Now their voices grew fainter and fainter and soon neither the Duke nor Zelda could hear them anymore.
As she gave a sigh of relief, the Duke turned round and put his arms round her.
“You saved my life as well as my possessions,” he breathed, “and I am very grateful to you.”
He pulled her close to him.
Before she realised what was happening, his lips were on hers.
He kissed her and she felt a sudden ecstasy running through her body that she had never known before.
The Duke raised his head.
“I never thought this would happen,” he muttered, “or that I would kiss you in such peculiar and unexpected circumstances.”
“I think I wounded – that man,” Zelda managed to mumble.
“We will see to him later. At the moment I am just thinking that you are even lovelier than when I first saw you an
