Fenella J. Miller (25 page)

       This was ridiculous. What a shocking suggestion. Eliza drew breath to refuse but she couldn’t. Somehow her prayers had been answered and who was she to argue with the Almighty? Without a word she closed the distance between them and slid her arms around his neck. She didn’t care that he had no clothes on, didn’t care that her feet became entangled between his naked legs. All she wanted was to feel him next to her, taste his mouth on hers just once more.

A few breathless moments later Fletcher enquired softly. ‘It doesn’t seem fair, my darling, that you can explore my skin and I cannot do the same. Shall I remove this voluminous garment?’

       Without a murmur she raised her arms and he tugged her nightgown up over her head and tossed it casually to one side. He pulled her back into his arms and Eliza felt she was exactly where she belonged. All her reservations about their union dissolved under his tender tutelage.

When they finally fell asleep, even she could not deny that they were meant to be together and that in the circumstances it would be best if their wedding took place as soon as possible.

The following morning Eliza opened her eyes horrified to see that it was already light and that her lover was still beside her. She had no wish to shock her mother by her outrageous behaviour. It would be better by far if everyone thought she had had a change of heart and Fletcher appeared later in the day as if having been summoned at her request.

She was about to wake him with a gentle kiss when she screamed instead. He jackknifed awake, his face shocked by her outburst.

‘Fletcher, the sun is up, the room is full of sunlight.’ She waited for his sleep befuddled brain to register the import of her words.

Slowly his mouth curved into a smile off comprehension. ‘Sweetheart, I didn’t think life could get any better. How much can you see?’

‘Your outline, light and shade, not everything, but after being in total darkness for three weeks it is a miracle that I can see anything at all.’ She fell back into his arms and covered his face with kisses.

It was hardly surprising that, in the circumstances, Fletcher completely forgot the arrangement he had made with his future mother-in-law.

Copyright © 2008 by Fenella-Jane Miller

Originally published by Robert Hale Ltd.

Electronically published in 2008 by Belgrave House/Regency Reads

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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.