“Good day to you, Edith. I’ll return soon.” She stepped out of the dark cottage and shaded her eyes from the afternoon sun.
And sighed again.
Sarah leaned back against Lord Trisbane, the warmth of the sun obviously making her tired. He adjusted his arm to make her more comfortable and smiled down at her when she looked up at him with a sleepy smile.
With more patience than she would’ve expected, he spoke to Edmund again. “Straighten your arm. That’s it. Now turn sideways so you make less of a target. Don’t hold it so tight. Handle the weapon as though it’s part of you.”
For a man with no plans to have a family of his own, he had a way with children. Seeing him like this made her long for far more from him than a brief kiss. His black hair glinted in the sunlight. His expression was warm and relaxed, as though he were truly enjoying the moment.
He glanced up and caught her staring, much to her dismay. “Are you finished?”
“Aye.”
He rose, picking up Sarah as he stood. He gave her a little tickle under her chin before setting her down. “Well done, Edmund. You have a fine sword arm already. Keep practicing.”
The boy smiled shyly, gave a quick bow, and ran off to do battle with a nearby tree.
“And good day to you, Lady Sarah.” He bowed low, making the girl burst into giggles.
“How do you know just the right thing to say?” Elizabeth asked. “They adore you.”
He shrugged and moved toward her with a wicked smile. “I have a way with ladies.”
She laughed, for his words held more truth than he knew.
He stepped closer, smelling of sunshine, fresh and clean. His blue tunic was several shades darker than his eyes and made his chest appear even broader.
Elizabeth forgot to breathe as he lifted her hand and tucked it beneath his elbow. He drew her forward, setting a leisurely pace through the village.
She longed to jerk her hand away from him, to step back and clear her head. Breathing might be difficult when she was this close to him, but thinking was impossible.
He looked down and smiled at her, his mouth directly in her line of vision. Oh, those lips. How she wished she could lift her face to his and capture them. She didn’t want the memory of her first kiss to be the tentative brush of lips they’d shared the previous night. She wasn’t a young girl, she was a woman grown.
Grown women deserved real kisses. Didn’t they?
Edith was right.
Some moments were meant to be seized.
Before she could think through her impulse, she drew to a stop as they reached the back of a cottage, well protected from anyone’s view.
“I wondered – that is to say – do you suppose you could...” Oh, heavens, what was she thinking? What if he rejected her? What if he didn’t? Her mind tumbled. Never before had she met a man who made her willing to take such a risk.
“What is it?” He stood beside her, his gaze searching hers, her hand still encompassed within his warm one.
“Would you consider granting me a small favor?” She bowed her head, needing a respite from those eyes so she could think of how to form her question. A deep breath did little to ease her nerves. She glanced around to make certain this secluded spot held no witnesses for her desperate behavior.
His fingers curled around her chin and lifted her face. “What is it?” His expression held concern and gentleness.
Her gaze fell to his full, sculpted lips. “Would you please...kiss me?”
He jerked back, obviously surprised. “Well.” His gaze dropped to her lips before darting back to her eyes. “I’m not...I don’t think that would be wise.”
“Please?” She had nothing to lose. On the morrow, he’d be far from Amberley, never to be seen again. They stood in a sheltered spot. What harm could there be?
He moved closer, his blue gaze heating, creating an answering warmth in her. He bent his head toward hers, his intense focus stealing all her thoughts except one.
Kiss me.
Had she said it aloud or only
And sighed again.
Sarah leaned back against Lord Trisbane, the warmth of the sun obviously making her tired. He adjusted his arm to make her more comfortable and smiled down at her when she looked up at him with a sleepy smile.
With more patience than she would’ve expected, he spoke to Edmund again. “Straighten your arm. That’s it. Now turn sideways so you make less of a target. Don’t hold it so tight. Handle the weapon as though it’s part of you.”
For a man with no plans to have a family of his own, he had a way with children. Seeing him like this made her long for far more from him than a brief kiss. His black hair glinted in the sunlight. His expression was warm and relaxed, as though he were truly enjoying the moment.
He glanced up and caught her staring, much to her dismay. “Are you finished?”
“Aye.”
He rose, picking up Sarah as he stood. He gave her a little tickle under her chin before setting her down. “Well done, Edmund. You have a fine sword arm already. Keep practicing.”
The boy smiled shyly, gave a quick bow, and ran off to do battle with a nearby tree.
“And good day to you, Lady Sarah.” He bowed low, making the girl burst into giggles.
“How do you know just the right thing to say?” Elizabeth asked. “They adore you.”
He shrugged and moved toward her with a wicked smile. “I have a way with ladies.”
She laughed, for his words held more truth than he knew.
He stepped closer, smelling of sunshine, fresh and clean. His blue tunic was several shades darker than his eyes and made his chest appear even broader.
Elizabeth forgot to breathe as he lifted her hand and tucked it beneath his elbow. He drew her forward, setting a leisurely pace through the village.
She longed to jerk her hand away from him, to step back and clear her head. Breathing might be difficult when she was this close to him, but thinking was impossible.
He looked down and smiled at her, his mouth directly in her line of vision. Oh, those lips. How she wished she could lift her face to his and capture them. She didn’t want the memory of her first kiss to be the tentative brush of lips they’d shared the previous night. She wasn’t a young girl, she was a woman grown.
Grown women deserved real kisses. Didn’t they?
Edith was right.
Some moments were meant to be seized.
Before she could think through her impulse, she drew to a stop as they reached the back of a cottage, well protected from anyone’s view.
“I wondered – that is to say – do you suppose you could...” Oh, heavens, what was she thinking? What if he rejected her? What if he didn’t? Her mind tumbled. Never before had she met a man who made her willing to take such a risk.
“What is it?” He stood beside her, his gaze searching hers, her hand still encompassed within his warm one.
“Would you consider granting me a small favor?” She bowed her head, needing a respite from those eyes so she could think of how to form her question. A deep breath did little to ease her nerves. She glanced around to make certain this secluded spot held no witnesses for her desperate behavior.
His fingers curled around her chin and lifted her face. “What is it?” His expression held concern and gentleness.
Her gaze fell to his full, sculpted lips. “Would you please...kiss me?”
He jerked back, obviously surprised. “Well.” His gaze dropped to her lips before darting back to her eyes. “I’m not...I don’t think that would be wise.”
“Please?” She had nothing to lose. On the morrow, he’d be far from Amberley, never to be seen again. They stood in a sheltered spot. What harm could there be?
He moved closer, his blue gaze heating, creating an answering warmth in her. He bent his head toward hers, his intense focus stealing all her thoughts except one.
Kiss me.
Had she said it aloud or only
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