Authors: Virginia Henley,Sally MacKenzie,Victoria Dahl,Kristi Astor
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Historical, #General, #romance anthology
“Dear John, don’t you see? My home is wherever you are. I’m sure I’ll come to appreciate Cranford as time goes on. It’ll just take some getting used to, that’s all.”
“Milne Abbey,” he said, nodding to himself. “Of course. Why didn’t I think of it before?”
“Milne Abbey?” Christobel had never heard of the place.
“It’s not more than a half hour’s drive from here, by motorcar. It’s an old, rambling farmhouse in need of some work, but the grounds are immense. They’ve been looking for a buyer for quite some time, so I can get it for a fair price, no doubt.”
“No, John.” Christobel shook her head. “It’s not necessary. I’m sure your house in town is perfectly satisfactory, and—”
“It’ll be my wedding gift to you.” He reached for her hand and began leading her toward the path, abandoning her mackintosh square and parasol. “Let’s drive out there now, and I’ll show you.”
Christobel hurried to keep up with him, matching her gait to his slightly uneven one.
“Goodness, don’t you think we should go back to the house and tell them our news first?
I’m quite sure they’re all staring out the windows right now, wondering just what’s going on.”
He favored her with yet another dazzling smile. “Won’t they be surprised?”
“Not terribly so,” Christobel said with a shrug. “I already told them I was in love with you. At least, I told Edith I was. I’m sure everyone from the housekeeper down to the groom knows by now. If only you’d waited in the stables a little longer, you might have heard that particular part of the tale.”
Slowing his pace, he wrapped one arm about her shoulders. “You know, I’ve never much cared for house parties. But I believe this was the best Saturday-to-Monday I’ve ever attended. I’ll have to express my appreciation to your sister.”
“Don’t you dare! She’ll be swelled enough with pride as it is. Four years in a row now, with successful matches, even if ours wasn’t one she expected. Still, she’s quite the little matchmaker, isn’t she?”
John paused, wrapping his arms about her and burying his face in her neck. “She is, indeed,” he murmured.
Her pulse leapt as a wave of desire washed over her. “Do you think perhaps we can find a place to be alone while we’re out visiting Milne Abbey? Is there, for instance, an old, abandoned sawmill on the property somewhere?”
His eyes gleamed wickedly as he met her heated gaze. “Oh? And just what would we do there?”
“I can think of several things. Several naughty things, in fact.”
“I’m afraid an old mill won’t do this time. When I next make love to you, Christobel, I’ll do it right.”
“Are you saying that what we did yesterday wasn’t done right, John? For it felt right enough to me. Both times,” she added.
“I’m saying that next time we’ll both remove every piece of our clothing first. Two, there will be a bed involved, or a cushioned chaise at the very least, and there will be light enough to see. And three—”
“There they are!” a voice called out, and Christobel turned to see Edith waving gaily from the edge of the garden, their mother there beside her.
“Later, then,” John whispered as he returned the ladies’ friendly wave.
“Not too much later,” Christobel whispered back.
John laughed then, a deep, hearty laugh. “Who would have thought you had such mischief in you?”
Her own words, thrown back at her.
Little did he know, she had plenty more mischief in her, and all the time in the world to show him.
A lifetime, in fact.
Five months later
“Goodness, Edith, but he’s beautiful.” Christobel peered down at the squirming bundle that her sister held tightly to her breast. “Have you settled on a name?”
“Jasper wants to call him Ezekiel,” Edith answered, glancing down at the sleeping babe with obvious pride.
“Such a mouthful for so small a boy. Will you call him Zeke?”
“I hadn’t thought of it. Zeke,” Edith tested. “Yes, that will do nicely.”
Still sleeping, the baby made a snuffling noise, raising one tiny fist in the air and waving it about like a prizefighter might.
“Do you suppose that means he approves?” Christobel asked with a laugh.
“He hasn’t much choice, has he?” Edith reached down to stroke his soft, dark hair.
Christobel rose, one arm wrapped about the bedpost as she stared down at the pair. “You look exhausted, Edie. Shall I leave you both to get some rest before supper?”
“Don’t be silly! I’ve done nothing but rest for the past two days. Stay.” Edith patted the mattress beside her. “Tell me, how is Marie settling in?”
“Very well. She’s got a room in Mrs. Sharp’s house, not very large, but safe and respectable. I vow, you’d barely recognize her, she’s grown so confident and assured!
She’s a natural teacher—the children adore her.”
“From what John tells Jasper, the children adore you, too. I hope you are not running yourself ragged. Managing Milne Abbey is enough of an occupation in itself without spending time at the school, too.”
“But I love it, Edith. Truly, I do. The school is a marvelous place; I’m so proud of John.
Besides, I only go once or twice a week now that we’ve moved out to the Abbey. John’s teaching me to drive and he says he’ll buy me my own motorcar soon. That will make it so much easier to get back and forth.”
“Your own motorcar? Surely you jest!”
“Indeed not,” Christobel said indignantly. “I’m a perfectly able driver.”
Edith just shook her head. “Honestly, you never cease to amaze me. Why, you make me feel so…so old-fashioned. Now that I think about it, you’re quite like the town of Cranford, aren’t you?”
“Are you saying I’m brash and ill-mannered?” Christobel teased. Truth be told, Cranford was beginning to grow on her.
