The Pleasure Garden: Sacred Vows\Perfumed Pleasures\Rites of Passions (36 page)

“No examinations! I’m no longer your patient.” Dear God, the humiliation of it all.

“Well, then, perhaps you’d like to examine
me,
instead?” she teased.

“I say, now that’s a fine idea.” He nodded, excited by the possibilities.

She reached down and plucked his drawers from the stones, her eyes dancing with mischief. “Catch me, then,” she called out, dashing toward the garden gate.

He wasted no time at all in complying.

As the gate latched shut behind the pair of lovers, a voice on the wind could be heard, laughing in delight.

Then there were three,
it seemed to say.

And now…I am free.

Two weeks later…

“But—but it’s impossible,” Emmaline stammered, turning in a slow circle.

Jack shrugged. “It would seem so. And yet…just look.”

Emmaline could barely believe her eyes. She was standing amid a sea of color. Green, blue, purple, pink, yellow…color, everywhere. The garden was a veritable Eden.

The roses, well past their season, were in full bloom. Bluebells, violets, lilies, irises, hollyhocks…they all blossomed in a lush profusion of color and scent, creating a multicolored palette that filled the entire walled-in space.

Emmaline blinked rapidly, thinking that perhaps her eyes were playing tricks on her, but the view remained the same.

The well still stood in the center, and the bench remained in the shady corner. That much hadn’t changed.

Only the garden had come to life around them.

“Amazing, isn’t it?” Mrs. Talbot asked. “I declare, I simply did not think it possible.”

“Nor did I,” said Jack, the fading sun turning his hair a dull copper.

Emmaline planted her hands on her hips. “I don’t see how anyone could have thought it possible.”

Mrs. Talbot nodded, her eyes shining brightly. “I should bring Mr. Talbot here to see this. It’s almost like…like a miracle.”

“Or something like that,” Jack said, holding up the tattered leather book he’d retrieved from the library just before they’d stepped outside.

“You don’t think…” Emmaline trailed off, unwilling to voice her thoughts aloud in front of Mrs. Talbot.

Jack strode purposely toward the stone bench, tapping the Green Man’s image while grinning at Emmaline. His look seemed to say
I told you so.

Emmaline grinned back at him.

“Shall we go inside for dinner?” he asked, reaching for her hand.

“Indeed. I’m famished,” said Mrs. Talbot.

Emmaline nodded, allowing Jack to thread his fingers through hers. She glanced up at him—her Beltane miracle—and smiled, saying a silent thanks to whoever had brought them together.

And then, no longer alone, she fell into step between them—Jack and Mrs. Talbot—and headed toward home.

THE PLEASURE GARDEN

ISBN: 978-1-4592-4281-4

Copyright © 2011 by Spice Books

The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:

SACRED VOWS
Copyright © 2011 by Amanda McIntyre

PERFUMED PLEASURES
Copyright © 2011 by Charlotte Featherstone

RITES OF PASSION
Copyright © 2011 by Kristina Cook Hort

All rights reserved. The reproduction, transmission or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without written permission. For permission please contact Spice Books, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, M3B 3K9 Canada.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Spice and Colophon are trademarks used under license and registered in Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, United States Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries.

For questions and comments about the quality of this book please contact us at [email protected].

www.Spice-Books.com