Helene gave him a warm, seductive smile that normally made his body respond. "But now you are asking me to confirm or deny that I intend to offer for Monica Fitzwaring?" he asked quietly. He knew she was too practical to nurture any secret hopes of a marriage offer from him, which was absolutely out of the question for a woman in her circumstances, and she was too independent to have any real desire to tie herself to someone for life-traits that further solidified their relationship. She was also intelligent, direct, and sophisticated, all of which made her a thoroughly delightful mistress both in and out of bed. Propped up on her elbow, with her golden hair spilling over her naked back and breasts, Helene Devernay was a delectable sight. Standing there, looking down at her, he felt his annoyance diminish considerably. He shoved his arms into the sleeves, then he walked over to the side of the bed and finally directed all his attention to the woman in it. Without answering, Stephen turned from the mirror and picked up his evening jacket from the flowered chaise longue.
"In the past, there have been dozens of rumors that you were on the verge of offering for one aspiring female or another," she pointed out quietly, "and, until now, I have never asked you to verify or deny any of them." Helene noted the unspoken reprimand and the warning it carried, but she took advantage of what had been a remarkably open-and highly pleasurable-affair for both of them for several years. "Is that what the gossips are saying?" he asked casually, but he lifted his brows slightly, in a gesture that silently, and very effectively, managed to convey his displeasure with Helene for introducing a topic that he clearly felt was none of her concern. "And gossip has it that you're finally going to make her the offer she and her father have been waiting for these three years past." With a sigh, Helene rolled onto her side and leaned on an elbow, her tone regretful but frank. "And?" he said, looking steadily at her in the mirror, his expression betraying not even a flicker of reaction. I heard it from my dressmaker, who is also hers." "Because the Season begins next week, and Monica Fitzwaring is coming to town. "Of course." Turning to the mirror above the fireplace, he met her gaze in it while he deftly wrapped the fine white silk into intricate folds around his neck. Stephen glanced at her in surprise as he picked up his neckcloth. "Are we still attending the theatre next week?" she asked. P ropped upon a mountain of satin pillows amid rumpled bed linens, Helene Devernay surveyed his bronzed, muscular torso with an appreciative smile as Stephen David Elliott Westmoreland, Earl of Langford, Baron of Ellingwood, Fifth Viscount Hargrove, Viscount Ashbourne, shrugged into the frilled shirt he'd tossed over the foot of the bed last night. To Megan Ferguson, who is one very special young lady-with all my gratitude. To Brooke Barhorst, Christopher Fehlig and Tracy Barhorst-with all my love…
I couldn't end this dedication without mentioning four other wonderful people for reasons they will know and understand: My life is so much the better for having known you. Who would have guessed he'd ride in a BMW and carry a briefcase! But regardless of the mode of transportation or the method of defense, no knight of old could surpass you for integrity, loyalty, kindness, and humor.
I always imagined a knight-in-shining-armor would ride to the rescue on a destrier and carry a lance. To Pauli Marr, with equal parts of gratitude and admiration for all the things you are, and for all the things you've shared with me-including some of the most hilarious, and difficult, moments of my life. I am honored to dedicate this novel to two real-life people who are the equal to any of those fictional characters, two people who I am privileged to call my friends… I write novels about very special, fictional people-men and women of courage and loyalty, of humor and integrity, people who care very much about other people. For information address Pocket Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020 ISBN: 0-8 First Pocket Books paperback printing April 1995 POCKET STAR BOOKS and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon& Schuster Inc. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020 Copyright © 1994 by Eagle Syndication, Inc. A Pocket Star Book published by POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon & Schuster Inc. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. July 2006 Until You Judith McNaught contents
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