by Meara Platt
“That still doesn’t explain Joshua’s missing clothes,” Tom reminded them.
“He was taking a bath to wash off the dust and grime of the road. Since he did not wish to disturb the servants, he went into the kitchen, dragged the tub from the corner where it is stored, and set it in front of the large cooking hearth. He set a fire, boiled water, and filled the tub.”
Tom chuckled. “Quite enterprising of him.”
Honey frowned.
“He’d just finished bathing when Holly walked in. Well, timing is everything, isn’t it?”
Honey groaned. “Oh, no.”
“Oh, yes. He had just gotten out of the tub, and there she was. And there he was. All of him. He stood beside the hearth with his altogether hanging out. She stood by the door. Unimpeded view of him. His drying cloth was across the kitchen, atop one of the tables.”
Tom snorted. “Lord, you can’t make this up.”
Violet shook her head. “You mustn’t breathe a word of this to anyone. Holly doesn’t even know that I know. Joshua told me. Not that he wanted to, but he thought Holly might have said something to me, and he wanted to assure me he was a gentleman. I never had any doubt. Braydens are ridiculously honorable.”
She gave Honey a quick hug and glanced at her plate again. “Why are you eating enough to choke a horse? And Tom hasn’t stopped grinning since I walked in. I know that grin. Nathaniel wore that same grin when Poppy told him…” She shrieked and ran off.
Honey shot to her feet. “Violet, wait!”
“I’ll be back later with the others,” her cousin shouted from the hall, still chattering as she tore out of the house. “Congratulations!”
Honey wasn’t certain what to say to Tom. He had the oddest look on his face. Finally, he laughed and took her in his arms. “I love you more than words can say, Honey.”
“Oh, Tom. Even after that? What did you call it? Chaos and mayhem? And on such a day.”
“It is especially appreciated on such a day. This is how my parents hoped my life would turn out. My mother is an artist. A free spirit. You did not know her in her prime. She would have adored all your relatives. She’ll be delighted when we tell her. Even if she has retreated into her shell. There’s a part of her that will know and rejoice for us. A family of our own,” he said, placing a hand on her stomach. “Friends and relatives popping in at all hours. A house filled with children and barking dogs. Give me a kiss, my beautiful Lady Wycke. I think this might be the best day of my life.”
She kissed him sweetly on the lips.
A kiss of pure happiness.
A kiss of love.
My dear readers,
I hope you are enjoying the Book of Love series! More romantic mayhem on the way! Are you ready for the second chance romance between Holly Farthingale and Joshua Brayden? Here’s a sneak peek at THE CHANCE OF LOVE:
Chapter One
London, England
October 1820
“Had I known I was to have company, I would have dressed for the occasion,” Captain Joshua Brayden said as he stepped naked out of his bath only to find Holly Farthingale staring at him wide-eyed, and her lovely mouth dropped open in shock.
“What?” Her eyes were now blinking like mad, resembling two blue flames flickering on a gusting breeze, as she tried to expunge the sight of him unclad.
They were standing in the kitchen of his cousin Romulus’s home on Chipping Way, a home that was supposed to be unoccupied save for him. Or so he thought, or else he would not have started a fire in the kitchen hearth at midnight, boiled water for his bath, and rolled the tub before the fire to soak in it after his long journey.
Although the steaming water had helped relieve the tight coil of his muscles, his body still ached from days of hard riding. As he watched Holly by the golden glow of firelight, he worried his body would begin to ache for completely different reasons. “Turn around, Holly.”
“Holy crumpets,” she muttered, still staring at him. “What are you doing here?”
He glanced at the drying cloths stacked across the kitchen on one of the tables, then turned back to meet her gaze. “Trying to maintain my dignity. If you’re not going to turn around, then close your eyes while I wrap that towel around me. Not that I particularly mind your staring. The towel is for your sake, not mine.”
She gasped.
But still hadn’t turned away.
