She could barely make out the words. "What?"

"Wrap your legs about my hips."

She wanted to ask why but didn't, instead simply did as he asked-and learned the answer.

He drove into her-deeper, harder, faster-drove, it seemed, straight to her heart. She arched beneath him, gripped tight with her thighs, heard herself cry as her senses fractured-not as before but infinitely more intensely, shattering into shards, bright, sharp, gilded with glory.

She felt him hold still, buried deep within her, then he was with her, caught, trapped, swept up and away in the pure energy swirling around them, through them, that battered them, buoyed them. Ultimately fused them.

Fused their bodies, heated and damp-then imploded in a sunburst powerful enough to fuse their very souls.

She'd wondered what would happen after; no amount of wondering had prepared her for this.

For the sheer weight of him, slumped on top of her, for the thundering of their hearts, for the glory still coursing through their veins, the heat still pulsing under their skins.

Over. The raging storm had swept past and left them washed up, exhausted, tossed up by the waves on some deserted island.

Only they were real. In that moment, the rest of the world did not exist.

Boneless, she lay beneath him, stunned, yet at peace. He turned his head. Their breaths mingled, then, blindly, their lips met. Clung. Held.

"Thank you."

His words feathered her cheek. Lifting a hand, she brushed back his hair, then stroked down, over the powerful lines of his torso, the long muscles of his back.

"No-thank you."

For teaching her, for letting her see . . . possibly more than he'd intended.

She'd been right; there was something special between them, something worth fighting for. But there was also so much she'd yet to learn . . .

His lips cruised over hers, then he drew in a breath, and eased from her. The change was dramatic-the difference in sensations, in how her body felt when he was there, joined with her, and when he was not.

He lifted from her, then slumped on the bed beside her. One heavy arm reached across, settling her against his side, locking her there.

"Go to sleep. We'll have to get you back to your room before dawn-I'll wake you before then."

She smiled. Refrained from telling him she was looking forward to it-to having him wake her up. Turning onto her side, she snuggled down, snuggled her back against him.

She'd never slept with a man before, but sleeping with him seemed perfectly natural. Perfectly normal.

Perfectly meant to be.

Dawn came too soon.

She was dimly, dreamily aware when Simon left her side, when his weight left the bed. She grumbled, turned over, grabbing the tangled sheets and comforter to her to hold in his warmth, and slid back into bliss-filled slumber.

She was floating, boneless and content on some warm and gentle sea when a hard hand closed on her shoulder and shook.

"Come on-wake up. It's getting light."

Cracking open an eye took serious effort; squinting up, she saw Simon, fully dressed, leaning over her. It was light enough to see that his eyes were blue, his expression concerned.

She smiled, closed her eye, reached up and curled her fingers in his lapel. "No one else will be up for hours." She tugged. "Come back in here." Her lips curved as the memories washed over her. "I want to learn more."

He sighed. Heavily. Then the hand that had risen to close about hers locked about her hand and wrist-and he straightened, yanking her unceremoniously from her warm cocoon.

Her eyes snapped open. "Wha-?"

He caught both her arms and half lifted, half wrestled her to her knees. "We have to get you dressed and back in your room before the servants are everywhere."

Before she could say a word, he dropped her chemise over her head. She struggled to get her arms up through the delicate armholes, then tugged the fabric down. Scowling came easily; she fixed him with a narrow-eyed glare. "This is not what I expected."

He stood looking down at her; he was having trouble keeping his lips straight. "So I'd gathered." Then his jaw firmed. "However, we're only here for another two days, and we are not going to cause a scandal in that time." He tossed her dress at her.

She caught it, tilted her head, and considered him. "As we do have only two more days, wouldn't it be wiser to-"

"No." He hesitated, studying her, then added, "We can continue your lessons tonight." Turning, he sat on the bed and reached for his boots. "Don't think to learn anything more before then."

Mulling that over, she struggled into her gown, then wriggled around to sit and pull on her stockings. "Why," she eventually asked, "do we have to wait until tonight?"

Her tone reflected honest curiosity, but also an underlying uncertainty; Simon heard both. He glanced at her, watched, his body slowly tensing as, one long, long leg extended, she-with transparently guileless grace-drew on her stocking. He blinked, struggled to remember her question.

He managed it; he lifted his gaze to her face, met her eyes. His instinct was to slide around the topic, avoid it.

