by Sandra Heath
He sat on the stone parapet of the pool, his boots dangling in the water, and proceeded to splash and laugh as if very much the worse for drink. The figures on the terrace came to a startled halt as they pressed to the balustrade to look down at him. It was his guess that the gamekeepers were hopeful that his being so much in his cups would spare them the punishment their laziness and inefficiency deserved.
Evangeline watched him as well, her eyes quick and sharp. She’d seen Sabrina with him, but there was no sign of her now. The trollop must be hiding somewhere in the garden!
The commanding officer turned to her. “With all due respect, my lady, it would seem that at the moment Sir Jake is unlikely to provide us with any sensible information.”
“It is all an act! He was as sober as a judge when I left him, and he hasn’t had time to get in this state. Besides, we all saw a woman with him a moment ago, although she has most conveniently vanished now. She’s here somewhere, and so is the Prince Regent’s quizzing glass!”
Jake scrambled out of the pond, making such a fuss about it that the head gamekeeper felt obliged to go down to assist him. Swaying from side to side, and grinning foolishly, Jake wended his way up to the terrace. “Why, Evangeline, how nice that you’ve come back,” he said, speaking very slowly, as if finding it difficult to enunciate. Then, after a loud hiccup, he wagged a finger at her. “You’re very naughty, you shouldn’t run off when we were about to snuggle up together.”
There were a few sniggers, and she drew back with a furious gasp. “How dare you!”
“But it’s true.” Jake grinned around at all the watching faces. “Oh dear, no snuggying-up for me now.”
The sniggers became open chuckles and Evangeline felt her revenge slipping away. “Don’t believe him! This is all pretence! He does have the quizzing glass! For heaven’s sake, you have the evidence of your own eyes! Two people ran from the house, so you know he’s lying!”
Jake hiccupped again. “And I see two of you, Evangeline, but thank goodness I know there’s only one.” This was greeted with open laughter, and he swung an obliging arm to the commanding officer in general. “Search all you want, you won’t find any glizzing-quasses,” he declared.
The officer decided that a search was probably advisable, if only to silence the clearly vindictive Lady Evangeline. He gave the necessary orders, and for the next hour the house and gardens were combed for any sign of the quizzing glass, or indeed of Miss Sabrina Winterleigh.
Evangeline’s face remained aflame throughout as she realized she wasn’t going to emerge victorious. Instead she was being made to look a fool!
Chapter Eight
It was almost dawn when everyone departed, Evangeline in the foulest temper imaginable, the army officer heartily sick of her, and the gamekeepers glad they hadn’t been dismissed on the spot. No estate in England would be better patrolled after this. Not so much as a cockroach would pass unnoticed!
When all was quiet again, Jake returned to the lily pond, put a hand under the water and beckoned. Sabrina swam up to him with the quizzing glass, and he pulled her lovingly from the water. As she stood dripping, with Evangeline’s sprigged muslin clinging to her figure in a manner to bring his base male urges to the fore again, he took her face tenderly in his hands. “Don’t leave me, Sabrina,” he implored. “Don’t go back to the river, stay here with me.”
“But I don’t belong on the land.”
“You belong here as much as you do under water, so why not enjoy the best of both worlds, Sabrina? Visit the river whenever you choose, but live with me. Become my wife, and mistress of your father’s house.”
She stared at him. “Your wife?” she whispered.
“I’ve known you for a few hours, but it’s long enough to be sure how I feel. I love you, Sabrina Winterleigh, I adore you with all my heart, and I will do anything to keep you with me.”
“It’s forbidden for merfolk to live with humans.”
“But you’re only half mermaid,” he reminded her. “And what of your own parents? Neptune didn’t punish them, did he? If you were to explain to him that history has repeated itself…” He paused. “It has repeated itself, hasn’t it? You do love me? You haven’t had time to change your mind?”
“I still love you,” she whispered.
He kissed her again, his fingers sliding sensuously into her wet hair. Then he looked adoringly into her eyes. “Please be mine forever,” he begged, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs.
