Samantha Holt - Sinful Temptations (Cynfell Brothers Book 6)

by Unknown

  “Is everything well, darling?” she asked as her daughter chewed on her bottom lip.

  “Yes. I was just thinking of last week when we went to London.”

  A tiny pang of dread sparked low in Anna’s stomach. “Oh yes?”

  “People are fools,” she announced.

  “That they are.”

  “I do wish you would say something, Mama. No one should be so rude.”

  Anna shook her head at her daughter’s determined expression. At her age, she was old enough to understand at least a little of her mother’s past. And she had, unfortunately, heard a few snide comments that occasionally came her way. The gossip had lessened over the years and with her marriage and the business thriving, many members of London society had come to respect her. But the taint of the past still lingered, and she hated that it touched Alice.

  “If I say anything, I shall only be lowering myself to their level. We must behave with dignity and grace.”

  Her chin jutted up. “Or we could show them who they are dealing with.”

  Anna chuckled. Her daughter already had more confidence and wit than she’d ever had. If any child could deal with the vicious world London society could be, it was her. Though there had been times when she’d feared for her daughter, entering that world one day, that fear disappeared by the day.

  “As long as you show them with dignity and grace, that is all that I ask.”

  “I cannot wait for my debut. I shall show them what us Cynfells are truly about.”

  “No doubt you will.” Anna strode over and gave her daughter a kiss on the forehead. “Now, I must search out your father and remind him your uncles are arriving tonight.”

  “Do you need any help preparing, Mama?”

  “Most of it is in hand, but why do you not check with the maids and ensure the rooms are all prepared?”

  “Of course.”

  Alice hurried off, skirts in hand. Anna watched her hasten away, skipping like a little girl. She was caught on the precipice between adulthood and childhood and it made her heart ache sometimes for that lovely child. Yet she could not help but be proud of the woman she was slowly becoming.

  Smiling to herself, she made her way out of the hallway and down the steps toward the gravel road that circled the front of the house. Sun touched her face and she peered at the cloudless blue sky. Perfect weather for a garden party, thankfully. With all of the family visiting, even in their rather large house, they would need the use of the gardens. The Cynfell brothers and their families did manage to take up a lot of space, especially those men.

  She strode past the fountain, briefly watching the birds splash about in the water before heading down toward the paddock. She spotted Harris with a stallion. As she neared, that familiar warmth budded low in her belly at the sight of him. They might wake up together most mornings but she still missed him while she’d been working.

  His jacket hung discarded on the fencing, and he wore only a loose shirt and some old trousers. He moved around the stallion with such care, and she could already see the connection building with the beast. She admired his patience and how he dealt with the stubborn animals. She also couldn’t help think back to how he had done the same with her. Not that anyone could tame her, but he’d shown her so much. There was no chance she would be living this wonderful life without him.

  “Will you be coming in for lunch?” she called when she got to the fence.

  He glanced her way and flashed her a grin that had her heart stuttering. “Who can resist an invitation from you, Anna?”

  He made his way over to her and perched his arms on the fencing. Leaning over, he kissed her on the lips. “Did you have a good morning?”

  “Yes, I was just arranging all the food for the next few days.”

  “It’s been a while since the Cynfells gathered together.”

  Anna gave her husband a look. “There’s a reason for that.”

  He chuckled and leaped nimbly over the fence. If it was not for the scar on his leg, one wouldn’t have known he had ever been shot.

  “And what would that be, dear wife?” He swiped his hands down his shirt and took her in his arms. The way he looked into her eyes had her falling in love with him all over again. Each day, it seemed, she fell just a little bit more. How that was possible, she did not know, but she wouldn’t complain.

  “You Cynfells are terribly good at getting yourselves into trouble.”

  “Don’t forget you have to include yourself in that remark.”

  “I am never trouble,” she declared, wrapping her arms about his neck.

  “You are always trouble. Thankfully I love trouble.” He lowered his mouth to hers and paused, whispering against her lips, “I love you.”

  The End

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