But when Win returns years later, Merripen is paralyzed with fear.

But Winnifred leaves for France, and Merripen takes on the rebuilding of the Hathaway estate after a fire. Merripen can do nothing but remain with the family and help out as he can, repairing things and taking care of the house until scarlet fever attacks Winnifred, and Merripen is scared his heart will die if anything happens to her. When she combed his hair and cut it, he could barely breathe for the ecstasy running through his veins. Just listening to her talk made him feel as if he was home. He was ready to sneak out as soon as he could.until he met the love of his life, the Hathaway daughter Winnifred. Taken in near death by the Hathaway family, he had no idea why they would bother with a Gypsy like himself.

He slept on straw, ate what he could steal, and lived a wretched life until left for dead on the ground by his uncle and his Romany tribe. Trained to be a fighter in street fairs, Merripen beat up other people for sport and money, and if he didn't perform well, his uncle beat him again. Merripen had a childhood with his Romany family and his uncle that has scarred him for life. Three years later Winnifred is back, ready to claim Merripen for her own, no matter what roadblocks he puts in the way. Winnifred longs to be the energetic type of woman Merripen needs, able to live and love as he deserves, so three years away from home will make it all worthwhile someday. The family decides to send her to a clinic in France to recover. Winnifred survives, but is left faint, light headed, and frail. He even has some medicine that he will use if Winnifred should die, no way will he be able to live without her. Merripen devotes himself to seeing to her every need during the days of fever and illness. Laura dies, Leo survives, but Winnifred is close to death. Until Leo's girlfriend Laura, Leo, and Winnifred contract scarlet fever. For young Winnifred, Merripen was her true love, and nothing could change that for her. Then a half dead Romany, or Gypsy boy, Merripen, was rescued by her father and came to live with them. Winnifred had a happy family life with her mother and father, sisters Amelia, Poppy, and Beatrix and brother Leo. Kev Merripen and Winnifred Hathaway have a history together that goes back over twelve years.

Seduce me at sunrise by lisa kleypas