Still hadn’t shut her eyes, which were not the typical vibrant Farthingale blue. No, her eyes were an incredible swirl of blues, greens, and sadness.
“No one’s supposed to be here,” she said, sounding quite breathless.
He arched an eyebrow. “Then, why are you?”
Since it appeared she wasn’t going to close her eyes or turn around any time soon, he strode to the table and wrapped the cloth around the lower half of his body before approaching her.
She glanced at the door that was still ajar and allowing a cold wind to blow in. He blocked her path and shut the door, not that she appeared to be trying to flee. Quite the opposite, she seemed rooted to her spot. “What is that you’re clutching in your hands?” he asked.
It looked like a book with a faded, red leather binding.
“Nothing.” She tried to hide it behind her back, but the book was too big for her small hand. It slipped out of her grasp and fell to the floor.
He bent to pick it up and read its spine. “The Book of Love.”
She groaned. “I came in here to hide it. Please give it back to me, Joshua…er, Captain Brayden.”
“No need for formality, I should think.” He wanted to laugh, but Holly was ashen except for her cheeks, which were a fiery pink. Odd, really. She was a young widow. Surely, she’d seen a naked man before, namely her husband.
But the girl looked as though she was coming undone.
The way she stared at him, one would think she’d never been with a man before. “Why do you wish to hide it?”
She tore her gaze from his and looked down at her toes. “My family thinks it is time for me to consider marrying again.” She shook her head furiously. “But I don’t want to.”
“Because you’re not over the pain of his loss?” He couldn’t even remember the man’s name. She’d mentioned it once or twice.
Not that he cared to recall the name of the man who still held Holly’s heart.
Sorrow radiated off this girl…woman…young and fragile beauty. He considered reaching out to take her in his arms but resisted the urge. His body was still wet since he hadn’t bothered to dry himself off before wrapping the towel around his waist. Droplets trailed down his neck, chest, and arms, but he ignored them. “You’ve been a widow several years now. Perhaps they’re right. It will be a long and lonely life for you if you insist on clinging to the past instead of looking forward.”
He knew she’d have no trouble finding a new husband. The girl was beautiful in a sad and haunting way. Well, she could also be vibrant and captivating when she wanted to be. He’d seen her in those few instances when she was laughing and chattering with her cousins.
He brushed a stray curl off her brow. “Perhaps you ought to consider reading the book instead of trying desperately to hide it.”
She tipped her chin up in indignation, but the gesture only brought attention to her big eyes and exceptionally pretty mouth. “What makes you think I’m desperate?”
“Other than the fact you stole in here after midnight, wearing only your nightgown and robe? You have bedroom slippers on your feet. Obviously, you waited for everyone in your family to fall asleep before stealing in here like a thief in the night.”
“Violet is my cousin. Now that she is married to your cousin, Romulus, this house is as much hers as it is his.”
“Ah, quite so. But it is not your house. You are breaking in.”
“Only to bury this book where it will never be found again.” She cleared her throat. “Well, perhaps you’re right. But I only meant to keep it hidden until they gave up on me and were read
y to ask for it back. This book should have gone to one of my sisters. They’re the ones in need of husbands.”
“And you sincerely believe you’re not?” Her golden curls were held back in a loose braid that fell below her nicely shaped bottom. What man would not wish to unbind that braid and bury his fingers in those long, silken strands?
What man wouldn’t wish to bury himself inside her?
Not him, of course. He tamped down the errant thought.
Holly was the sort of girl one married.
He was in no hurry to have a ring put through his nose and led to the altar. Quite the opposite, he’d reached a good plateau in his life. A rewarding position as a respected officer in the King’s 1st Dragoon Guards working as the War Ministry’s military liaison to Parliament. A decent income from his service and other Brayden family investments. All the women a man could possibly want or handle at one time.
