A Scandalous Winter Wedding. Marguerite Kaye

briefly.’

      ‘And you have,’ Kirstin said, ‘or do—know me, I mean—better than most of my acquaintance, even though we’ve barely met and are no sooner getting acquainted than we must part. It must be getting late.’

      Cameron consulted his watch, exclaiming in astonishment at the hour. ‘It’s after ten.’

      ‘Why haven’t they been to clear the table?’

      ‘Reluctant to interrupt us, I suppose, and plenty else to keep them occupied, looking after the rest of our coach party.’

      ‘They will probably all be abed by now. We make an early start in the morning.’ Kirstin pushed back her chair. ‘We should bid each other goodnight.’

      Cameron too got to his feet. ‘We should, though I’m loath to do so.’

      ‘Lest your demons return?’

      ‘You’ve well and truly banished my demons. I’m much more likely to be kept awake thinking of you, if you want the honest truth.’

      He hadn’t meant to speak so bluntly, but the words were out before he could stop them. Yet instead of looking affronted, Kirstin widened her eyes as they met his, and in that instant the mood between them changed, became a meeting of minds subsumed by a rush of unmistakably mutual desire.