Lady saras scheme, p.23
Lady Sara's Scheme, page 23
“But my mistress? You aren’t even supposed to know of such things.” Memories of the distasteful exhibition at the opera returned. He had to admit he was beginning to see a humorous side to it, though he wouldn’t dream of confessing such to Sara.
“You forget my aunts. How could I not, living with those dear ladies?” Sara gave a gusty sigh. “I believe we are even now.” She took a deep breath, then continued, “At any rate, you probably did me a favor by disposing of the three suitors.”
“Not one of them was right for you.” A gleam of amusement and something else quite indefinable lit his eyes while he watched her lovely figure parade back and forth in front of the fireplace.
She stopped, frowning up at him. “Should I submit my candidates to you for approval?” she sputtered. She glared at him, hating him for telling her the truth. Catching sight of the laughter in his eyes, she halted. “Now what?”
“There is an alternative, you know.” He had discovered what that growing feeling was inside him. Now he watched her with eyes intent, as a fox might its prey.
“Alternative to what, pray tell?” She mistrusted the gleam she saw before those ridiculously long lashes concealed it.
“I doubt your uncle would deny the offer I made for your hand.” He sounded most coaxing to her hopeful ears.
“You were not serious in that offer.” She struggled valiantly with the desire to draw closer to him.
“But if I were serious? What would your answer be?” At her suspicious look, he added, “I believe Olivia is content with her new protector. She of a certainty is out of my life.”
Sara clasped her hands before her lest she reach out to him. The love that had never really died flowed back through her with full force. Yet she was cautious. “Well,” she said thoughtfully, “Aunt Milly says violets mean faithfulness.”
His thumb traced a line along his jaw while he thought. “We could combine our print collections to have the finest in the land.”
Sara had to chuckle at this novel manner of persuasion. “And violets. We could grow masses of them. My mystery is solved, and I am rather sorry to see it gone. Boredom faces me, alas.” She feigned alarm as he stepped closer to her.
In a moment she discovered his arms about her in a very tight embrace. Bewildered, she met his gaze.
“I believe I have found a way to prevent my ever becoming a dead bore.” His rough whisper thrilled her to her heart.
Warily she queried, “And what is that?”
“Marry me. I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since Christmas. Marry me, Sara, my little love.”
A warm glow began to spread through Sara as he again claimed her lips in a kiss that set her tingling. It made the previous efforts pale into nothing. When at last she was able to speak, she looked up at him and said, “When?”
He threw back his head in a roar of laughter. “Oh, my dear, how precious you are. You know,” he confided, “we must marry, if only to save both our faces. I am certain James is the soul of discretion, but one never knows who else might be listening.” At her threat to do violence, he added, “Besides, I do love you quite to distraction, dear girl.” He dropped another kiss on her tempting mouth, then continued, “Let me see . . . If I had my way, we would be wed this very hour, but there is the problem of a license. Can you manage to wait one week? Your aunts can arrange for a quiet wedding. I’ll see to my Uncle George, the family bishop, as well as your uncle. Two such schemers as we ought to manage this with no trouble at all.”
Sara’s murmur was lost as she invited another of those wonderful kisses. Her scheme had won her the first—and best—on her list.
Copyright © 1989 by Doris Emily Hendrickson
Originally published by Signet
Electronically published in 2005 by Belgrave House/Regency Reads
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No portion of this book may be reprinted in whole or in part, by printing, faxing, E-mail, copying electronically or by any other means without permission of the publisher. For more information, contact Belgrave House, 190 Belgrave Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94117-4228
http://www.BelgraveHouse.com
Electronic sales: ebooks@belgravehouse.com
This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.
Emily Hendrickson, Lady Sara's Scheme
