kiss her again.
Instead, he said meditatively, “Being introduced to you in a parlor was so mundane and inappropriate. There you stood, looking like a goddess come to earth to give mankind a glimpse of higher things. I could scarcely believe you were real.”
“It was like that for me, too. As soon as I saw you, I knew.” She snuggled closer in his arms, knowing that if he didn’t make an offer soon, she was going to commit the incredible faux pas of proposing to him instead. The moment seemed too wonderful to be real, yet his embrace was reassuringly solid.
“Antonia, I realize that we have known each other only a few days, but I want you to be my wife.’’ He hesitated. “It may be too soon to speak, but—is there any hope for me?”
It was the declaration she had waited to hear all her life. Her tone unsteady, Antonia replied, “It isn’t too soon, Simon. Nothing could give me greater happiness than to wed you.” Then the bubbling excitement rose in her and she laughed from pure joy. “And the sooner the better!”
* * * *
The excursion was pleasant. Judith had needed silks for her embroidery, so Adam drove her into Buxton, the nearby spa town that an earlier Duke of Devonshire had tried to build into a resort as fashionable as Bath.
Though the town had failed to reach such heights, it was attractive and prosperous. The Crescent that Devonshire had built was every bit as fine as anything in Bath. Adam had accompanied her to the draper’s, then they had taken a nuncheon at an inn.
They had been together almost constantly for the last week, and Judith had never been happier. After the scene in the garden when Adam had revealed so much of himself, a feeling of closeness developed between them very quickly.
To Judith’s perceptive eye, he seemed happier now that he had given up his hopes about Antonia. Certainly he had become a charming and attentive companion to Judith. She liked his easy disposition and the gentleness that accompanied his great strength, and the warmth in his eyes kindled a glow of response within her.
In her years with Antonia, there had occasionally been men who showed interest in the quiet companion, but none who made much effort to draw her out. Adam did.
When they arrived back at Thornleigh, Adam was recounting a hilarious tale of a trading voyage when an Indian boy had talked him into accepting a monkey for barter, and what had happened when the monkey got into the liquor closet. She was laughing as they entered the foyer of the manor house to find Antonia and Simon.
The other couple had obviously just come in, and they stood at the foot of the stairs, staring at each other as Antonia’s hand lay on Lord Launceston’s arm. Feeling an intruder, Judith stopped in embarrassment, her retreat blocked by Adam, who was close behind her.
Antonia turned at the sound of footsteps and smiled radiantly. Her bright hair blazed in the sunbeams like red-gold fire, and she had never looked more beautiful. “We have wonderful news. Will you wish us happy?”
It had been inevitable from the first moment Antonia and Simon had met. There was no reason for Judith to feel such a sense of loss. She shot a sidelong glance at Adam, who had come up beside her. She sensed him bracing himself as he absorbed the blow.
Then he stepped forward with an answering smile as his exhilarated cousin threw herself into his arms. “Of course I wish you happy. Tony.” His powerful arms caught her up in a hug that lifted her from the floor.
As he set her back on her feet. Lord Launceston said to Adam, “As her ladyship’s honorary brother, perhaps I should have asked your permission to pay my addresses.”
Adam laughed and offered his hand. “Nonsense. For what it’s worth, I approve, but Tony is her own mistress and always does exactly what she wants anyhow. It would take a stronger man than I to persuade her from a course she is set on.”
Judith was proud of Adam’s control. Surely there
Instead, he said meditatively, “Being introduced to you in a parlor was so mundane and inappropriate. There you stood, looking like a goddess come to earth to give mankind a glimpse of higher things. I could scarcely believe you were real.”
“It was like that for me, too. As soon as I saw you, I knew.” She snuggled closer in his arms, knowing that if he didn’t make an offer soon, she was going to commit the incredible faux pas of proposing to him instead. The moment seemed too wonderful to be real, yet his embrace was reassuringly solid.
“Antonia, I realize that we have known each other only a few days, but I want you to be my wife.’’ He hesitated. “It may be too soon to speak, but—is there any hope for me?”
It was the declaration she had waited to hear all her life. Her tone unsteady, Antonia replied, “It isn’t too soon, Simon. Nothing could give me greater happiness than to wed you.” Then the bubbling excitement rose in her and she laughed from pure joy. “And the sooner the better!”
* * * *
The excursion was pleasant. Judith had needed silks for her embroidery, so Adam drove her into Buxton, the nearby spa town that an earlier Duke of Devonshire had tried to build into a resort as fashionable as Bath.
Though the town had failed to reach such heights, it was attractive and prosperous. The Crescent that Devonshire had built was every bit as fine as anything in Bath. Adam had accompanied her to the draper’s, then they had taken a nuncheon at an inn.
They had been together almost constantly for the last week, and Judith had never been happier. After the scene in the garden when Adam had revealed so much of himself, a feeling of closeness developed between them very quickly.
To Judith’s perceptive eye, he seemed happier now that he had given up his hopes about Antonia. Certainly he had become a charming and attentive companion to Judith. She liked his easy disposition and the gentleness that accompanied his great strength, and the warmth in his eyes kindled a glow of response within her.
In her years with Antonia, there had occasionally been men who showed interest in the quiet companion, but none who made much effort to draw her out. Adam did.
When they arrived back at Thornleigh, Adam was recounting a hilarious tale of a trading voyage when an Indian boy had talked him into accepting a monkey for barter, and what had happened when the monkey got into the liquor closet. She was laughing as they entered the foyer of the manor house to find Antonia and Simon.
The other couple had obviously just come in, and they stood at the foot of the stairs, staring at each other as Antonia’s hand lay on Lord Launceston’s arm. Feeling an intruder, Judith stopped in embarrassment, her retreat blocked by Adam, who was close behind her.
Antonia turned at the sound of footsteps and smiled radiantly. Her bright hair blazed in the sunbeams like red-gold fire, and she had never looked more beautiful. “We have wonderful news. Will you wish us happy?”
It had been inevitable from the first moment Antonia and Simon had met. There was no reason for Judith to feel such a sense of loss. She shot a sidelong glance at Adam, who had come up beside her. She sensed him bracing himself as he absorbed the blow.
Then he stepped forward with an answering smile as his exhilarated cousin threw herself into his arms. “Of course I wish you happy. Tony.” His powerful arms caught her up in a hug that lifted her from the floor.
As he set her back on her feet. Lord Launceston said to Adam, “As her ladyship’s honorary brother, perhaps I should have asked your permission to pay my addresses.”
Adam laughed and offered his hand. “Nonsense. For what it’s worth, I approve, but Tony is her own mistress and always does exactly what she wants anyhow. It would take a stronger man than I to persuade her from a course she is set on.”
Judith was proud of Adam’s control. Surely there
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