Candlelight Wish (26 page)
Authors: Janice Bennett
“Only of those I love. Which reminds me, I have spent the better part of this week readying the estate for your arrival. I spoke to the vicar and he has agreed to post the banns this Sunday. Vines has promised to see to the hiring of an abigail for you and—”
“Managing,” she sighed and stopped him by the simple expedient of dragging his head down so she could kiss him. “And I shall hire my own abigail, thank you.”
“Managing,” he got out before she kissed him again.
Epilogue
Xanthe sat back from the shallow silver basin, a fond smile playing about her mouth. Seven white candles flickered before her, encircling the scrying bowl, reflecting off the water and the images of Phoebe and Miles locked securely in one another’s arms. Another satisfactory conclusion.
After a moment she picked up the extinguisher and doused the flames that had burned bright, sealing her magic. Phoebe wouldn’t need it anymore. The water rippled, sparkles of light danced into the air then the surface stilled, showing nothing but the mirrored bottom.
She looked at Titus. “I shall miss her.”
Titus blinked sleepy eyes.
“You too? But we mustn’t repine. She’ll be quite happy and with the four children they will have she’ll be very busy. But as for us, it’s almost time to be thinking of our next task.”
A series of staccato sounds emerged from the cat’s throat.
“No, not quite yet. We’ll see them safely wed first, never fear.” She mused for a moment then smiled. “This has been an unusually productive undertaking even for us, has it not?”
Titus twitched the end of his tail.
“Of course they might have all sorted out their lives on their own but I like to think we played some part in it. Hanna Brookstone and Charles Dauntry, Lucilla Saunderton and Simon, Lord Ashby. Even Mrs. Jane Mannering and Mr. Colney will make a match of it within a few more months. And Phoebe and Miles of course. No wonder it has all been so exhausting.”
Titus tilted his head and flicked an ear.
Xanthe looked at the candles she had not yet replaced in their ash wood cask and shook her head. “I don’t think so, not this time. I feel—” She broke off and came to her feet then strode to her window. Casting the drapes wide, she looked out into the night. For a long moment she gazed into the midnight sky of deep blue with its myriad stars and the thinnest crescent of a moon. The stars shimmered, basking her in iridescent light.
Starlight…
Smiling, she turned back into the room.
About the Author
Janice Bennett has the eclectic background often encountered in writers. She earned one B.A. degree in anthropology from UC Santa Cruz, another in classical civilizations from US Irvine, and an M.A. degree in folklore and mythology from UCLA. Over the years, she has worked as a bookkeeper, archaeologist, and college instructor in crafts, jewelry making, needlework and novel writing, and has been a frequent presenter of workshops on a variety of writing topics. She also teaches t’ai chi and is a certified hypnotherapist specializing in pain management.
To date, she has written nine novellas and twenty-one novels. She has won several awards, including two
Romantic Times
Reviewer’s Choice awards and two
Romantic Times
Career Achievement Awards, for Time Travels and for Regencies.
Janice lives near the top of a sloping hillside on the outskirts of a tiny rural town, looking out over nothing but trees. With her reside her husband, her son, her computer and an assortment of birds, cats, dogs, guinea pigs, hamsters, fish, horses and any other animal currently in need of a home.
Janice welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Janice Bennett
Events Unlimited 1: Cold Turkey
Events Unlimited 2: Bunny Hop
Events Unlimited 3: Black Cats and Boondoggles
Events Unlimited 4: Hot Dogs
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer ebooks or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
