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“T he meal was superb,” exclaimed Mama.

Gwen agreed. The sole had been poached to perfection, the lamb seasoned and delicious, the peas and asparagus just the right texture. She stared at the strawberry tart topped with cream, wondering where she would put it.

“Cook outdid herself tonight,” said Miles. “These tarts are tasty enough for the King himself.”

With that, Gwen poked her fork into the dessert, her eyes closing as the sweet crust and tangy berries exploded on her tongue. She thought of the empty cupboards in Boston, the dismal meals, and took another bite of the tart and decided she loved England.

“Shall we challenge ourselves with a few riddles tonight instead of music?” asked her mother.

“That’s an excellent idea. I love a puzzle,” said Gwen.

“I feel as if I’ve been living a puzzle the past months,” quipped Miles.

They chuckled together, and Gwen was pleased to note how the viscount was softening, even teasing about the debacle now.

Miles pulled another chair near the hearth and formed a semicircle. He sat in the middle chair with a cousin on each side. “Who wants to begin?” he asked.

“Mama, I would wager since it was her idea.”

“As a matter of fact, I do have a riddle ready,” said her mother.

“Riddle ready,” laughed Gwen. “Mama is riddle ready.”

“And you are madeira muddled,” joked Miles.

“I do enjoy that wine,” Gwen agreed. She would have to be careful in the future not to overindulge.

Mama began:

My first descends from yon eternal skies;

A winged weapon from my second flies;

And in my whole these colors may be seen.

“An angel,” boomed Miles.

“An angel isn’t full of color. It’s white.”

“How do you know?” asked Miles with a grin. “Have you seen one?”

He had her there. “Well, no.” She tapped her finger against her bottom lip, her foot joining in. “A rainbow!”

“ Oui,” said Mama. “Very good. Who is next?”

“I will,” said Miles, leaning forward, hands on his knees.

My first is an animal’s coat;

Many trees in my next you may place.

My whole, to your grief, will denote

That time has made work with your face.

“The animal coat is fur,” said Gwen, eyes narrowed in concentration. “Say it again, please.”

He repeated it, grinning as they concentrated.

“Trees, tree line,” mumbled Mama. “fur sad, furfrown, furline, furrow!”

“Well done,” admitted Miles.

An hour later, Mama yawned. “I’m done to a thumb, my dears. I’m off to dreamland.”

Gwen glanced at her mother, who winked when she saw Miles wasn’t looking. It was time. When they were alone, she rose and ambled to the piano. “Shall we play another game?” she asked.

Miles joined her at the piano. “Anything you desire.”

She turned to him. “Anything?”

He nodded.

“Let’s play Questions and Commands ,” she said with a triumphant grin.

“All right, shall you begin?”

“Yes. Question—do you want to kiss me?”

His mouth fell open. “I beg your pardon?”

“Do you want to kiss me? It’s a straightforward question.” She watched as his amber eyes locked on to her lips.

“I-I cannot answer that.” He swallowed.

I have him on the run , she thought. “Then my command is to do just that.”

“Do what?” he asked warily, taking a step back.

“Kiss me.”

She thought he would argue, try to find a way around the command, ramble on about how inappropriate her demand was.

Instead, he closed the space between them in a blink, his arm around her waist, pressing her body to his.

Her hands went to his chest as his lips descended on hers.

Soft, like velvet rubbing back and forth, the hint of strawberry still lingering on his breath.

Gwen closed her eyes, clutching his waistcoat, praying her knees held her up.

He broke the kiss, feathering her neck with kisses.

One hand pressed against her lower back, the other cupped her cheek as his mouth claimed hers again.

Her body hummed, soaking in his warmth, feeling his hardness against her soft curves. She moaned softly.

Then his mouth was gone. Her eyes flew open, and she saw him smiling down at her. “My turn,” he whispered in her ear.

Gwen tried to catch her breath, holding her palm against her heaving chest. What had just happened? Never had she experienced anything so… glorious. She tried to gather her wits, and when he released her, she clutched at the pianoforte to keep from melting to the floor in a puddle.

“Question—have you been trying to seduce me?”

She looked up at him and stepped close, finding her balance again. “I have no experience in seduction.” Gwen reached up and laid her fingers against his jaw, traced it to his neck, then dipped the tip of her finger inside his cravat.

He growled.

She laughed.

“That’s not an answer.”

“No,” she agreed, “it’s not.”

“A command, then?” he asked, his arm snaking around her waist again.

“Please.”

Gwen lifted her face to him, and this time when their lips met, her hands wrapped around his neck, her fingers entwined in his thick hair.

His tongue traced the seam of her lips, asking for something…

She parted them, and when his velvet tongue swept inside, she heard a strange mewling sound.

After another swipe of his tongue, Gwen realized she was making the sound.

The kiss ended, and he pressed his forehead against hers. “I like you better as Gwendolyn.”

She sighed, laying her palm to his cheek. “Me too.”

He laughed and held her close, rocking them back and forth, stroking her hair. “You are a vixen, my love.” His breath caught as he stared at her, realizing what he’d just said.

“You cannot take it back,” she told him, “for I love you too.”

“Will you answer my question? Were you attempting to seduce me? And was it your mother’s idea?”

She shook her head and grinned. “The duchess. She said to leave you be for a day, then taunt you with my nearness. And then, when you are at your wits’ end, kiss you.”

He laughed and kissed her again. “And the game?”

“ Questions and Commands was my own idea.”

“I would like one more turn,” he said, his brow furrowing. “Will you allow it?”

Gwen nodded, wondering if it was a ploy for another kiss. She would gladly give him another.

“Question—will you marry me?”

With a gasp and cry of “Yes!” she threw her arms around this handsome, kind, thoughtful, viscount and kissed him with all the passion that had been building for months.