Defiant Impostor (50 page)

Then the baroness was gone, leaving them alone, yet
Susanna stood rooted to the floor. She could hardly believe everything that had
just happened . . . their good fortune was simply unheard of. Yet it had
happened! She didn't have to pinch herself to know that it was true. She and
Adam could stay at Briarwood! It was going to be their home!

"Come here, my love," she heard Adam say
behind her, his beloved voice only heightening her incredible joy. She spun to
find him staring at her hungrily, his eyes warm and glittering in the
candlelight. "There's something I want to ask you."

She rushed toward him but stopped just out of his arm's
reach, for his expression had suddenly become most serious, taking her by
surprise. "What is it, Adam? Is something wrong?"

"Only if I don't hear the right answer from your
lips. Come closer so I can touch you."

She did, his hand sliding around her waist, then he
gently pulled her down to sit facing him on the bed. "Answer to what,
Adam?"

Reaching up to tenderly cradle her face with one hand,
he stared deeply into her eyes. "Will you marry me, Susanna Jane
Guthrie?"

As her heart swelled with infinite love for this man,
her first impulse was to shout out "Yes!" and hear it ring all around
them. But instead she could not resist murmuring playfully, wanting to draw out
this rapturous moment, "Only on two conditions."

He smiled roguishly and adopted her teasing tone.
"Name them."

"I cannot simply be a lady of leisure, Adam.
Needlework and playing the pianoforte aren't enough for me. I want to work for
my keep. Make myself useful."

"Done."

"As easily as that?" His very nearness was
sending tremors of excitement racing through her.

"How can I refuse you anything, my love?" He
caressed her silken cheek with his thumb, rejoicing in his heart that this
beautiful, enchanting woman had come into his life. "And your second
condition?"

She smiled wantonly, leaning forward to brush the
lightest yet most seductive kiss upon his lips. "I want a proper courting
before we wed, Adam . . . the kind any woman would dream about."

"I'll show you the stuff of which a woman's dreams
are made," he said huskily, pulling her on top of him so that she
straddled him. Ignoring the twinge of pain his movement had cost him and
thinking that to have her astride him so appealingly was well worth any
discomfort, he traced her full, inviting lips with his fingertips. Then slowly,
he drew her face toward him until their mouths were almost touching. "But
first, Susanna Jane, you must give me your answer."

"Yes, Adam Thornton, I will marry you," she
whispered, pressing her soft lips to his. In that brilliant, shining moment, he
had never felt more loved, or more whole.

About the Author

Miriam Minger is the award-winning,
critically acclaimed author of ten historical
romances.
 
She also writes inspirational
romantic thrillers as M.C. Walker, and is the co-author of the popular Little
Mike and Maddie series of children’s picture books about a lovable pair of dogs
and their motorcycle adventures.
 

Historical Romances by Miriam Minger:

Twin Passions

Stolen Splendor

A Hint of Rapture

Captive Rose

Defiant Impostor

The Pagan’s
Prize

Wild Angel

Secrets of Midnight

My Runaway Heart (sequel to Secrets of
Midnight)

Wild Roses (sequel to Wild Angel)

Inspirational Romantic Thrillers by M.C. Walker:

Blood Son

Children’s Picture Books by Miriam Aronson:

Little Mike and Maddie’s First Motorcycle
Ride

Little Mike and Maddie’s Black Hills
Adventure

Little Mike and Maddie’s Christmas Book

For information about the above titles, visit
www.walkerpublishing.net
or write to
[email protected]
.