and refuse them, and then he would be free to take his leave and his lust with him.
Sir John noticed the young man’s hesitation. “Go, the pair of you! Otherwise, you shall miss it all together, and I shall probably never hear the last of it from young Miss Austin here. Be gone with you!” he waved his hand at them.
Moments later, they sat upon the grass ledge in the garden, letting their legs dangle over the small stone wall that dropped to the willowy grass field below. They were just in time to see the orange and red ball of fire come over the tops of the trees, casting its illuminating colour over the landscape. The long grass rippled like a red river in the light of the new day and the trees became silhouettes of giant creatures with twisted arms against the colourful sky. The birds called out in harmony, welcoming the start of a new day and the air was filled with small flying insects awakening from their sleep. The air held a cool dampness and a fine mist spread out like a blanket, yet to be warmed by the sun.
Mesmerised by the way the colours glowed and changed on her pale skin, Thomas could not take his eyes off Maria; his body was pulsing in all sorts of strange ways as he drank in the sight of her. It had been too long; he had missed the company of his dearest friend during the past six years. How he had missed their sunsets, which had never been quite the same since she left. This was to be their first ever sunrise together and he wanted it to be as magical for her as it was for him, as he watched the flickering change of emotions that crossed her face.
“Is it not beautiful?” she said, letting out a deep sigh.
“Yes, it is truly beautiful,” he replied, his gaze never moving from her.
* * * * *
Later, she sat at the dark wood dressing table, looking dreamily at her image. Oh how great she felt—happier than she had been in such a long time. Although she danced for the better part of the evening, she was surprised to feel tired, for she did not know if one was supposed to feel tired in a dream. Could it be something that the mind conjured up to keep in step with reality? She didn’t want to close her eyes for fear that she would wake up. Tom was the most amiable man she had ever met; he teased her and made her laugh. His beautiful eyes had held a distant longing in their depths and it stirred a deep emotion within her that she had not felt in a long time; her heart fluttered at the thought of seeing him again. Oh how she could lose herself completely in the strong arms of this man! She was drawn to him, his warmth enticing her to get closer.
Tonight had been everything that she had ever dreamed of—a magical fairytale, a beautiful memory to tuck away in her mind for her to withdraw anytime she wanted and re-live it time and time again. Tom had been everything she would have picked in a man had she been in the real world—strong, handsome, and good-humoured. Yes, he was her fairytale prince and, even if for just one night, she had been his princess. To wake now to reality was going to be a shock to the system and she was already willing herself to continue with this story the next time she closed her eyes and slept.
She sighed contentedly, no longer full of frustration, but energised by real, honest to god joy. Although she had never believed when people talked about love at first sight, she knew that, if she closed her eyes, she would see his face. She smiled as she recalled the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he did that now familiar crooked smile, the sparkle of genuine adoration in his eyes when he looked at her, the way a stray lock of blond hair couldn’t be tamed and fell against his brow. Yes, it seemed that love at first sight really existed. Had she unwillingly been swept into that dream void and fallen in love with him?
That was just her luck, to pick a fantasy man over a real flesh and blood one. How was she ever going to resume her real life now that her mind wanted to
Sir John noticed the young man’s hesitation. “Go, the pair of you! Otherwise, you shall miss it all together, and I shall probably never hear the last of it from young Miss Austin here. Be gone with you!” he waved his hand at them.
Moments later, they sat upon the grass ledge in the garden, letting their legs dangle over the small stone wall that dropped to the willowy grass field below. They were just in time to see the orange and red ball of fire come over the tops of the trees, casting its illuminating colour over the landscape. The long grass rippled like a red river in the light of the new day and the trees became silhouettes of giant creatures with twisted arms against the colourful sky. The birds called out in harmony, welcoming the start of a new day and the air was filled with small flying insects awakening from their sleep. The air held a cool dampness and a fine mist spread out like a blanket, yet to be warmed by the sun.
Mesmerised by the way the colours glowed and changed on her pale skin, Thomas could not take his eyes off Maria; his body was pulsing in all sorts of strange ways as he drank in the sight of her. It had been too long; he had missed the company of his dearest friend during the past six years. How he had missed their sunsets, which had never been quite the same since she left. This was to be their first ever sunrise together and he wanted it to be as magical for her as it was for him, as he watched the flickering change of emotions that crossed her face.
“Is it not beautiful?” she said, letting out a deep sigh.
“Yes, it is truly beautiful,” he replied, his gaze never moving from her.
* * * * *
Later, she sat at the dark wood dressing table, looking dreamily at her image. Oh how great she felt—happier than she had been in such a long time. Although she danced for the better part of the evening, she was surprised to feel tired, for she did not know if one was supposed to feel tired in a dream. Could it be something that the mind conjured up to keep in step with reality? She didn’t want to close her eyes for fear that she would wake up. Tom was the most amiable man she had ever met; he teased her and made her laugh. His beautiful eyes had held a distant longing in their depths and it stirred a deep emotion within her that she had not felt in a long time; her heart fluttered at the thought of seeing him again. Oh how she could lose herself completely in the strong arms of this man! She was drawn to him, his warmth enticing her to get closer.
Tonight had been everything that she had ever dreamed of—a magical fairytale, a beautiful memory to tuck away in her mind for her to withdraw anytime she wanted and re-live it time and time again. Tom had been everything she would have picked in a man had she been in the real world—strong, handsome, and good-humoured. Yes, he was her fairytale prince and, even if for just one night, she had been his princess. To wake now to reality was going to be a shock to the system and she was already willing herself to continue with this story the next time she closed her eyes and slept.
She sighed contentedly, no longer full of frustration, but energised by real, honest to god joy. Although she had never believed when people talked about love at first sight, she knew that, if she closed her eyes, she would see his face. She smiled as she recalled the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he did that now familiar crooked smile, the sparkle of genuine adoration in his eyes when he looked at her, the way a stray lock of blond hair couldn’t be tamed and fell against his brow. Yes, it seemed that love at first sight really existed. Had she unwillingly been swept into that dream void and fallen in love with him?
That was just her luck, to pick a fantasy man over a real flesh and blood one. How was she ever going to resume her real life now that her mind wanted to
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