delighted.”
She placed her hand on his arm. The feel of his strength under her fingers reminded her of how it felt to be wrapped in his embrace. Heat flushed into her cheeks and she kept her gaze resolutely fixed on the French doors ahead.
Neither of them spoke until they had gained the low balustrade at the edge of the terrace. Then she released his arm and turned to face him. Light spilling from the ballroom left half his face in shadow. It was difficult to tell if he were pleased to see her, or angry. Or both.
“So,” she said, her voice a touch unsteady. “You are not a stable-hand.”
“And you are not a maid—though I suspected as much upon our first meeting.”
“You did?” How mortifying, that her disguise had been so easy to see through. “What gave me away?”
“No country maid ever spoke so elegantly, for one thing. And it was rather a stretch to imagine such a lovely maid having no experience in the arts of love. Unless, of course, you came from a much more sheltered existence.”
“Yet you said nothing.” He had known, all along. A curious sense of relief washed through her.
“What could I say? You had your reasons for your charade. It was not my place to press you for them. And... I was selfish.”
She tilted her head. In the half-light she could just make out the rueful smile she’d seen before on his face.
“Selfish?”
“If I pretended you were not a lady of refinement, then I could continue meeting you.” One hand came up to cup her cheek. “I could kiss you, without restraint or consequence. I didn’t want to lose you, Anna.”
A thrill went through her. When he dropped his hand from her face, she took his fingers in hers.
“You let me think that you were simply a groom, in order to continue our acquaintance. But why were you so often at the Wildering’s?”
“Giles Wildering wanted to buy Windsor. I was not wholly in accord with the idea, so decided to keep an eye on matters.”
No doubt Giles had thought that such a big black horse would enhance his manliness. “I heard that you changed your mind about the purchase.”
“Almost immediately. You are the only reason I didn’t turn back with Windsor at once. When you were gone, there was no reason to linger.”
“Are you… angry with me?”
“Why?” His hand tightened around hers.
“I deceived you.”
He gave a quiet laugh. “Not very well.”
“I thought I would never see you again.” Her heart was sore with joy.
“Ah, Anna.”
He stepped forward, and somehow she was in his arms again. It felt like home.
“You won’t tell, will you?” she asked. “Anyone?”
“All your secrets are safe with me. I only ask one thing.”
“A kiss?” She pressed hopefully against him.
“A lifetime of kisses. Anna Harcourt, I won’t lose you again. Will you allow me to call upon you?”
Her battered heart was suddenly, gloriously, whole again. The happiness that had been missing now sparked through her entire body, leaving her breathless. Her spirit was light as air. Lighter.
“Yes, Jonathan. Oh, most certainly yes!”
He dipped his head then, and their lips met in a kiss full of promise and desire. Giddy with happiness, Anna held on to him. There was nothing but this perfect moment, stretching into the future.
The sweet night wind. The taste of her beloved. The brilliant, whirling stars.
###
Want to know more about Anthea? Visit anthealawson.com to discover her Rita-nominated Victorian Romances and more Spicy Regency short stories.
OTHER TITLES:
THE PIANO TUTOR – A Spicy Regency Short Story –
In this romantic Regency short story, widowed Lady Diana Waverly finds love and passion in the most unlikely of places when a new piano tutor arrives at her door.
"LOVED IT. A delightful and satisfying quickie read!" -Historical Romance Book Reviews
Buy at Amazon only .$.99!
PASSIONATE
Nominated for a Best First Book award, this Victorian-set historical takes the reader on a
She placed her hand on his arm. The feel of his strength under her fingers reminded her of how it felt to be wrapped in his embrace. Heat flushed into her cheeks and she kept her gaze resolutely fixed on the French doors ahead.
Neither of them spoke until they had gained the low balustrade at the edge of the terrace. Then she released his arm and turned to face him. Light spilling from the ballroom left half his face in shadow. It was difficult to tell if he were pleased to see her, or angry. Or both.
“So,” she said, her voice a touch unsteady. “You are not a stable-hand.”
“And you are not a maid—though I suspected as much upon our first meeting.”
“You did?” How mortifying, that her disguise had been so easy to see through. “What gave me away?”
“No country maid ever spoke so elegantly, for one thing. And it was rather a stretch to imagine such a lovely maid having no experience in the arts of love. Unless, of course, you came from a much more sheltered existence.”
“Yet you said nothing.” He had known, all along. A curious sense of relief washed through her.
“What could I say? You had your reasons for your charade. It was not my place to press you for them. And... I was selfish.”
She tilted her head. In the half-light she could just make out the rueful smile she’d seen before on his face.
“Selfish?”
“If I pretended you were not a lady of refinement, then I could continue meeting you.” One hand came up to cup her cheek. “I could kiss you, without restraint or consequence. I didn’t want to lose you, Anna.”
A thrill went through her. When he dropped his hand from her face, she took his fingers in hers.
“You let me think that you were simply a groom, in order to continue our acquaintance. But why were you so often at the Wildering’s?”
“Giles Wildering wanted to buy Windsor. I was not wholly in accord with the idea, so decided to keep an eye on matters.”
No doubt Giles had thought that such a big black horse would enhance his manliness. “I heard that you changed your mind about the purchase.”
“Almost immediately. You are the only reason I didn’t turn back with Windsor at once. When you were gone, there was no reason to linger.”
“Are you… angry with me?”
“Why?” His hand tightened around hers.
“I deceived you.”
He gave a quiet laugh. “Not very well.”
“I thought I would never see you again.” Her heart was sore with joy.
“Ah, Anna.”
He stepped forward, and somehow she was in his arms again. It felt like home.
“You won’t tell, will you?” she asked. “Anyone?”
“All your secrets are safe with me. I only ask one thing.”
“A kiss?” She pressed hopefully against him.
“A lifetime of kisses. Anna Harcourt, I won’t lose you again. Will you allow me to call upon you?”
Her battered heart was suddenly, gloriously, whole again. The happiness that had been missing now sparked through her entire body, leaving her breathless. Her spirit was light as air. Lighter.
“Yes, Jonathan. Oh, most certainly yes!”
He dipped his head then, and their lips met in a kiss full of promise and desire. Giddy with happiness, Anna held on to him. There was nothing but this perfect moment, stretching into the future.
The sweet night wind. The taste of her beloved. The brilliant, whirling stars.
###
Want to know more about Anthea? Visit anthealawson.com to discover her Rita-nominated Victorian Romances and more Spicy Regency short stories.
OTHER TITLES:
THE PIANO TUTOR – A Spicy Regency Short Story –
In this romantic Regency short story, widowed Lady Diana Waverly finds love and passion in the most unlikely of places when a new piano tutor arrives at her door.
"LOVED IT. A delightful and satisfying quickie read!" -Historical Romance Book Reviews
Buy at Amazon only .$.99!
PASSIONATE
Nominated for a Best First Book award, this Victorian-set historical takes the reader on a
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