[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
looked at him, her gaze seemingly fixed on his lapel, on Patricia, anywhere but his face.
Maria, he whispered and her eyes locked on to his. Time stopped for a moment,
as brown eyes gazed into green for the first time and yet for the hundredth time. Joy
and desire flashed through him, as he saw acknowledgement in her eyes. She was real,
she was here and she could be his! But there was something else, something deeply sad.
94
Match Made by Moonlight
He ached to hold her in his arms, to conquer anything that could cause her pain. He
brought his hand up, as though he wanted to cup her cheek and she almost flinched.
Patricia broke the silence. Marianna actually, I believe. Marianna Sanderton. Are
you certain you two have not met before? The intense look the two shared seemed to
confirm her suspicion that the two knew each other extremely well but the entire
situation was most puzzling.
Anna spoke hurriedly, coming to her feet abruptly. I know who you are. Forgive
me, Lord Harold, Lady Patricia, I feel unwell, I must retire to the powder room. She
took off at a run and Brandon found himself frozen on the spot, unable to process what
had just occurred, the sound of Patricia s laughter echoing in his ears.
Anna ran through the ballroom, not caring about the curious stares that followed
her out of the room. She swerved to avoid Lord Liston, who had exited the card room
and had raised his quizzing glass. She found her way into the house s main rooms and
chanced on to a small sitting room, its soothing light green and cream décor comforting
after the heat and strain of the ballroom. She threw herself onto the settee in an
unladylike heap and held her shaking hands to her temples, rubbing them and willing
herself not to cry. She had to make it through this. She had to maintain a pretense of
detachment and try to escape.
She knew the look in his eyes, those brown-black eyes that she dreamed of every
night. He still desired her, even though he was married, even though she was an
innocent. She could still recall the feel of his lips on hers, his breath on her neck and she
was not at all sure that she could withstand him if he chose to pursue her. She did not
want to embarrass her mother, her aunt, her friends and create a scandal that would
haunt her. She could run, escape back to Shropshire and home but somehow, she knew
he would find her. After all, his father s seat in Chester was only some thirty miles from
Gladstone Abbey, just across the border in Cheshire. Middleton would not be safe for
her, not if he was determined.
The door opened softly and she snapped her head up, worried that he had followed
her. Instead, Mr. Bington entered, a concerned look upon his face.
Miss Sanderton, are you quite well? I saw your abrupt exit and I was concerned.
He crossed the room toward her and knelt in front of her on the Aubusson carpet,
taking her hand in his.
Such a sweet man. She gifted him a reassuring smile, thoughts whirling in her head.
If I was already taken, perhaps then Kelsey would leave me be.
Miss Sanderton, I& Since I find myself in this position, it would be most unwise
not to make use of it. He smiled, a dimple evident in his cheek, hazel eyes shining. But
it was still not the right smile, not deep brown eyes gazing into hers. She could not
shake thoughts of her Colonel, even with another man on bended knee before her& oh
dear, on bended knee? She grew alarmed.
95
Elaine Lowe
Miss Sanderton, I have found it& most pleasant to be in your company and I have
found it easier to talk with you than anyone of my acquaintance& He stammered on,
suddenly nervous again. She hated to disappoint him. He was so sweet and so
kindhearted. He would do his very best to make her happy and she was certain he
would stay in the Abbey should she ask.
He went on, I do think we would suit very well and I would like to ask the
honor& of& your hand in marriage. He finished in a rush, staring not at her face but at
the hand he had just requested.
He had plowed through the whole speech and he was inordinately proud of
himself. He suddenly looked up at her, hope shining in his eyes and she wondered if
maybe this was for the best. But no, not with Isabella, not with their differing
personalities. He was too young and too easily molded for her tastes. Still, she did not
want to hurt him and tried to calm her surging emotions to find the right words for her
refusal.
She patted his hand and she whispered, I agree that She was unable to finish.
He surged up to sit by her side, wrapping her in a bear hug. The hardest task of his
life accomplished, he was exultant.
Wait, wait, Mr. Bington! She tried to push him away but he was too relieved by
the accomplishment of his proposal to notice.
Oh, my dear, you have made me the happiest of men! The door swung open and
they both looked up from their compromising position as two people stood in the
doorway.
Lady Patricia Kelsey let slip another guffaw, her formerly cool countenance turning
into a brilliant pink from all of the amusement she had had that evening. Although she
truly did not want to find hilarity in the misfortunes of others, to see her sanctimonious
brother-in-law get his comeuppance was truly more entertaining than it should be. She
looked from the couple embracing on the sofa to the man standing next to her with [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl akte20.pev.pl
looked at him, her gaze seemingly fixed on his lapel, on Patricia, anywhere but his face.