She raised her brows, waiting. Jaw setting, he stood, gave her his hand and helped her from the bed. She looked down, sliding her feet into her evening slippers.

"Your body . . ." He spoke to the top of her head. "You'll need a little time to recover."

She looked up, blinked-was about to argue- "Trust me, you will." He shepherded her to the door.

To his immense relief, she went-still thinking. She halted before the door; he reached around her for the knob. Shifting, she leaned her shoulder against his chest, traced his cheek with one fingertip.

Met his eyes. "I'm not exactly a fragile flower. I won't break."

He held her gaze. "I'm neither small nor gentle." He bent his head and brushed her lips. "Trust me-tonight, but not before."

Her lips clung; he felt her sigh.

"All right."

Gripping the knob, he opened the door.

He insisted on seeing her back to her room. In order to reach it, they had to traverse the length of the main wing. The oldest part of the house, it contained numerous reception rooms, many opening one into the other; he used that route to avoid the tweenies scurrying about the main corridors.

They were close to the east wing, slipping along a rarely used gallery when Portia glanced out of the mullioned windows, and stopped. Tugged back when he tried to tug her on, then stepped closer to the window.

He looked over her head, and saw what she had.

Kitty, in a peignoir that did nothing to hide her charms, standing on the lawn in full sight, remonstrating with Arturo and Dennis. She was talking, gesticulating.

He drew Portia back; Kitty was facing away from them, but Arturo or Dennis might see them if they glanced up.

Portia met his gaze, shook her head as if to say it was all completely beyond her, then let him hurry her along.

They reached her room. Brushing a quick kiss on her fingertips, he urged her inside. The minute the door closed, he headed back to his room.

A pair of giggling maids forced him down the east wing stairs; safe enough-he could cut through the ground floor of the main wing and reach the west wing that way. Swinging down off the stairs, he stepped out- "Well, well-what have we here?"

He halted, swung around-to face Kitty.

Clutching her peignoir about her, she locked her eyes, widening as full realization struck, on his face, then her gaze traveled slowly down, narrowing.

Simon inwardly cursed; he'd thrown on the same clothes he'd worn last night.

Kitty looked up, her expression brittlely arch. "A trifle late to be leaving Miss Ashford's bed, but then no doubt you were entertained to the point of distraction."

The fury of a woman scorned rang in her tone; he'd turned her down any number of times-the malicious gleam in her eyes suggested she remembered every instance.

"Not so distracted as to imagine the local gypsies normally call at dawn to consult with the lady of the house."

She paled, then flushed, with temper as much as guilt. She opened her lips, met his eyes-and thought better of whatever she'd been about to say. With an icy glare, she gathered her draperies about her, turned, and swept up the stairs.

Simon watched her go, his own eyes narrowing, a sense of danger tickling his spine. Her footsteps died; he swung on his heel and strode for the west wing.

"Can we go riding this morning, do you think?" Cecily Hammond looked around the breakfast table, her blue eyes hopeful.

All those present knew exactly what she hoped-that by organizing such an impromptu event now, in Kitty's absence, they could avoid her presence for the morning at least.

James looked at Simon. "I can't see why not."

"A sensible idea," Charlie pronounced. He looked at the others-at Portia, Lucy, Annabelle, Desmond, Winifred, Oswald, and Swanston. "Where should we go?"

Numerous suggestions were made; while discussion raged, Portia looked down at her plate. At the mound of food she was steadily consuming. She normally had an excellent appetite; this morning, however, she felt hungry enough to eat a horse.

She didn't, however, think she could sit one. Not for any length of time.

Quite aside from the discomfort-the twinges and aches she'd ignored at first but which had progressively made themselves felt-if going riding were to worsen her condition such that her recovery was postponed beyond tonight . . . she'd rather not ride than forgo tonight's lesson.

Tonight's opportunity to investigate further-something she was determined to do.

The others settled on riding south down the old Roman road to the Badbury Rings, to view the ancient Iron Age fort. Chasing a forkful of kedgeree around her plate, she wondered what excuse she could give.

"I want to give my pair another run." Simon spoke to James. "They're eating their heads off, and after the last months, idleness doesn't suit their temperaments." He looked across the table at Portia, caught her eye. "I could take you up with me if you'd prefer?"

She blinked at him, then realized-as he already had-that no one there, bar Lady O who wasn't about to hear, knew of her love of riding. No one would think it odd if she elected to be driven instead.