He saw the answer he sought in her eyes, and gave a glad laugh. “Oh my darling, I vow I will adore you every minute of every day!” Then he took her hand. “Come, Lord Neptune awaits his quizzing glass, and I will be at your side when you return it.”
She smiled, and her fingers curled in his as they walked down through the gardens toward the Severn.
There was much consternation at first when a human appeared on the bank at Sabrina’s side, but everyone eventually came out of the river to stand on the land again.
Lord Neptune’s stern visage turned to a smile as the quizzing glass was returned. “Eh? It belongs to the Prince Regent? Well, that knowledge makes my pleasure even greater. I, er, hope you don’t expect me to return it to him?” He eyed Jake.
“Certainly not, sir, for I’m sure he would be flattered to know you wish to keep it.”
“I doubt that. You have something else to say, I can tell that much. So, what is it?”
“I wish to make Sabrina my wife,” Jake replied, and a great stir of whispers immediately spread around the crowded clearing. Crowded with merfolk, he thought, and he was speaking to a god who had hitherto been entirely mythical. He found it hard to comprehend, although he knew it was all true.
Neptune turned to Sabrina’s uncle Nereus. “What do you think, my friend? She’s your niece.”
Nereus smiled. “I’m all in favor. Her father could always be trusted, and I see no reason why Sir Jake cannot be as well.”
As Sabrina ran to hug him, Neptune spoke again. “Well, young Sabrina, I was disposed to be lenient with your mother, and cannot in all honesty be any different now. Provided Sir Jake gives his solemn word he will remain absolutely silent about us.”
Jake nodded. “Of course.”
“Very well. And now, we have an orgy to finish.” The great god rose from the throne and spread his arms. “Let the fun recommence.”
There were delighted cheers as the orgy was resumed.
Neptune turned to Anemone, who had been laughing with delight at Sabrina’s happiness. “I require you, young mermaid, for you have given me much pleasure tonight, and will, I trust, give me much more before dawn.”
Anemone giggled. “Oh yes, my lord,” she answered, and then hid her hand in front of her mouth to whisper to Sabrina. “I’ve been the only mermaid he’s fucked all night! It’s been wonderful.” Then she eyed Sabrina. “You’ve been fucking too, haven’t you? I can see it all over you. We must talk. Soon!”
As Anemone returned to Neptune, Sabrina glanced around a little ashamedly. “Merfolk are, well, a little abandoned for this one night,” she said to Jake.
“I’m quite happy to be equally as abandoned,” he replied, catching her into his arms again.
* * * * *
They were married twice, once according to mer-law, and once according to the vows of Jake’s church, the clergyman at Blakenham being more than ready to perform the ceremony, as he had for Sabrina’s parents.
And so Winterleigh Court came to life again, and soon rang with the laughter of children who adored playing in the lily pond. They swam like fish, of course.
About the Author
Sandra Heath is British, and has settled in the English West Country after living in Wales, Ireland, Holland, Germany and various locations in England. She is a multi-published, multi-translated, award-winning author of romantic fiction, and her titles cover everything from chaste romances to furnace-hot sex scenes that singe the reader’s senses. Places as different as St. Petersburg, Swit
zerland, Athens, Egypt, India and Peru have been thoroughly researched, and so have many actual historical figures. Great medieval magnates, real and imaginary, have had their lives—and often their bodies!—laid bare in her books, as have elegant 19th-century lords, Russian princes, Prussian officers, brilliant Polish pianists and Egyptian Pharaohs. British folklore and legends have crept into her writing, as have ghostly happenings, magic, the Little People, and Mediterranean mythology.
Her fervent imagination is overflowing with new stories, new settings, new characters and…new ideas for sexual enjoyment! All of which she is more than willing to share with her readers.
Sandra welcomes comments from readers. You can find her email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Sandra Heath
A Winter’s Tail
Love Pursued
Pharaoh’s Beloved
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