Pure and Untouched

The Duke of Ravenstock awoke and was aware that everything was very silent. He looked for Anoushka, but at first he could not see her. Then he realised she was beside him in the bed, sound asleep.

For the moment he was astonished. Then he realised there was nowhere else she could have slept, except on a hard wooden chair, and because the bed was large, there was quite a gap between them.

The Duke turned over cautiously and looked at her. Her eyelashes were dark against her cheeks, her hair was tumbled over the pillow.

Then because he could not help himself, because everything seemed far away in another world, he raised himself towards her.