title: A Night in the Palace
author:  Carole Mortimer 
description: Carole Mortimer was born in England, the youngest of three children. She began writing in 1978, and has now written over one hundred and seventy books for Harlequin Mills and Boon. Carole has six sons, Matthew, Joshua, Timothy, Michael, David and Peter. She says, Im happily married to Peter senior; were best friends as well as lovers, which is probably the best recipe for a successful relationship. We live in a lovely part of England.
zlib_text: ![](Images/image00176.jpeg)
  
  **AN IMPROPER VISIT**
  
  “I wish I could remove my stockings,” she murmured. “But even this feels
  heavenly.”
  
  Quint swallowed hard and crossed his arms over his chest. The image of her
  sliding stockings down her bare legs was too erotic to dwell on—not if he
  didn’t want an obvious erection frightening her. “I am not surprised.
  Traipsing through the mews of Mayfair is exhausting business.”
  
  “Indeed it is,” she returned cheerfully.
  
  “Why have you returned, Sophie?”
  
  She stared at her toes, moving them back and forth, hesitating. He sensed she
  was attempting to fabricate a reason because she didn’t want to tell him the
  real one.
  
  “The truth,” he said.
  
  “It seemed a nice night for a stroll. You are generally up late, so I thought
  I’d see if you were still awake.”
  
  He snorted. No lady strolled by herself in the middle of the night. “You are
  aware I live alone. That this is a bachelor’s residence?”
  
  “Should I be worried? Are you planning to chain me to your bed and