Мэри Бэлоу: A gift of daisies

THE IMPOSSIBLE MR. GOWER

    Lady Rachel Palmer was quite used to men falling helplessly in love with her. Every gentleman in aristocratic society, including her devoted fianc&#233,, Lord Algernon Rivers, fell a willing victim to Rachel s dazzling beauty and bewitching charm.

    Every gentleman, that is, except Lord Rivers closest friend, the studiously unfashionable and splendidly handsome Mr. David Gower.

    Mr. Gower made it clear that the ravishing Rache represented everything he scorned, and that he was the very last man in the world she could ever ensnare. It was a challenge Rachel could not ignore-from a man she could not resist…

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FIRE AND ICE

    Rachel had never been held thus, against the full, warm length of a man s body. And she had never been kissed thus, with lips that moved over hers, parting and persuading hers to do the same. But she knew this was right. This was the way it must be.

    Then she felt David s hold loosen.

    «I have given into a temptation I thought I had under control,» he said. «I had determined never to touch another woman this way until she had consented to be my wife.»

    «I can marry you,» Rachel said eagerly.

    He shook his head. «No, Lady Rachel, we can never marry.»

    Rachel s face was becoming stormy. «Give me one reason why I may not marry you.»

    «Because I am not asking you,» he coldly replied.

    Signet, North American Library, Signet

    Copright 1989

    And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin:

    And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

    Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

    -Matthew 6: 28-30