to the others," Lauren said bitterly. "Exactly!" Mary agreed. "He's always treated his women with an attitude of amused indulgence...of ..
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Judith McNaught |
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106b61a
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We all have urgent matters pending," one of the members growled. "What the hell is Nick's problem that he can't be here?" "He said it's a labor relations problem." "That's no excuse!" another member exploded. "We all have labor relations problems." "I reminded Nick of that," the chairman replied. "What did he say?" "He said that has a labor relations problem like his."
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Judith McNaught |
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13feb93
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Lying in bed, she would alter the plots of the novels, the dialogue, and even the situations and locales to suit herself, but she never, ever, changed her imaginary hero. He and he alone remained ever constant, and she knew every detail about him, because she had designed him herself: He was strong and masculine and forceful, but he was kind and wise and patient and witty, as well. He was tall and handsome too--with thick dark hair and wond..
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Judith McNaught |
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f339251
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We need to straighten out some personal matters between us. Why don't we do it over dinner tonight?" he suggested. Lauren courteously refused with a half truth. "I'm sorry, I already have a date." "All right,how about tomorrow night?" he asked,holding out his hand for hers. Lauren plunked his messages into his outstretched palm. "You already have a date-Miss Moran at seven at the Recess Club." Nick ignored that reminder. "I'm leaving for It..
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Judith McNaught |
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51ffb97
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Hi.What are you doing here?" He frowned. "Damned if I know." Unable to suppress her smile she said, "The usual excuse is that you happened to be in the neighborhood and decided to drop by." "Now why didn't I think of that?" Nick mocked dryly. "Well,are you going to invite me in?" "I don't know," she said honestly. "Should I?" His gaze traveled down the entire length of her body, lifted to her lips and finally her eyes. "I wouldn't if I were..
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Judith McNaught |
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f72cfe4
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I think," Berta remarked with a proud little smile when she was seated alone in the drawing room beside Elizabeth, "he's having second thoughts about proposing, milday." "I think he was silently contemplating the easiest way to murder me at dinner," Elizabeth said, chuckling. She was about to say more when the butler interrupted them to announce that Lord Marchman wished to have a private word with Lady Cameron in his study. Elizabeth prepa..
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Judith McNaught |
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c28146e
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This is from Elizabeth," it said. "She has sold Havenhurst." A pang of guilt and shock sent Ian to his feet as he read the rest of the note: "I am to tell you that this is payment in full, plus appropriate interest, for the emeralds she sold, which, she feels, rightfully belonged to you." Swallowing audibly, Ian picked up the bank draft and the small scrap of paper with it. On it Elizabeth herself had shown her calculation of the interest d..
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Judith McNaught |
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e80cd88
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It's Christmas," he whispered. His wife smiled up at him, and her answer made his throat tighten. "No," she said softly, laying her fingers against his jaw. "Christmas came three days ago."
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Judith McNaught |
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ce1f533
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That black horse we used for packin' up here is the most cantankerous beast alive," Jake grumbled, rubbing his arm. Ian lifted his gaze from the initials on the tabletop and turned to Jake, making no attempt to hide his amusement. "Bit you, did he?" "Damn right he bit me!" the older man said bitterly. "He's been after a chuck of me since we left the coach at Hayborn and loaded those sacks on his back to bring up here." "I warned you he bite..
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Judith McNaught |
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b08cac3
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Genc adam spatulayi eline alip yumurtalari almaya kalkisinca,Elizabeth'in yuzunde neseli ve iyimser bir gulumseme belirdi. Gereksiz yere, "Yumurtalar tavaya yapismis," dedi.lan, "Hayir, tavayla butunlesmisler," diye cevap verdi. Ama hic degilse kizgin degildi."
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ian-thornton
judith-mcnaught
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Judith McNaught |
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8159c71
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Idealistlerin cok belirli bir ozellikleri vardir.Neyin dogru neyin yalnis olduguna kendileri karar verirler.Iclerinden gelen sesi dinlerler ve kendi deger yargilari dogrultusunda davranirlar.Idealizm torpulenmedikce,kendisindn baska hic bir otoriteye boyun egmez.Idealistler her zaman serseri mayinlardir.
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sloan-reynolds
noah
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Judith McNaught |