"Marcia, you are tempting Fate," the Earl said. The gas lamps had been extinguished, making the room intimate.

The Earl moved towards her. He put his arms around her, kissing her fiercely, making her forget everything but the rapture that rose within her because she was being kissed by the man she loved.

Wild joy and wonder seemed to sweep through her and carry her away into a world in which there was only the Earl, his arms, his lips, his love.

"I love you!" he said at last. "As I must have done from the first moment I saw you."

His mouth again took hers captive and there was nothing she could do except know the fire within him was like the heart of the sun.