Fire Under Snow (21 page)

“I don't know whether it's because you've worded it so cleverly or because I find it difficult to refuse you anything when you're this close. You have my permission to ask Sir William. Now, why don't you phone Leonora and tell her the news? While you're about it, you can give my mother a shock, in the nicest possible sense. Call her and introduce yourself as her soon-to-be daughter-in-law.”

“May I? I'd love that. What will you do?”

“I'll listen to you, gloat, look at you. If I can't have you, I can anticipate.” But instead of releasing her, his hold tightened. “You wouldn't deny me a little something to keep me going, would you?”

Her response to his kiss told him, more eloquently than words, that she would deny him nothing.