Daddy. I didn't know you had company." She gave Declan a small smile, the corners of her perfect lips turning up, her violet eyes sparkling. "Why, you must think I have terrible manners, to come bursting in on you two this way."
Even now, late in the evening, in the comfort of her own home, she was flawlessly dressed. Her pale green gown was delicate and feminine, unwrinkled and of the finest, most expensive fabric. Her earrings were tasteful pearls. Not a hair was out of place. Her slender neck was graceful, achingly delicate. And oh, what a face.
"Mr. Harper, I don't believe you've met my daughter, Vanessa," Arrington said with apparent pride.
Declan took Vanessa's hand, bending forward in a curt bow as any fine gentleman would do. Her fingers were long and slender, her flesh creamy smooth. Declan was almost afraid to touch her, she was so very fragile. His lips barely brushed her knuckles. "I have seen Miss Arrington about town, but have never had the pleasure of being properly introduced."
Her father did the honors, introducing them formally. Vanessa gave a small curtsy and a shy smile, and Declan couldn't help but notice, as her foot slipped momentarily from beneath a full skirt, that her shoes matched her gown perfectly. He had the urge to steal one of those pale green slippers and hide it under his bed.
"Oh, Daddy," Vanessa said, lowering her voice as she turned away from Declan and went to her father. "Henry Langford asked me to marry him again. I tried to let him down easy, but I'm afraid he didn't take it well this time. If he comes around, do tell him I'm indisposed and very gently send him away."
"Of course, dear," Arrington promised.
She turned with the grace of a dancer and smiled at Declan. "I'll leave you gentlemen alone," she said softly, her Southern accent refined and honey-sweet. "I won't bore Mr. Harper with my tales of relentless suitors and periwinkle hats."
As Vanessa Arrington left the room, her head high, her face pleasantly set in a serene smile, Declan redoubled his resolve to have her.
In two days he'd have Matilda's love potion. In three days he'd use it.
Chapter 5
Matilda smiled as she placed the stoppered vial on the table before an anxious Declan Harper. A greenish-brown coarse powder with flecks of red caught the candlelight, making the filled vial quite pretty. Even though she did not approve of his plan, she was proud that she'd managed to concoct exactly what he'd been looking for.
"What is it?" Declan whispered from his seat on the opposite side of the table.
"A few common herbs in the right proportions, with just a touch of ground bitter cherries."
He picked up the vial and studied it skeptically. "How can I be certain it will work?"
"You can't be certain, not until you try it," Matilda said, her smile fading.
"How much should I use? How should it be... administered?" He lifted dark, questioning eyes to her.
"A pinch should be enough," Matilda said. "You can sprinkle it on her food or drop it into her drink."
"How long after she takes the potion will it take effect?"
"I'm not sure," Matilda said, faltering slightly. "I would think... minutes rather than hours."
A suspicious man, Declan removed the cork and sniffed at the contents. "This won't hurt her, will it? Vanessa is a delicate lady. Fragile. How can I be sure there's nothing dangerous in here?"
Matilda sighed, losing her patience with the man. She'd made him exactly what he'd asked for, and all he did was sit there and frown and ask insolent questions.
"Won't you take my word on it?" she asked, more than a little insulted.
"Why should I?" he countered brusquely. "You've never done this before."
No one had ever accused her of incompetence! They called her a witch, they occasionally shunned her in public, but at least they had the decency to respect her skills. "Take it yourself, Mr. Harper," she suggested in a lowered voice. "Surely you won't mind risking your own skin in order to safeguard
Even now, late in the evening, in the comfort of her own home, she was flawlessly dressed. Her pale green gown was delicate and feminine, unwrinkled and of the finest, most expensive fabric. Her earrings were tasteful pearls. Not a hair was out of place. Her slender neck was graceful, achingly delicate. And oh, what a face.
"Mr. Harper, I don't believe you've met my daughter, Vanessa," Arrington said with apparent pride.
Declan took Vanessa's hand, bending forward in a curt bow as any fine gentleman would do. Her fingers were long and slender, her flesh creamy smooth. Declan was almost afraid to touch her, she was so very fragile. His lips barely brushed her knuckles. "I have seen Miss Arrington about town, but have never had the pleasure of being properly introduced."
Her father did the honors, introducing them formally. Vanessa gave a small curtsy and a shy smile, and Declan couldn't help but notice, as her foot slipped momentarily from beneath a full skirt, that her shoes matched her gown perfectly. He had the urge to steal one of those pale green slippers and hide it under his bed.
"Oh, Daddy," Vanessa said, lowering her voice as she turned away from Declan and went to her father. "Henry Langford asked me to marry him again. I tried to let him down easy, but I'm afraid he didn't take it well this time. If he comes around, do tell him I'm indisposed and very gently send him away."
"Of course, dear," Arrington promised.
She turned with the grace of a dancer and smiled at Declan. "I'll leave you gentlemen alone," she said softly, her Southern accent refined and honey-sweet. "I won't bore Mr. Harper with my tales of relentless suitors and periwinkle hats."
As Vanessa Arrington left the room, her head high, her face pleasantly set in a serene smile, Declan redoubled his resolve to have her.
In two days he'd have Matilda's love potion. In three days he'd use it.
Chapter 5
Matilda smiled as she placed the stoppered vial on the table before an anxious Declan Harper. A greenish-brown coarse powder with flecks of red caught the candlelight, making the filled vial quite pretty. Even though she did not approve of his plan, she was proud that she'd managed to concoct exactly what he'd been looking for.
"What is it?" Declan whispered from his seat on the opposite side of the table.
"A few common herbs in the right proportions, with just a touch of ground bitter cherries."
He picked up the vial and studied it skeptically. "How can I be certain it will work?"
"You can't be certain, not until you try it," Matilda said, her smile fading.
"How much should I use? How should it be... administered?" He lifted dark, questioning eyes to her.
"A pinch should be enough," Matilda said. "You can sprinkle it on her food or drop it into her drink."
"How long after she takes the potion will it take effect?"
"I'm not sure," Matilda said, faltering slightly. "I would think... minutes rather than hours."
A suspicious man, Declan removed the cork and sniffed at the contents. "This won't hurt her, will it? Vanessa is a delicate lady. Fragile. How can I be sure there's nothing dangerous in here?"
Matilda sighed, losing her patience with the man. She'd made him exactly what he'd asked for, and all he did was sit there and frown and ask insolent questions.
"Won't you take my word on it?" she asked, more than a little insulted.
"Why should I?" he countered brusquely. "You've never done this before."
No one had ever accused her of incompetence! They called her a witch, they occasionally shunned her in public, but at least they had the decency to respect her skills. "Take it yourself, Mr. Harper," she suggested in a lowered voice. "Surely you won't mind risking your own skin in order to safeguard
Similar Books