"Thank you." She shifted slightly on her chair, realized he must have some inkling of her state . . . looked down before she blushed. "I would rather sit and watch the scenery."

She didn't look up to see if his lips quirked. A moment later, she felt his gaze leave her, and he spoke to James.

Fifteen minutes later, they all gathered in the garden hall, then set out for the stables. Sorting out horses and saddles took some time; Portia consoled the little chestnut mare while Simon's bays were harnessed.

He came to fetch her, one brow rising as he walked down the aisle to her side. "Ready?"

She met his gaze, read the watchful concern in his eyes, smiled lightly and gave him her hand. "Yes."

He led her out, handed her up, then climbed up beside her.

"We'll see you along the road," he called to James, still supervising the ladies' mounts. James waved. The groom holding the bays' heads leapt back. With a flourish of his whip, Simon sent the pair sweeping out into the drive.

They didn't talk, didn't need to. She looked around eagerly, keen to see a part of the country she hadn't before explored. After they left the tall trees of Cranborne Chase behind, stands of beeches occasionally lined the road as it crossed the gently undulating heathland. Simon let the bays stretch their legs, then reined them in to a gentle trot. The others, riding cross-country, caught up with them close to their destination; they rode in convoy about the curricle, chatting, exchanging quips and stories.

About them, the morning waxed glorious-blue skies above, sunshine streaming down, and a breeze fresh enough to clear the stuffiest head. The party enjoyed themselves in innocent exploration, clambering up and about the three rings of defensive earthworks surrounding the old fort. Everyone was so relieved by the respite from the snarled tensions at the Hall, each and every one went out of their way to be gracious and charming-even Oswald and Swanston.

Throughout, Portia was aware of Simon watching her-watching over her. She was used to such attention from him; previously, it had invariably pricked her temper. Today . . . while she strolled beside Winifred and Lucy, lifting her face to the breeze blowing from the distant sea, even though he wasn't near, she still felt his gaze, and, to her surprise, felt . . . cared for. Cherished.

There was something quite different in how he watched her now.

Intrigued, she stopped walking, let the others go ahead, then turned and looked across to where he stood, idly listening to Charlie and James arguing. Across the green dip between two of the rings, he met her gaze, then, taking his hands from his pockets, he left the others and walked to join her.

As he neared, he searched her face. He stopped beside her, holding her gaze, screening her from the others. "Are you all right?"

For one instant, she didn't answer, too busy reading-savoring-the expression in his eyes. Not his face, that was set in its usual arrogantly austere lines, but his eyes were softer, his concern quite different-of a different nature-to what it had been in years past.

The sight warmed her. From her heart outward, like a sudden upwelling of joy.

She smiled, inclined her head. "Yes. Perfectly."

A cry reached them-they looked across to where Oswald and Swanston had engaged in mock-battle for the entertainment of the Hammond sisters. Her smile deepening, she put her hand on Simon's arm. "Come-walk with me."

He did, keeping by her side as they ambled. Words were superfluous; not even glances were needed to maintain the connection.

Her gaze on the horizon, Portia sensed that connection's shimmering touch, felt her heart swell as if to accommodate it. Was this what happened? That somehow a link grew between two people-a channel of understanding independent of all things physical?

Whatever it was, it felt special, precious. She glanced at him briefly, too wise to imagine he didn't sense it, too. He didn't seem to be fighting it, or denying it; she wondered what he truly thought.

After an hour of simple pleasures, in complete and relaxed accord, they reluctantly returned to the horses and curricle and headed back to the Hall.

They returned just in time for luncheon, just in time to be treated to another petulant performance by Kitty. The lighter mood the morning had engendered rapidly dissipated.

The seating was not specified at luncheon; Simon claimed the chair beside Portia, sat, ate, and watched. Most of the company did the same; if Kitty had possessed the slightest sensibility, she would have noticed the distancing, the guardedness, and muted her behavior accordingly.

Instead, she seemed in the oddest mood, pouting, threatening to sulk over the news of their morning's outing on the one hand, on the other brittlely excited, eyes alight with almost frenetic anticipation-an expectation of something desperately significant no one else knew of.

"Why, we've been to the Rings many times before, dear," Mrs. Archer reminded Kitty. "I declare it would be quite fatiguing to have to see them again."

"Indeed," Kitty averred, "but I-"