Indeed, he did not lack for female companionship whenever he felt the need. “Holly, why are you so closed off to the possibility of love? Your cousins obviously have faith in that book since it seems to have worked its magic on them and their husbands. I can attest to that fact, having seen two Brayden men conquered. Romulus took about a minute and a half to fall in love with Violet. Finn took perhaps less than that to fall in love with your sister, Belle.”
“What are you suggesting? That you and I–”
“No.” Lord help him, he hadn’t meant for him and Holly to race to the altar. Not that she wasn’t irresistible. Perhaps it was not wise for them to be standing alone, him with no clothes on, and she with an easily untied robe and thin nightrail.
It would take him to the count of five to have those bedclothes off her, perhaps less time if he kept his full attention on the task. “I’m just pointing out this book seems to have worked its magic on them. Not just them, also on your cousin, Poppy, and her friends.”
She nodded. “All of England was abuzz when Olivia Gosling brought the mighty Beast to heel. Penelope Sherbourne wound up with the Scot of her dreams, Thad MacLauren.”
“Robbie MacLauren works with me in the halls of Parliament.”
She rolled her eyes. “He has an awful reputation with the ladies.”
Joshua chuckled. “He has a very good reputation among some ladies, but they’re not the sort one would ever introduce to one’s family. The point is, this book seems to have helped make very happy marriages for your cousins and their friends. You ought to be embracing it, not be afraid of it.”
“No.” She shook her head. “No, I cannot.”
Sighing, he held it out to her. “Take it, Holly. But I really think you ought to read it.”
“I have a better idea. You keep it.” She put her hand over his to stop him from returning it to her. “Perhaps it works for men, too.”
She removed her hand as though his touch suddenly burned. “I know you’re not keen to take a bride yet. But you will be eventually. Why not prepare yourself now? Read it. Whenever you are ready to marry, you’ll have a good idea of the sort of girl you want as your wife-to-be. Perhaps you’ll find a duke’s daughter for yourself.”
He laughed. “No, someone like that is too far above my station.”
“But isn’t this the entire point of the book? You’ve just said so yourself. Poppy’s friend Olivia got her Duke of Hartford. Poppy got her Earl of Welles. Honey got her Earl of Wycke. Why cannot Joshua Brayden aim as high as he wishes?”
Joshua’s thoughts were not on settling down with one woman. But this book could be used to his advantage. Why not? He could enjoy a feast of women using its knowledge. Seduce whomever he pleased. There were plenty of debutantes from the highest ranks who were beautiful and willing. A surprising number of them were not virgins.
He seemed able to tell the innocents from those who were merely feigning innocence. So why not go for a higher class of bedmate? Especially if he kept to the ones already initiated to the pleasures of the body.
He stared at Holly.
Well, he wasn’t always on the mark about innocence. She had been married. Her husband must have…at least once or twice during their marriage. Yet, she had the look of a girl untouched.
“Please, keep it for now.” She placed her hand over his once more. “Just promise to place it somewhere safe and give it back to me when I ask for it.”
He nodded. “You have my oath.”
They were standing so close, he caught the scent of lavender on her delicate skin and the scent of mint tea on her lips.
“Thank you, Joshua.” She reached up to kiss him lightly on the cheek, then opened the door and hurried out.
He’d been ambushed once or twice while fighting enemy forces and recalled the physical changes that came over him in the heat of such battles. The sudden surge of fire in his blood, the thunderous pounding of his heart, and heightening of his senses.
This is what he now felt after Holly’s kiss. Fire. Thunder. Exhilaration.
How is it possible?
He was still struggling to bring his body under control when the door opened again to reveal a slightly out of breath Holly.
Had she just experienced the same torrid response and sought more? A quick tumble? “Joshua, I need you.”
“I need you, too.”
“What?”
Oh, lord! She had no idea what he was talking about. “What?”
She eyed him dubiously. “I need your help in getting back over the wall.”
