Rafe had always been such a source of fascination to her. In the middle of their polite, manicured garden square of a society, there had grown this wild, rebellious vine that refused to be tamed. She wanted to understand him. She wanted to know why he’d walked away from that world, and where he’d gone, and whether he was happy there.

“Are you syphilitic?” Bruiser had his ear pressed to the connecting door.

“If a man slapped me with a tansy,” Rafe said, “I wouldn’t take kindly to it.” “What if a woman did?” “Well, then I’d pay her double.” She turned away, but not before he saw the corner of her lips curl up and her cheeks go pink. An absurd swell of triumph rose in his chest.

“Just give this a chance. You’ll have every indulgence you could ever dream. Doves released into the air. Swans in the pond. Peacocks wandering the gardens if you want them.” “That’s a great many birds.” “Never mind the birds.” “I mean, there would be feathers everywhere. Not to mention their droppings.” “No birds. Forget I said anything about bird

“I rather like the devil in you,” she said.

“I’m going to give him what he’s got coming.” The man’s face paled in a most satisfying fashion.

Bruiser tugged the fringed sash tight. “I’d been hoping for something to go bump in the night, so I could rush into the corridor and look high-class.” “Then why didn’t you? “Took me too long to put the dashed things on. I can’t sleep unless I’m naked as a newborn.” Rafe scratched his head, as though he could scrub the image from his brain. “I didn’

She held up weak little fists and mimed boxing his shoulder. “If you don’t like me finishing your sentences, try being less predictable.”

No doubt wondering why the hell a sweaty, breathless man was running around the castle wall while carrying another grown man on his back. Her hands fluttered. “I’m so sorry to have interrupted your . . . this.” “There’s a reasonable explanation, never fear,” Bruiser said. “Lord Rafe had to carry me. I have a condition.” You most certainly do, Rafe