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S he wasn’t wandering in the first part that was full of colorful blooms separated by rows. The next held fruit trees. Where are you? She hadn’t been that far ahead of Patrick, so she must be close.

The plaque on the wall of the last garden he came to said it was called the Night Garden.

Stepping through the gate, Patrick found himself in near darkness, even though the sun was high in the sky.

Structures ran the length of paths, and across them had been trained vines and foliage.

The air in here felt thick and damp with the scent of a forest.

A rustle to his left had him cutting through a row of plants, and it was then he found her. She was looking inside a gazebo. Moving closer, he touched her spine, and she shrieked.

“It is me,” he said into her ear as he nudged her inside and closed the door behind him. Thankfully, it had a lock.

“Lord Coulter, you startled me!”

“Just answer me one question, Sophie.”

“I am leaving, and you are a gentleman. Therefore, you will not stop me.” She lifted her chin.

“Not this time, Countess.” Patrick drew closer. “This time you will speak to me,” he added as he put a finger under her chin, ensuring their eyes met. “I am not letting you leave until I have answers to my questions.”

She slapped his hand aside. “I do not have to answer you. Why do you care anyway?” He watched anger darken her eyes. “My life is my business, not yours.”

“So you have said, but you are hiding something, and I want to know what.” He leaned in closer, until their faces were mere inches apart.

His eyes found her lush lips, and Patrick felt something shift in the air between them.

There was a thrum of need, and she felt it, too, because her eyes dipped to his mouth.

“I don’t understand this,” she whispered.

“You are not alone there,” he said just before he kissed her. Patrick untied the satin bow under her chin and then pushed the bonnet from her head. He wanted to devour her. Crush her to him and take, but he fought the need, telling himself to be gentle.

“I will never hurt you,” he whispered. “Open your mouth, Sophie.”

She did, and one of her hands flattened on his chest. Patrick had had many discreet affairs, but never, not once, had the touch of a woman’s hand made him ache. The subtle hint of her floral scent intoxicated him as he kissed his way down the pale length of her neck.

He wanted to touch every inch of her. To map her and commit each curve, valley, and plane to memory.

“God, I want you,” he whispered against her lips.

Patrick slid his hand up her side, his thumb brushing her breast. The breath caught in her throat on a small sigh. He took the kiss deeper, angling his head so he could taste more of her.

Walking her backward, they stopped when Sophie’s knees hit the bench seat running along one wall. His palm cupped her through the bodice of her dress and felt the soft weight. He ached to feel her skin against his.

“I’ve never wanted a woman like I do you,” he whispered against her mouth. Patrick would think about that later, how he’d just given her power over him, but not now.

His lips moved to her neck, kissing and licking the soft skin he found there. The small sounds coming from her lips aroused him further. He was blind to anything but her and the need that drove them on.

Her bodice gave as he tugged her dress and chemise down.

“Patrick.” Her whisper was hoarse.

“I know.” He cupped the soft flesh, the feel of her breasts in his hands exquisite. Lowering his head, he trailed kisses over the curves, mapping her contours with his lips and tongue.

He was beyond rational thought. All Patrick could think about was sliding inside her body and easing the pain of his arousal, but he would ensure she was right there with him before he did so.

He kissed her again as his other hand eased under the hem of her dress.

Using his fingers and tongue, he tormented every inch of her he had access to until she was panting and moaning.

Her hands were in his hair, nails digging into his scalp.

The small, delicious sting of pain only heightened his passion.

Reaching the top of her thighs, he stroked inward, brushing his fingers over the short curls, then lower to run them down the dewy folds beneath.

“I—”

“Just feel, Sophie,” he whispered. Kissing her, he touched the hard bud between her thighs and was rewarded with a shudder. Lowering his head, he captured her nipple at the same time as he slipped a finger into her tight sheath and thrust gently in and out.

Patrick’s head was pounding, and his body was hard with tension, but he would not find relief until she’d found hers. He added another finger and was rewarded with her shuddering release seconds later. After the last tremor had left her body, he laid her down on the bench.

Shrugging out of his jacket, Patrick unbuttoned his breeches. She lay before him, lips rosy, nipples hard from his touch, and her lovely eyes on him. He joined her seconds later, his mouth again taking hers in a hot, sensual kiss.

Patrick ran his hands over her body until he felt Sophie arch up and into him. Only then did he ease her knees open and slowly thrust inside her.

She was so tight, her muscles clenching around him.

He felt like it was his first time as his head pounded with the desperation to find his release.

Easing out, Patrick slid back in, again and again.

Her hands were clutching his shoulders, fingers biting into his skin.

And then he could think no more as his release slammed through him with the momentum of a runaway carriage.

He slumped on top of her, crushing her with his weight, yet he had no strength to move. Never had he experienced anything like that with a woman before.

“Pl-please get off me,” she whispered. Her tone didn’t sound sated; in fact, it was tight and desperate.

Rising, he looked down at her. Her eyes were clenched shut.

“Sophie?” Patrick touched her cheek softly. “Look at me.”

“I-I need to get back to Letty,” she whispered, opening her eyes and looking at his chin. “Now,” she whispered. “Please.” She sounded close to tears.

Patrick felt like he was missing something here.

She’d been right there with him during what they’d just done…

hadn’t she? Replaying what had happened now that he could think clearly, he thought about the moment he’d thrust inside her.

She’d been tight, but her moans had spoken of her pleasure… hadn’t they?

“Please move!” She was frantic now and wriggling beneath him, trying to get off the bench.

“Were you a virgin?” The words came out hoarse. Patrick felt disoriented, like he wasn’t functioning as he normally would. Did I just take Sophie’s innocence?

Pushing himself upright, he regained his feet.

“Sophie, answer me. Were you a virgin?”

She hoisted up her bodice and straightened her clothes, ignoring his question.

“Answer my question, Sophie.”

Before he could stop her, she’d run for the door, scooping up her bonnet on the way.

“Stop!”

She opened it and fled. Cursing, Patrick rebuttoned his breeches, and it was then he saw the blood. Proof that he’d just taken her virginity. Shoving his arms into the sleeves of his jacket, he followed, slamming the door behind him.

“Sophie!” he bellowed. Following at a run, he caught sight of her skirts as she hurried through the gate.

“Stop!” She didn’t.

Delivering several curses into the dark air, Patrick followed but knew he wouldn’t catch her, as there were too many places to hide.

“What have you done, Coulter?” He berated himself as he tidied his appearance and walked back to the garden party, hoping to find her there. What the hell must she be feeling? Scared, angry—no doubt both emotions.

After checking everywhere for her, he had to accept that Sophie had gone.

Finding Stephen, he told him he was leaving the garden party. His friend seemed happy to join him on the carriage ride home but didn’t seem to want to talk, which Patrick was happy with.

If Timothy was not Sophie and the late Earl of Monmouth’s son, then whose son was he? Further to that was why was she living a lie?

One realization Patrick came to as the carriage halted outside his town house was that everything had now changed between him and the Countess of Monmouth, and their futures were now determined.