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She rummaged through her valise and withdrew a nightshift, then undressed quickly and pulled the simple gown over her head.

As she crossed to the dressing table, she removed the pins from her hair.

Freed of the restraint, it tumbled in wild disarray to below her waist. She sat down and picked up a brush.

But as she began to smooth the tangles, she caught sight of something in the mirror that stopped her hand in midair.

“Sweet heaven!” She covered her mouth with her palm to keep from crying out.

A man stood in front of the window, his hands on his hips, his legs apart, in a menacing pose.

He was dressed all in black, from his highly polished boots to the cloak tossed rakishly over his shoulders.

He would have been fashionably dressed several centuries ago.

But it was his scowling face that almost stilled her heart and caused her breath to catch in her throat.

It was the face she had seen outside the window of the coach.

The face of the horseman who had mysteriously disappeared.

“You!” She dropped the brush with a clatter and whirled to face him. “Who are you? What are you doing in my room?”

“Yours, is it?” His voice was a low, deep growl of anger. “You arrive a nameless stranger on these shores, and already you’re laying claim to Falcon’s Lair?”

“No. I didn’t mean…” She caught herself before she could apologize. Her tone sharpened. “How did you get in here without being seen?”

“I’ll ask the questions, wench. Who are you, and what are you doing at Falcon’s Lair?”

“You don’t think I’d bother to answer a madman, a…lecher.” While she spoke she darted a look around for an escape route.

Reading her intentions, he moved so quickly that it seemed no more than a blink of the eye. One moment he was at the window, the next he stood barring the door.

Now her panic deepened, constricting her throat until she could barely speak. What sort of evil monster was this? She stared around the room in search of a weapon with which to defend herself. “Are you telling me you’ve been here since I arrived? That you stood there and watched me undress?”

Seeing her fear, he gave a dangerous, chilling smile. “Aye. A most charming sight it was, too. Though I’m sorry you managed the feat so quickly. I would have enjoyed it more if you had taken a bit of time. The sight of all that flesh was most erotic.”

“How dare—“Suddenly she’d had enough. It was the final straw in a crushing day. Racing across the room, she lifted a hand to the bellpull. She would have this madman taken away to an infirmary or an asylum where he belonged.

Before she could summon a servant, he stood beside her. Though he didn’t physically touch her, she found she could not lift her hand.

“Don’t be a fool. That would do you no good. The others can’t see me.”

At the nearness of him she felt a wave of heat, stronger and more intense than any fire.

“Where is this heat coming from?”

“Heat?” He went very still. “It is cold you should be feeling.”

She tried to free herself, but his strength was too great. With only the power of his mind, he was able to restrain her. All she could do was stare at him in stunned silence.

She was not the only one shocked. Standing so near, it was obvious that he had experienced something as well. Something that caused him to take a step back as though he’d been burned.

“What in the name of…?” He stared at her as if really seeing her for the first time.

His gaze skimmed the small oval face, the full lips pursed in a little pout.

She was breathtaking. Lips made for kissing.

Skin like porcelain. Eyes more green than blue.

And a mass of tangled curls the color of autumn foliage.

An altogether appealing picture. But it was more than her beauty that attracted him.

There was something else. Someinner strength that he found utterly fascinating.

The scent of her filled his lungs, and he breathed her in, feeling almost intoxicated.

It was a soft, subtle fragrance, like a meadow of wildflowers after a spring rain.

He would not soon forget the scent of this woman or the look in those eyes.

Fear shimmered in them, but there was an underlying edge of anger.

Though she was frightened, she didn’t faint, as many of her gender would have.

Instead—to her credit—she stood her ground.

What a rare, magnificent creature. He knew in that moment that despite the cost to him, he would one day touch her.

When she found her voice she managed to say, “Are you asking me to believe that I am the only person who can see you?”

“Oh, there are a few others.” He saw the fear begin to dissolve and a trace of defiance take over Aye, he thought.

Magnificent . What he would give to have her.

Almost at once he rejected that idea as nothing more than an impossible dream.

Still, the thought tantalized, softening his rough tone.

“It’s up to me to decide who’ll see me and who won’t. ”

Her voice frosted over. He was, indeed, a madman. “How was I chosen for this dubious honor?”

A grin touched his lips, quick and easy, causing a hitch in her heart. When he smiled he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. Handsome and arrogant, a potent combination. And extremely dangerous.

For a moment he lifted a hand and tempted himself with the thought of touching her. His fingers actually tingled at the suggestion. Not yet, he cautioned himself. Not just yet. He closed his hand into a fist and lowered it to his side. “Because I wanted it.”

“Do you get everything you want?”

“It’s my right as lord of the manor.”

“Lord of…” Disgusted, she turned away and caught sight of her reflection in the mirror. She was shocked to see that she was alone.

Turning back, she saw a falcon perched on the windowsill. As she watched, it spread its wings in flight. Over the whisper of wings, she could have sworn she heard a low, deep moan.

Or was it the keening of the wind?