"Sophia?" Daniel tried to squint down at the face under the dark hair covering his chest.

"Mmm," Sophia replied sleepily, snuggling comfortably against him.

Daniel grinned and gave up trying to rouse her. His eyes drifted to the ceiling as he gently stroke her back. Serve her right if she was exhausted.

Together with Francis and Henry, he had followed the strongly disapproving Millard to the back parlour. He had announced them, to the obvious consternation of the three occupants. Daniel's grin broadened as he recalled the scene. Maribella had looked positively stricken with guilt, Emma had not known what to think and Sophia had simply stood, her back to the windows, and watched him. At his sign, she had come to his side and they had left the crowded room together.

At his murmured request to see her privately, she had led the way to the morning-room. He had intended to speak to her then, but she had stood so silently in the middle of the room, her face quite unreadable, that before he had known it he was kissing her. Accomplished rake that he was, her response had been staggering. He had always known her for a sensual woman but previously her reactions had been dragged unwillingly from her. Now that they came freely, their potency was enhanced a thousand-fold. After five minutes, he had forcibly disengage to return to the door and lock it. After that, neither of them had spared a thought for anything save the quenching of their raging desires.

Much later, when they had recovered somewhat, he managed to find the time, in between other occupations, to ask her to marry him. She had clearly been stunned and it was only then tat he realized she had not expected his proposal. He had been oddly touched. Her answer, given without the benefit of speech, had been nevertheless comprehensive and had left him in no doubt of her desire to fill the position he was offering. His wife. The idea made him laugh. Would he survive?

The rumble in his chest disturbed Sophia but she merely burrowed her head into his shoulder and returned to her bliss-filled dreams. Daniel moved slightly, settling her more comfortably.

Her eagerness rang all sorts of warning bells in his mind. Used to taking advantage of the boredom of sensual married women, he made a resolution to ensure Sophia never came within arm's reach of any rakes. It would doubtless be wise to establish her as his wife as soon as possible, now he had whetted her appetite for hitherto unknown pleasures. Getting her settled in Hammington House and introducing her to his country residences, and perhaps giving her a child or two, would no doubt keep her occupied. At least, he amended, sufficiently occupied to have no desire left over for any other than himself.

The light was fading. He glanced at the window to find the afternoon far advanced. With a sigh, he shook Sophia's white shoulder gently.

"Mmm," she murmured protestingly, sleepily trying to shake off his hand.

Daniel chuckled. "I'm afraid, my love, that you'll have to awaken. The day is spent and doubtless someone will come looking for us. I rather think we should be dressed when they do."

With a long-drawn-sigh, Sophia struggled to lift her head, propping her elbows on his chest to look into his face. Then, her gaze wandered to the accommodatingly large sofa before the empty fireplace, their clothes strewn about the room. She dropped her head into her hands. "Oh, God. I suppose you're right."

"Undoubtedly," confirmed Daniel, smiling. "And allow me to add, sweetheart, that, as your future husband, I'll always be right."

"Oh?" Sophia enquired innocently. She sat up slightly, her hair in chaos around her face, straggling down her back to cover his hands where they lay, still gently stroking her satin skin.

Daniel viewer her serene face with misgiving. Thinking to distract her, he asked, "Incidentally, when should we marry? I'm sure Felix won't care what we decide."

Sophia's attention was drawn from tracing her finger along the curve of his collarbone. She frowned in concentration. "I rather think," she eventually said, "that it had better be soon."

Having no wish to disagree with this eminently sensible conclusion, Daniel said, "A wise decision. Do you want a big wedding? It shall we leave that to Felix and Margaret?"

Sophia grinned. "A very good idea. I think our guardian should be forced to undergo that pleasure, don't you?"

As this sentiment exactly tallied his own, Daniel merely grinned in reply. But Sophia's next question made him think a great deal harder.

"How soon is it possible to marry?"

It took a few minutes to check all the possible pros and cons. Then he said, uncertain of her response, "Well, theoretically speaking, it would be possible to get married tomorrow."

"Truly? Well, let's do that," replied his prospective bride, a decidedly wicked expression on her face.

Seeing it, Daniel grinned. And postponed their emergence from the morning-room for a further half-hour.