babe.
“There is no need, as I am yours, Captain of my heart.” Alex framed his face and drew him to her, but he pulled up short when he spied tears in her blue eyes. “And I am so sorry I disappointed you. I offer you my solemn vow, as a lady, that I will never again keep secrets from you.”
“I believe you, love.” Comforting warmth soothed his nerves and his pride, as Jason nipped her nose. “And I owe you an apology, as I should not have been so cross.”
“Then I am truly forgiven?” she inquired in a small voice.
“It is blood under the bridge, sweetheart.” Jason peered at the stain manifesting the proof of his desire and the limits to which Lady Seymour had pushed him, and he had yet to bed her. Had he thought her dangerous? “Now I should ride into town and fetch our dinner.”
And perhaps the cool evening air would chill his other appetite, which had grown by epic proportions and had nothing to do with food.
#
Monday morning, Alex idled at the stoop, humming a frisky little ditty and tapping her foot in rhythm, and fixed her gaze on the end of the gravel drive, as she awaited Molly’s arrival with baited breath. How she wished she could share the truth of her situation, as Alex was bursting with joy.
The captain of her heart had departed for the shipyard, after she had cooked a delicious and substantial breakfast with nary a mishap. And to her inexpressible delight, her knight had lauded her efforts with a soul-stealing kiss that warmed her to her toes. At last, their troubles seemed behind them, and now she wished to celebrate another victory.
Given her extensive lessons on attracting the stronger but not so astute sex, and subsequent success with Jason, Alex envisioned all manner of possibilities for Molly’s future with Mr. Penniman. “Perhaps we should plan a double wedding?”
Closing the door, she assessed the cottage. After washing, drying, and stowing the dishes, Alex wiped the stove and table clean. Had she checked the barrel? When she noted the depleted supply, she dusted her hands and exited the house.
At the single stall stable, she collected the shoulder yoke and two buckets. In minutes, she pumped water from the well into the pails, attached them to the ropes, bent and shrugged into the yoke, and slowly returned to the cottage. It required an awkward use of her dancing skills to negotiate the front entry without spilling a drop, but she managed, much to her relief.
Once she had filled the barrel, Alex returned the yoke to the stable and then gathered wood. When she opened the door, she discovered the charwoman standing in the great room.
“Molly, I am so glad you have, at last, arrived.” Alex stacked the logs beside the hearth. “Do tell, how did it go with your beau?”
“I never should have burdened you with my troubles.” The cook-maid doffed her coat, bonnet, gloves, and boots and stored them by the front door. “And Cap’n does not pay me to engage in gossip.”
“My dear friend, are you all right?” As Molly turned, Alex gasped. “Oh, no. What happened?”
“Nothing of consequence.” She shrugged. “And I should complete my chores for the day.”
“Molly, I know well the face you sport, as I have spent the past month behind a similar expression, so I recognize the signs of disappointment and heartbreak.” Trepidation traipsed her spine, as Alex escorted the charwoman to the table and pulled out a chair. “Sit, and spare no detail, as I should make a pot of tea.”
“But my work—”
“—Can wait.” Alex lit the stove, poured water into the kettle and set it on the range, and then scooped two spoons of tealeaves into the chipped porcelain teapot. “Did your Mr. Penniman visit you on Sunday?”
Molly nodded once.
“Did you follow my advice, to the letter?” Alex resituated the empty chair so she could perch beside her friend. “And did you wear the gown I gave
“There is no need, as I am yours, Captain of my heart.” Alex framed his face and drew him to her, but he pulled up short when he spied tears in her blue eyes. “And I am so sorry I disappointed you. I offer you my solemn vow, as a lady, that I will never again keep secrets from you.”
“I believe you, love.” Comforting warmth soothed his nerves and his pride, as Jason nipped her nose. “And I owe you an apology, as I should not have been so cross.”
“Then I am truly forgiven?” she inquired in a small voice.
“It is blood under the bridge, sweetheart.” Jason peered at the stain manifesting the proof of his desire and the limits to which Lady Seymour had pushed him, and he had yet to bed her. Had he thought her dangerous? “Now I should ride into town and fetch our dinner.”
And perhaps the cool evening air would chill his other appetite, which had grown by epic proportions and had nothing to do with food.
#
Monday morning, Alex idled at the stoop, humming a frisky little ditty and tapping her foot in rhythm, and fixed her gaze on the end of the gravel drive, as she awaited Molly’s arrival with baited breath. How she wished she could share the truth of her situation, as Alex was bursting with joy.
The captain of her heart had departed for the shipyard, after she had cooked a delicious and substantial breakfast with nary a mishap. And to her inexpressible delight, her knight had lauded her efforts with a soul-stealing kiss that warmed her to her toes. At last, their troubles seemed behind them, and now she wished to celebrate another victory.
Given her extensive lessons on attracting the stronger but not so astute sex, and subsequent success with Jason, Alex envisioned all manner of possibilities for Molly’s future with Mr. Penniman. “Perhaps we should plan a double wedding?”
Closing the door, she assessed the cottage. After washing, drying, and stowing the dishes, Alex wiped the stove and table clean. Had she checked the barrel? When she noted the depleted supply, she dusted her hands and exited the house.
At the single stall stable, she collected the shoulder yoke and two buckets. In minutes, she pumped water from the well into the pails, attached them to the ropes, bent and shrugged into the yoke, and slowly returned to the cottage. It required an awkward use of her dancing skills to negotiate the front entry without spilling a drop, but she managed, much to her relief.
Once she had filled the barrel, Alex returned the yoke to the stable and then gathered wood. When she opened the door, she discovered the charwoman standing in the great room.
“Molly, I am so glad you have, at last, arrived.” Alex stacked the logs beside the hearth. “Do tell, how did it go with your beau?”
“I never should have burdened you with my troubles.” The cook-maid doffed her coat, bonnet, gloves, and boots and stored them by the front door. “And Cap’n does not pay me to engage in gossip.”
“My dear friend, are you all right?” As Molly turned, Alex gasped. “Oh, no. What happened?”
“Nothing of consequence.” She shrugged. “And I should complete my chores for the day.”
“Molly, I know well the face you sport, as I have spent the past month behind a similar expression, so I recognize the signs of disappointment and heartbreak.” Trepidation traipsed her spine, as Alex escorted the charwoman to the table and pulled out a chair. “Sit, and spare no detail, as I should make a pot of tea.”
“But my work—”
“—Can wait.” Alex lit the stove, poured water into the kettle and set it on the range, and then scooped two spoons of tealeaves into the chipped porcelain teapot. “Did your Mr. Penniman visit you on Sunday?”
Molly nodded once.
“Did you follow my advice, to the letter?” Alex resituated the empty chair so she could perch beside her friend. “And did you wear the gown I gave
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