Maria, he whispered and her eyes locked on to his. Time stopped for a moment,
as brown eyes gazed into green for the first time and yet for the hundredth time. Joy
and desire flashed through him, as he saw acknowledgement in her eyes. She was real,
she was here and she could be his! But there was something else, something deeply sad.
94
Match Made by Moonlight
He ached to hold her in his arms, to conquer anything that could cause her pain. He
brought his hand up, as though he wanted to cup her cheek and she almost flinched.
Patricia broke the silence. Marianna actually, I believe. Marianna Sanderton. Are
you certain you two have not met before? The intense look the two shared seemed to
confirm her suspicion that the two knew each other extremely well but the entire
situation was most puzzling.
Anna spoke hurriedly, coming to her feet abruptly. I know who you are. Forgive
me, Lord Harold, Lady Patricia, I feel unwell, I must retire to the powder room. She
took off at a run and Brandon found himself frozen on the spot, unable to process what
had just occurred, the sound of Patricia s laughter echoing in his ears.
Anna ran through the ballroom, not caring about the curious stares that followed
her out of the room. She swerved to avoid Lord Liston, who had exited the card room
and had raised his quizzing glass. She found her way into the house s main rooms and
chanced on to a small sitting room, its soothing light green and cream décor comforting
after the heat and strain of the ballroom. She threw herself onto the settee in an
unladylike heap and held her shaking hands to her temples, rubbing them and willing
herself not to cry. She had to make it through this. She had to maintain a pretense of
detachment and try to escape.
She knew the look in his eyes, those brown-black eyes that she dreamed of every
night. He still desired her, even though he was married, even though she was an
innocent. She could still recall the feel of his lips on hers, his breath on her neck and she
was not at all sure that she could withstand him if he chose to pursue her. She did not
want to embarrass her mother, her aunt, her friends and create a scandal that would
haunt her. She could run, escape back to Shropshire and home but somehow, she knew
he would find her. After all, his father s seat in Chester was only some thirty miles from
Gladstone Abbey, just across the border in Cheshire. Middleton would not be safe for
her, not if he was determined.
The door opened softly and she snapped her head up, worried that he had followed
her. Instead, Mr. Bington entered, a concerned look upon his face.
Miss Sanderton, are you quite well? I saw your abrupt exit and I was concerned.
He crossed the room toward her and knelt in front of her on the Aubusson carpet,
taking her hand in his.
Such a sweet man. She gifted him a reassuring smile, thoughts whirling in her head.
If I was already taken, perhaps then Kelsey would leave me be.
Miss Sanderton, I& Since I find myself in this position, it would be most unwise
not to make use of it. He smiled, a dimple evident in his cheek, hazel eyes shining. But
it was still not the right smile, not deep brown eyes gazing into hers. She could not
shake thoughts of her Colonel, even with another man on bended knee before her& oh
dear, on bended knee? She grew alarmed.
95
Elaine Lowe
Miss Sanderton, I have found it& most pleasant to be in your company and I have
found it easier to talk with you than anyone of my acquaintance& He stammered on,
suddenly nervous again. She hated to disappoint him. He was so sweet and so
kindhearted. He would do his very best to make her happy and she was certain he
would stay in the Abbey should she ask.
He went on, I do think we would suit very well and I would like to ask the
honor& of& your hand in marriage. He finished in a rush, staring not at her face but at
the hand he had just requested.
He had plowed through the whole speech and he was inordinately proud of
himself. He suddenly looked up at her, hope shining in his eyes and she wondered if
maybe this was for the best. But no, not with Isabella, not with their differing
personalities. He was too young and too easily molded for her tastes. Still, she did not
want to hurt him and tried to calm her surging emotions to find the right words for her
refusal.
She patted his hand and she whispered, I agree that She was unable to finish.
He surged up to sit by her side, wrapping her in a bear hug. The hardest task of his
life accomplished, he was exultant.
Wait, wait, Mr. Bington! She tried to push him away but he was too relieved by
the accomplishment of his proposal to notice.
Oh, my dear, you have made me the happiest of men! The door swung open and
they both looked up from their compromising position as two people stood in the
doorway.
Lady Patricia Kelsey let slip another guffaw, her formerly cool countenance turning
into a brilliant pink from all of the amusement she had had that evening. Although she
truly did not want to find hilarity in the misfortunes of others, to see her sanctimonious
brother-in-law get his comeuppance was truly more entertaining than it should be. She
looked from the couple embracing on the sofa to the man standing next to her with [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]