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“Afraid I will sneak a peek?”

“You still have not told me who you are,” she huffed as she dropped the torn dress again and then attempted to slide intothe spare one. But she was feeling flustered, awkward, and her hands shook uncontrollably.

“Can you not guess?”

Her mind raced as she tried to force her shaking legs to step into the dress. She eyed the back of the strange man to make sure he would not suddenly turn around, all the while wondering who he was. She had never seen this man before, and if she had, she would have certainly remembered him. And considering where she was and what for…

Her eyes went wide in realization, and she let go of the dress again so that it fell to the floor. “Oh no!”

“Ah, there it is finally,” he sighed and turned back around, only to frown at the sight of her standing half-naked again. “I thought you were putting that dress on?”

Her mouth hung open, so shocked that she could not even bring herself to attempt to cover her body. “You are… you are… You…”

“Becoming impatient,” he said simply. He then looked her over, a quick glance back toward the door, and he came to a decision. “Here, if it is such a difficult task for you.” He took a step closer.

“What are you doing!” she gasped and tried to step back, only for her back to hit the wall again.

He dropped to his haunches, right by her thighs, and collected the dress. “What you are unable to do,” he said, “before we are caught in a most compromising position.” He looked up at her and raised an eyebrow. “Unless that is your aim?”

“What? Of course not!”

“Then be a good girl and raise this leg…” His right hand moved to the back of her calf, touching it gently, sliding down its length as he tried to help her lift it into the dress.

His touch sent a pulse through her body, from her calves to her thighs, right to her chest. Body stiffening, breath catching, she froze as his hand wrapped around her leg, and she looked down at him kneeling between her thighs.

A moment. A heartbeat. But he too seemed to pause as if realizing what he was doing. His grip on her calf loosened, but he did not let go, the tips of his fingers gently stroking her skin as if he was trying to summon the will to remove his touch entirely… or increase it further.

“Your leg…” he said, now looking right at her. His dark green eyes took her in, flicking over her body. “If you can just?—”

“Oh!” she gasped, coming back to herself and raising her leg, stepping finally into the dress.

“There,” he said. “That was not so hard.”

One leg in and his hand moved to her other leg, again guiding it into her dress.

“I-I am perfectly capable.”

“I am sure you are.”

Both legs inside the dress now, he took the garment with both hands and rose slowly. He was still standing much too close as his hands moved up her legs and over her curves as he pulled the dress up her body.

“Tha—thank you.” She had no idea what to say, barely able to even speak for how hard she was breathing.

The dress made it to her waist, and there, he paused. Still holding it, he seemed to hesitate, his eyes cast downward… the hesitation brought about by what he had to do next. Pulling the dress over her bosom, an act that would see him touch and grope her in ways that went beyond mere assistance.

And as for Hannah? She knew now was the time to stop him, to step away and tell him that she no longer needed his help. To curse him for getting so close to her in the first place! And yet…

He was standing over her. So big and strong and dominant. His scent was like wood over a fire, dark and mysterious. He was still not looking into her eyes, still staring down, still hesitating about a decision he had not made yet.

“You are the Duke, yes?” she asked softly.

“I am.”

“Perhaps…” She reached down and rested her hand on his own, where he was holding the dress. “Perhaps it is best if I… if I do this part by myself?—”

“Hannah!” her father’s voice cried suddenly from just beyond the door. “Where in the devil are you?!”

“I told her I would not accept tardiness!” Teresa’s voice followed. “This is unacceptable, Phineas!”