The Fictitious Marquis

by Alina Adams

  "I could have gone on pretending. I do not want you giving up the life you love, for me," Jamie insisted.

  "But it is you that I love, Jamie. More than everything else put together."

  His eyes lit up at her oft-repeated declaration, filling Julia with pleasure at the thought of being able to make him so happy. But, just as quickly as the merriment bloomed within his features, it faded away, leaving only guilt and failure.

  Awkwardly, Jamie struggled to second her emotion, finally needing to explain, "I am ever so sorry, Julia. But I have sworn false sentiments to so many women in my time, that now I cannot chance on a single untainted word worthy of my feelings for you. I want to tell the world how much you mean to me. Yet, I am afraid that the right word simply does not exist in the English language."

  Undaunted, she assured, "Then we shall make it up ourselves."

  He smiled at her determination.

  "Or . . ." Jamie playfully tapped one finger against Julia's lips, then touched it to his own mouth. "Perhaps it might be best if we simply act the feeling out for all to guess at."

  "A game of charades?" Julia laughed and reached for him. "Why, Mr. Lowell, what a splendid idea."

  And, by the time her arms finally slipped around Jamie's neck, the act he'd already imagined so many times felt sweetly and wonderfully familiar.