BOOK 3

*I never hated you, Isabella.' Suddenly Brand looked very tired.

'Maybe not, but you often told me I was a spoiled little brat.'

'Because you were a spoiled brat.' He shook his head, and she was astounded to see the beginnings of a bleak-looking smile. 'A brat with guts, though. You wrestled the English language to the ground with amazing speed.'

Praise? From Brand? 'I had an English governess,' she reminded him. 'I already spoke English well.' When his eyes narrowed pointedly, she added, 'AH right, not as a Canadian would speak it. But I learned fast. I could have managed on my own within three months.'

'You didn't, though. We were together for more than ten months, as I remember.'

Isabella became aware that the pressure of Brand's fingers on her wrist was beginning to send unwelcome shivers up her arm. Unwelcome and disturbingly seductive. A quiver of heat ran down her spine.

But she didn't ask him to let her go.

'Yes,' she agreed, not quite steadily. 'We were. I didn't leave becaus