Free Dangerous Gifts by Mary Jo Putney Page A

remembered with icy clarity how it felt to be so plain that she was almost invisible in her own life.
    Leah felt a little sadness that Duncan would never have noticed her as she was before. Winning his regard this way seemed almost like cheating. But her beauty gave him pleasure, so she was more grateful than guilty.
    After composing herself, she went downstairs to the drawing room, carefully leaving the door ajar for propriety’s sake. Duncan was leaning casually against the mantelpiece. As she watched the sunlight define the chiseled planes of his face, Leah said involuntarily, “You’re the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.”
    Instead of being pleased or embarrassed, he became still as a statue. Then, releasing his breath in a sigh, he said, “I can’t think of myself as beautiful.”
    “Would you prefer handsome? Dashing? Heroic? You are all of those things,” she said, amazed by her own boldness. “I love looking at you.”
    “I’m not the man you think, Leah,” he said with sudden vehemence. “I’m not a hero, not dashing, not at all out of the common way. I’m a plain man who likes books and country living and music, who merely did his duty as the situation demanded.”
    His golden eyes darkened. “The only thing special about me is how much I love you. Meeting you was like . . . like coming home. I know it’s too soon, and that I should not speak to you before talking to your father. I know also that you are a jewel who should be gracing the finest society in Britain, and I can’t give you that. But is it possible”—his voice wavered for an instant—“do you think that you could be happy sharing a quiet life with me?”
    He really was shy, she realized with amazement, perhaps as shy as she herself. Overcome with tenderness, she said, “I would like nothing better, Duncan.” She went to him and took his hands before saying haltingly, “I love you. A rational person might laugh at us both, but I feel that . . . that in you I’ve found the other side of myself.”
    He scanned her face with riveting intensity. “Would you love me if I were ugly, or if this scar was far worse, or if I had never been called hero?”
    Recognizing how much he cared about her answer, she took time to think before saying slowly, “I love your kindness, your humor, the way you make me feel safe and cherished.” She gave him a shy smile. “I love the person I am when I am with you. I think that would be true no matter what you looked like, and even if you had never been lionized by London society.”
    His smile was radiant and relieved. “Then I’ll go into the country and speak to your father. Is there any chance that he might refuse to allow me to pay my addresses?”
    “None at all. You are not only wonderful, but wonderfully eligible.” She smiled teasingly. “I’ll be getting the best of this bargain, you know.”
    His expression turned wry. “Never think that, Leah. If only you knew.”
    Leah bit her lower lip. “My parents dislike surprises. I think it would be wise for me to go home first and prepare them for your visit.”
    “Good. That means that as soon as I have his permission, I can come to you and make a formal offer.” His arms slid around her. “Oh, Leah, Leah ...”
    She went into his embrace gladly. “This is very forward of me, but I’d like the engagement to be short.”
    His laughter was rich and deep. “As short as we can decently make it.”
    She sighed with delight. It was hard to believe that such happiness could be real. As she rested against him, loving his warmth and strength, a dreadful thought struck her. Surely Ranulph couldn’t ask for her firstborn child! But there were ancient tales of faeries asking such a price.
    The thought had not occurred to her when they had made their original bargain, probably because the idea of having a child was so far from her mind then. But it wasn’t now. When she imagined marriage to Duncan, children were as much a part of the