another."

"Do you love me?" Kenton asked quietly, a grimness coming over him.

Joanne had but to raise her hand to touch him. All at once her fears returned. "Do not be cruel, my

lord," she said turning away.

He caught her shoulders and forced her back to face him. "I could never be cruel to you again, my love.

Say only that you forgive me-and," he faltered and ended weakly, "that you love me." His love, his desire blazed in his eyes, flowed into her being from the pulse in his hand holding hers.

"Oh, Jason." Joanne could speak no more as joy overwhelmed her. The past two months' grief was

forgotten as he crushed her to him, his lips demanding satisfaction.

Kenton drew back in wonder. "I thought I had lost you forever. It was worse than if you had died." He shook his head and caressed her cheek. "You are truly in my arms," he marvelled. "After-"

She put a finger to his lips. "Do not speak of it. Say only that you love me." The longing in her eyes

fanned his desire.

"I love you, my Joanne." Lord Jason pulled her closer, bent to kiss her.

Joanne's hands stiffened against his chest; caused him to halt and gaze at her questioningly.

"Let us agree not to speak of the past," she said earnestly, taking his hand and fingering the scar upon his

thumb gently. "Let us agree to start our time together from this moment."

He nodded understanding.

Her arms circled his neck as she yielded to him, drawing him close to her.

Sometime later Kenton reluctantly drew a deep breath and gazed fondly at Joanne, who was radiant

with happiness. He sighed. "They will wonder if we do not come."

"Only Benjamin, perhaps," she returned. "The comtesse will need no explanation," Joanne continued with arched brows.

Giving her a playful squeeze, he noted, "I think I rescued you from the comtesse too late."

"Ah, but the education she has given me will benefit you," Joanne sallied.

"All my fears are confirmed," he laughed. Taking her face in his hands he breathed, "How I do love

you." His kiss, a gentle pledge of love, became much more as she met his desire with her own.

At last it was Joanne who spoke, trembling from the flame he had aroused. "I fear we must return to Irwin. You must make a hurried journey."

"I must?" He c.o.c.ked his head, amused.

"To London, for a-what do they call it? A special license. And do you think you could speak to a solicitor while you are there-about Ellen?" she asked, biting her lip, wondering if she dared to ask too much.

"Could we not adopt her?" she said in answer to the question on his face.

"Not yet married and we have a child?" Jason feigned shock, and then kissed her fearful look away. "A most excellent idea," he a.s.sured her.

"On second thought, the comtesse and I will go to London with you," Joanne told him, straightening the

folds of his stock. "The comtesse has been longing to return to society."

"And then we can make use of that special license much sooner." His voice deepened intimately as he drew her close. "I am to wed a wise woman."

"But what else could I be?" Joanne returned with arch innocence. "With the 'education' I was given."

"I am most anxious," Kenton said tenderly as he bent to kiss her, "to continue the education of Joanne."

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