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She shivered and obeyed him, secretly all but swooning at the pure joy of being so close to him. He
smelled of leather and exotic cologne, a secret, intimate smell that wasn t noticeable at a distance.
Oddly, it didn t disturb her lungs as some scents did.
She laid her cheek gingerly against his shoulder and closed her eyes with a tiny sigh that she hoped
he wouldn t hear. It was all of heaven to be carried by him. She hadn t dreamed of such an unexpected
pleasure coming to her out of the blue.
His strong, hard arms seemed to contract for an instant. Then, all too soon, they reached the kitchen.
He put her down, opened the door and coaxed her through it. Maria was in the kitchen making a
chicken dish for the midday meal. She glanced up, flustered to see their landed neighbor inside her
own kitchen with his hat respectfully in his hand.
 Señor Conde! What an honor! Maria gasped.
 I am only Mr. Ramirez, Maria, he said with an affectionate smile.
She made a gesture.  You are el conde to me. My son continues to please you with his work, I
hope?
 Your son is a master with unbroken horses, he said in rare praise.  I am fortunate to have him at
the ranch.
 He is equally fortunate to serve you, Señor Conde.
Obviously, Eduardo thought, he wasn t destined to have much luck in persuading Maria to stop
using his title.
Bernadette tried to smile, but the cough came back, worse than ever.
 Ay, ay, ay, Maria said, shaking her head.  Again, it is the flowers, and I fuss and fuss but you will
not listen!
 Strong coffee, Maria, black and strong, Eduardo instructed.  You will bring it to the
conservatory, yes? And then inform Señor Barron that I am here?
 But of course! He is in the barn with a new foal, but he will return shortly.
 Then I will find him myself, once I have made Bernadette comfortable. I am pressed for time. He
took Bernadette s arm and propelled her down the long, tiled hall to a sunny room where green
plants, but no flowering ones, grew in profusion and a water garden flourished in its glassed-in
confines.
She sat down with her face in her hands, struggling to breathe.
He muttered something and knelt before her, his hands capturing hers.  Breathe slowly, Bernadette.
Slowly. His hands pressed hers firmly.  Try not to panic. It will pass, as it always does.
She tried, but it was an effort. Her tired eyes met his and she was surprised again at the concern
there. How very odd that her enemy seemed at times like her best friend. And how much more odd
that he seemed to know exactly what to do for her asthma. She said it aloud without thinking.
 Yes, we do fight sometimes, don t we? he murmured, searching her face.  But the wounds always
heal.
 Not all of them.
His eyebrows lifted.
 You say harsh things when you re angry, she reminded him, averting her eyes.
 And what have I said, most recently, that piques you?
She shifted restlessly, unwilling to recall the blistering lecture she d received from him after her
unfortunate ride with Charles.
He tilted her face back to his.  Tell me.
 You can t remember? she asked mutinously.
 I said that you had no judgment about men, he recalled.  And that it was just as well that&  His
mouth closed abruptly.
 I see that you do remember, she muttered irritably, avoiding his dark, unblinking gaze.
 Bernadette, he began softly, pressing her hands more gently, and choosing his words very
carefully, calculatingly,  didn t you realize that the words were more frustration than accusation? I
barely arrived in time to save you from that lout, and I was upset.
 It was cruel.
 And untrue, he added.  Come on, look at me.
She did, still recalcitrant and resentful.
He leaned forward, his breath warm on her lips as he spoke.  I said it was just as well that you had
money as you had so few attributes physically with which to tempt a man.
She started to speak, but his gloved finger pressed hard against her lips and stilled them.  The sight
of you like that, so disheveled, stirred me, he said very quietly.  It isn t a thing that a gentleman
should admit, and I was taking pains to conceal what I felt. I spoke in frustration. I didn t mean to hurt
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