The Diary of Cozette
Page 34
“And is it my soul only that you find appealing, Miss Cozette?” Mischief sparkled in his good eye.
“You seem to have recovered from your discomfiture most quickly. Surely, it is a miracle from above.” He pushed me gently to my back and pinned me with his wicked gaze. “On second thought, I doubt your miraculous recovery has anything at all to do with what is above.”
He grinned and captured me between the strength of his muscular arms.
“Indeed, Miss Cozette, heaven waits below.”
“Let it not be said that you suffer from an overinflated ego, sir.” I shifted and found the miracle he spoke of resting firm on my thigh. A delicious shiver crept up my spine. “I do admire your tenacity, Mr. Henley.”
“So you’ll marry me, then?” He kissed me softly. “After all, I am a very well-to-do bloke. Perhaps you’ve heard?”
I silenced him with my hand. “In truth, my love, I am no worse off to pledge my troth to you and live as your partner, confidant and lover for the rest of my days. Would you have me, were these my terms?”
He assessed my face, as he had done so many times.
“Indeed, I have found you again, and with no intention of ever letting you from my sight, I would take you on whatever terms you wish. I want only to see your face each morning when I awake and have it be the last I see before I sleep.”
He drew me into his arms in an embrace that offered more than passion. He offered understanding and acceptance, as well.
“I love you, Cozette. I always have,” he whispered softly against my hair. “But if fate should afford us a child, promise that we will marry. I do not want my child to grow up as we did, without the love of a true family and a heritage to build on.”
I knew that Ernest saw me as an equal in passion and in life. He would see to my care as much as I would his. Besides, knowing the concentrated effort required for securing a heritage, I wrapped my arms around his neck and thought of the delightful days ahead. With such a delicious proposal, how could I refuse? I am in fact the author of my life, as these entries confirm. What new adventures lie just around the bend?
~Lady C.
About the Author
Hailing from the Midwest, Amanda McIntyre, aka Pamela Johnson, is the multigenre author of several novels, anthologies, novellas and short stories as well as nonfiction titles. Since publishing her first novel in 2001, she has received numerous industry awards, including a special recognition from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine for her anthology CRUMBS IN THE KEYBOARD, the proceeds of which benefited the education and awareness of domestic violence. Pamela lives with her family in Iowa and is currently working on her next erotic novel for Spice Books.
You can visit Amanda at www.AmandaMcIntyre.net.
Acknowledgments
Writing a book is a solitary endeavor and yet “it takes a village” to bring the dream to fruition. This book would not have been possible without the visionary gift of my editor, Susan Swinwood. I thank you for helping to launch this incredible journey.
THE DIARY OF COZETTE
ISBN: 978-1-4268-2253-7
Copyright © 2008 by Pamela Johnson.
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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.
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Table of Contents
Prologue
August 25, 1869
September 17, 1869
September 28, 1869
January 11, 1871
June 15, 1871
June 23, 1871
July 7, 1871
August 17, 1871
October 1, 1871
October 2, 1871
October 3, 1871
October 30, 1872
April 12, 1873
May 19, 1873
June 1, 1873
June 13, 1873
August 15, 1873
August 20, 1873
August 27, 1873
August 28, 1873
August 29, 1873
September 14, 1873
October 18, 1873
November 15, 1873
Later, November 15, 1873
November 27, 1873
December 10, 1873
December 11, 1873
December 23, 1873
December 24, 1873
December 25, 1873
January 12, 1874
March 31, 1874
April 7, 1874
April 9, 1874
April 23, 1874
April 24, 1874
April 25, 1874
May 21, 1874
Later, May 21, 1874
June 21, 1874
July 8, 1874
August 7, 1874
August 9, 1874
September 23, 1874
September 24, 1874
September 25, 1874
Later, September 25, 1874
September 26, 1874
September 26, 1874
September 27, 1874
October 1, 1874
October 2, 1874
November 3, 1874
Laundry day, November 4, 1874
November 25, 1874
December 10, 1874
December 23, 1874
Later, December 23, 1874
December 24, 1874
February 15, 1875
May 18, 1875
May 26, 1875
About the Author
Acknowledgments