She pointed to the tall, stone wall between Romulus’s house and the Farthingale house. Romulus resided at Number One Chipping Way. The Farthingales resided at Number Three. They stood staring at each other, and Joshua suddenly all too aware of her. “Do you mean to say you scaled the wall between the homes. Why didn’t you just walk over?”
“The gates are locked. This was the simplest way to do it.”
He folded his arms over his chest and grinned at her. “Not so simple if you’re now stuck and can’t climb back over.”
“I can do it.” She pursed her lips and frowned at him. “I just have to drag one of the kitchen stools to the wall. You see, there’s a bench on the other side. I used it to help me over the wall and then merely dropped to this side. But I’ll need the same help getting over from this side. Would you be so kind as to return the stool where it properly belongs once I’m through using it?”
“No. You don’t need it. I’ll lift you up.”
Her cheeks were on fire again. “I don’t think it is necessary or appropriate.”
“Seriously? Appropriate? You’ve just seen me stark, raving naked.”
She cleared her throat. “Yes, um…well, I do hope you’ll take this little misunderstanding to the grave. Never mention it again. Not to anyone. Ever.”
He didn’t respond.
She sighed. “You’re the one who’ll be dragged to the altar and forced to marry me if word ever gets out. It’s no skin off my nose. I’ll have a nice-looking husband, and everyone will stop bothering me about this marriage business.”
“I thought you didn’t want to be married.”
“I don’t.”
He cast her a lazy smile. “But you’d muddle through if you had to marry me. I gather you enjoyed the sight of my body.”
“No! I…just get out of my way. If you’re not going to carry the stool for me, I’ll do it myself.”
He caught her about the waist and led her outside. “I just told you, I’ll lift you over.”
What was it about this girl’s body that had him in flames again? All he did was touch her innocently. One hand on her waist.
The night was cold, but you couldn’t tell it from him.
He was sweating. “Here, use my hands as a foothold.”
“Oh, I see. And then you can lift me up so I can easily reach the top.”
Which was a workable plan until she raised her robe and nightgown to her knees and propped her foot, which happened to be attached to an exquisitely shaped leg, onto his hands. She clutched his shoulders, the
n clutched his head. “Holly, grip the wall, not my head.”
“I’m afraid to let go. Don’t raise me so quickly.” She gave a muffled cry as she lost her balance.
Her bosom fell into his face.
Her foot fell out of his handhold.
Her body slid down his, her soft, plump breasts blazing a trail of fire down his chest. As if that wasn’t enough, she took down his towel at the same time her nightclothes slid upward so that he felt too much of her leg against his thighs, and he didn’t want to think about what more dangerous parts of him she felt against her silky thighs.
Thank the Graces, the cold had chilled his arousal just enough to keep her from screaming like a banshee in alarm. “Holly, I…” He didn’t know what to say, so he just laughed softly.
“Joshua, this isn’t funny! You’re naked again!” she said in an emphatic whisper.
“Whose fault is that?” He bent to retrieve his towel and felt her staring at his arse. “Holly, close your eyes.”
“What?” She gasped and planted her hands over her eyes. “You are a horrible man. How did we get in this ridiculous situation anyway? Never mind, don’t answer that. Just keep that book safe and get me over the wall without killing me in the process.”
“Right, let’s try this again.” He secured the towel around himself and then made another foothold with his hands. “Put one hand on my shoulder, and as I slowly lift you, take hold of the top of my head to steady yourself.” He raised her a little higher. “Now, grab hold of the wall with one hand.”
“I’m afraid to let go of you.”
“Bollocks, don’t start this again. You can do it. I have you. I won’t let you fall.”
“All right, but don’t move.”
“I won’t. Good. Now put the other hand on the wall. Excellent. Keep hold of the wall.”
He slowly raised her a little higher, meaning to issue more instructions, but her body fell against his mouth at just that moment. He almost expired when he realized his lips were resting against the junction of her thighs.
