astonishment.
He gave her a rueful smile and raised his brows.
Finding her voice, Jane said, “Did you, Mr. Augustine, commit to memory my entire book?”
Still smiling at her, he said, “I do believe I told you yesterday how very much I enjoyed and admired your book. That I have committed to memory several of my favorite lines should not be a surprise to you.”
“I must confess I am stunned.”
“Are you stunned enough to promise me that ride tomorrow?”
Jane looked down and muttered, “Considering what an admirer of my work you are I dare not deny you.” She slowly raised her eyes to his and held his gaze.
This time Gabriel was certain the double meaning was intentional.
Chapter 6
Safely ensconced in her bedchamber later that night, Jane collapsed on the bed. The dinner, while less glamorous than the previous night, was still more elegant than she was accustomed to, and the banter at the table was just as lively and vaguely disconcerting as the afternoon visit had been. Her only relief during the evening had been that she was not seated next to Gabriel. In fact, she was almost as far from him as she could be at the table of nine guests. Yet somehow he had managed to orchestrate the table conversation in such a way that much of it had been centered around the two of them. Each time she attempted to start a more private conversation with her seat partner, Gabriel would interrupt it, making his comments in such a way that everyone had to direct their attention to him. Throughout the dinner Jane saw expressions on Lady Dartfourd’s face that signaled her irritation with her brother’s atrocious manners.
Laying on the bed, watching the play of the candlelight on the ceiling above her, Jane let out a long, slow breath. Gabriel Augustine. Insufferable man. Charming man.
She recalled his smile, directed at her and no one else at the table. Eyes half-closed, he admired her as a lover might. Jane shivered at the memory. She felt something tighten in her abdomen as she brought to mind his eyes on her. Closing her eyes, she remembered the morning in the copse, and gently ran a finger over her lips.
Sitting up abruptly, Jane said, “Jane Austen, you silly woman. Mr. Gabriel Augustine is playing with you as a fisherman might play with a trout on the line. He has no interest in an old spinster. Stop this foolishness now.”
She blew out her breath, got up, and started to undress for bed. The sooner she was asleep and safe from thoughts of Gabriel Augustine, the better.
While Jane was in her room considering her evening, Gabriel was determining how best to quench his thirst. He walked around the gardens near the house, pondering his options. While last night’s kitchen maid had not yet been found, he thought it best not to go back to that well quite so soon. He also decided against any of the house servants. Finding someone in the village was a possibility, though doing so carried with it some risk. He could ride over to his own house and drink from one of his servants. Of course Francis would be there which could complicate that particular option.
Without making a firm decision he mounted Greystone and set off in the direction of Herrifield Court. Earlier he had come to one important decision in regards to his meal. He would not let it include anything sexual. First, to enjoy satisfying that appetite required taking more risks of discovery. Second, it felt wrong after spending a day with the lovely Miss Austen. Being around such purity all day made his carnal lusts seem depraved. No, he would limit himself to the most demanding appetite.
When he found himself outside his house he looked up at the ancient building and sighed. Home. It had been months since his last visit. Since before his change.
The risk of being there was not a wise one to take, but now that he was there Gabriel knew he would have to find sustenance within the estate. His hunger was guiding all his actions now, leaving him with no choices. He
He gave her a rueful smile and raised his brows.
Finding her voice, Jane said, “Did you, Mr. Augustine, commit to memory my entire book?”
Still smiling at her, he said, “I do believe I told you yesterday how very much I enjoyed and admired your book. That I have committed to memory several of my favorite lines should not be a surprise to you.”
“I must confess I am stunned.”
“Are you stunned enough to promise me that ride tomorrow?”
Jane looked down and muttered, “Considering what an admirer of my work you are I dare not deny you.” She slowly raised her eyes to his and held his gaze.
This time Gabriel was certain the double meaning was intentional.
Chapter 6
Safely ensconced in her bedchamber later that night, Jane collapsed on the bed. The dinner, while less glamorous than the previous night, was still more elegant than she was accustomed to, and the banter at the table was just as lively and vaguely disconcerting as the afternoon visit had been. Her only relief during the evening had been that she was not seated next to Gabriel. In fact, she was almost as far from him as she could be at the table of nine guests. Yet somehow he had managed to orchestrate the table conversation in such a way that much of it had been centered around the two of them. Each time she attempted to start a more private conversation with her seat partner, Gabriel would interrupt it, making his comments in such a way that everyone had to direct their attention to him. Throughout the dinner Jane saw expressions on Lady Dartfourd’s face that signaled her irritation with her brother’s atrocious manners.
Laying on the bed, watching the play of the candlelight on the ceiling above her, Jane let out a long, slow breath. Gabriel Augustine. Insufferable man. Charming man.
She recalled his smile, directed at her and no one else at the table. Eyes half-closed, he admired her as a lover might. Jane shivered at the memory. She felt something tighten in her abdomen as she brought to mind his eyes on her. Closing her eyes, she remembered the morning in the copse, and gently ran a finger over her lips.
Sitting up abruptly, Jane said, “Jane Austen, you silly woman. Mr. Gabriel Augustine is playing with you as a fisherman might play with a trout on the line. He has no interest in an old spinster. Stop this foolishness now.”
She blew out her breath, got up, and started to undress for bed. The sooner she was asleep and safe from thoughts of Gabriel Augustine, the better.
While Jane was in her room considering her evening, Gabriel was determining how best to quench his thirst. He walked around the gardens near the house, pondering his options. While last night’s kitchen maid had not yet been found, he thought it best not to go back to that well quite so soon. He also decided against any of the house servants. Finding someone in the village was a possibility, though doing so carried with it some risk. He could ride over to his own house and drink from one of his servants. Of course Francis would be there which could complicate that particular option.
Without making a firm decision he mounted Greystone and set off in the direction of Herrifield Court. Earlier he had come to one important decision in regards to his meal. He would not let it include anything sexual. First, to enjoy satisfying that appetite required taking more risks of discovery. Second, it felt wrong after spending a day with the lovely Miss Austen. Being around such purity all day made his carnal lusts seem depraved. No, he would limit himself to the most demanding appetite.
When he found himself outside his house he looked up at the ancient building and sighed. Home. It had been months since his last visit. Since before his change.
The risk of being there was not a wise one to take, but now that he was there Gabriel knew he would have to find sustenance within the estate. His hunger was guiding all his actions now, leaving him with no choices. He
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