“No, just that you’re forward-thinking and capable. I think perhaps you—and Cranford, too—represent the future of England, while people like me, well…” She trailed off, shaking her head. “I fear we’re more suited to the past. The world is changing so quickly, isn’t it? I can only wonder what it will be like for little Ezekiel here.”
Christobel shook her head. “Goodness, I’ve never known you to be so contemplative. Is that what motherhood does to you? Anyway,” she continued, “I’ll settle down soon enough with a babe of my own, and—”
“Do you mean that you’re already—”
“Heavens, no!” she cut her off. “We’ve only been married two months, after all.”
“Yes, but I’m fairly certain the pair of you got a head start on such matters,” Edith said, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
“Edith!” she scolded, though of course it was true. Still, she hoped to have the renovations entirely complete at the Abbey before setting up a nursery. If only she could keep her hands off her husband. Her cheeks warmed at the thought.
“Why, you’re blushing, Christobel.”
“Oh, shut up! Besides, it’s your own fault. You’re the one who not only insisted we play hide-and-seek that day, but who also paired us up.”
“If I’d had my way on that particular day, I’d have paired you with Sir Edmund, instead.
What a ninny I was!” She shook her head with a smile.
“Speaking of Sir Edmund, did you hear that he and Miss Bartlett are engaged?”
“No! Wherever did you hear that?”
Christobel folded her arms across her breasts, feeling smug. “I had it from Miss Bartlett herself, just last week. We’ve been corresponding, you know. I quite like her. Youdo realize this means that you made not one, buttwo successful matches this year?”
“Why, I suppose you’re right, though the couples got a bit mixed up. Still, I expect I can take credit.”
“Unmarried ladies and gentlemen from all over are going to be clamoring for your invitation come autumn. It shall be quite a spectacle, I think. Look, Zeke is waking up.”
He’d begun to make soft mewling noises as he rooted around. “He must be hungry.”
Edith smiled warmly as she readjusted her bed jacket and placed the baby at her breast.
“It hasn’t even been two hours, greedy little bugger.”
At the sound of a motor, Christobel rose and hurried to the window, drawing aside the drapes and craning her neck to make out the familiar sight of the shiny green motorcar chugging up the drive in a cloud of dust.
“There’s John!” she said, her heart racing in anticipation. “I’m glad he made it in time for supper. He’s so looking forward to meeting his nephew.” Dropping the drapes back into place, she turned back toward her sister. “Wait, not just his nephew—little Zeke is also John’s first cousin once removed, isn’t he? Goodness, I didn’t think of that before now.”
Edith cocked her head to one side. “Why, I suppose you’re right. Imagine that, some sort of double relation. Well, go on, I know you’re dying to run down there and greet him.
There’s still time before supper; go off to the pond, or wherever it is you two lovebirds always go off to.”
Christobel couldn’t help but laugh. It was true; theydid favor the ornamental pond. After all, John had proposed to her there.But not as much as we favor the old abandoned gristmill, she thought, smiling wickedly to herself.
Not half as much.
SOME PLEASURES, ONCE TASTED…
Even after finding his betrothed in the arms of another man, Nicholas, Viscount Lancaster, knows he must
wed. Propriety—and the dire state of his finances—decrees it. At least a visit to his country estate provides
relief from playing the role of loving fiancé, as well as a surprising encounter with Cynthia Merrithorpe.
Once his childhood companion, Cynthia has grown into a lovely, alluring woman—one who’s undertaken a
daring ruse to avoid being sold into a miserable marriage.
ARE TOO DELICIOUS TO FORGET…
When Nicholas left for London to assume his new title, Cynthia was forced to put aside her girlish
infatuation. Now he’s returned, more wickedly attractive than ever. And this time, Cynthia is determined to
experience the pleasure she’s dreamed of for so long. But with a man like Nicholas, seduction is only the
beginning of a sensual journey that will tempt them both to defy convention, and uncover the very heart of
desire….
Look for Victoria Dahl’s ONE WEEK AS LOVERS, coming in August 2009!
A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
Christmas at The Grandview Hotel is just the thing Miss Miranda Granger needs to heal her wounded
heart and soul. While staying at the lavish new seaside resort perched on the beautiful but treacherous
chalky cliffs of Eastbourne, she will supervise her wayward stepsisters, tend to her widowed father, and try
to recover from the betrayal that damaged her passionate spirit and left her forever ruined.
After months of desperate searching, enigmatic American painter Troy Davenport has finally located the
object of his obsession, a fragile, brown-eyed siren named Miranda Granger, at The Grandview Hotel.
He’s been able to think of nothing else since a chance encounter with the then-anonymous woman on the
deck of the ocean linerLucania so many months ago. He plans to paint her—nothing more—until an
undeniable passion sparks between them. But when Troy’s secrets lead to betrayal and heartbreak, it will
take a Christmas miracle for him to reclaim the woman he’s grown to love….
Look for Kristi Astor’s A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, coming from Zebra Books in the fall of 2009!
KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by
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Compilation copyright © 2009 by Kensington Publishing Corp.
“Smuggler’s Lair” © 2009 by Virginia Henley
“The Naked Laird” © 2009 by Sally MacKenzie
“Lessons in Pleasure” © 2009 by Victoria Dahl
“Swept Away” © 2009 by Kristina Cook Hart
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
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ISBN: 0-7582-3975-0
Document Outline
Table of Contents
Smuggler’s Lair (Georgian/Victorian)