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Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html When Strangers Marry (Originally published asOnly In Your Arms ) Lisa Kleypas To my father, Lloyd Kleypas, For always believing in me, and encouraging me to do my best… for being someone I can always trust and count on… and for making me feel strong even when I am leaning on you. I am so proud to be your daughter, With love always, L.K. Contents Prologue Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html The room was filled with the sound of fists pounding… Chapter 1 Philippe and Justin Vallerand wandered through the woods and down… Chapter 2 The gown Lysette had carried with her was irreparably stained… Chapter 3 Max was gone all the next day, attending to business… Chapter 4 Lysette damned her own physical weakness as her stepfather and… Chapter 5 Max had often pondered why Sagesse had slept with his… Chapter 6 Irénée walked through the double parlors with a satisfied smile,… Chapter 7 Although Lysette had lived in an almost exclusively female household… Chapter 8 After removing Lysette's nightgown and his own breeches, Max carried… Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Chapter 9 Max awakened to the sensation of invisible fiends pounding on… Chapter 10 "Another letter to your mother?" Max inquired, coming to the… Chapter 11 Lysette had known it was inevitable that she would someday… Chapter 12 "How is he?" Alexandre asked, starting to pour Max a… Chapter 13 Max's gaze swept over her, and his stern face softened… Chapter 14 Clement considered them both carefully, noting Lysette's flustered expression and… Chapter 15 The full weight of the suspicions cast on Max was… Chapter 16 After glancing at the prone form on the ground, Severin… About the Author Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Other Books by Lisa Kleypas Front Cover Copyright About the Publisher Prologue NATCHEZ, 1805 The room was filled with the sound of fists pounding flesh. Lysette huddled in a ball with her arms covering her head, while smothered cries were torn from her raw throat. Her rebellion had been crushed until all that remained was the will to survive her stepfather's assault. Gaspard Medart was a short but powerfully built man, with a bullish strength that was often used to compensate for his lack of intelligence. When he was satisfied that Lysette would offer no further resistance, he straightened with an angry grunt and wiped his bloody fists on his waistcoat. It took a full minute for Lysette to realize Gaspard was finished. Cautiously she unwrapped her arms from around her head and turned her face to the side. He was standing above her, his hands still clenched. She swallowed, tasting blood, and pushed herself up to a sitting position. "Now you have learned the price of challenging me," Gaspard muttered. "And from now on, each time you give me so much as an impertinent glance, I'll repay it withthis ." He held his clenched hand in front of her face. "Do you understand?" Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html "Oui." Lysette's eyes closed.Let it be over , she thought feverishly.Let it be over …. She would say or do anything just to make him go away. She was vaguely aware of Gaspard's snort of contempt as he left the room. Her head swam as she crawled to her bed and pulled herself to a standing position. She raised a hand to her bruised jaw, testing it gingerly. A salty taste filled her mouth,