Author: admin

He grinned and backed from the room. Alessia turned and stared at Claire’s mother in abject horror. Now what? By late afternoon, the woman still hadn’t awakened, and Nicholas’s other guests began arriving. The Gallamores arrived first: Monty and Ellen, a couple in their sixties. Alessia had them settled just as Mrs. Pratt announced the…

Quinn cast her a loving smile and placed his hand over hers, and a niggle of envy dipped in Alessia’s chest. It was replaced by sadness when she remembered the last time she’d felt just this way: when Stephen and Claire had looked at each other and he’d spoken to her so lovingly. She’d thought…

He parted his lips and felt a shiver run through her body. He touched his tongue to her warm sleek skin, and a sigh escaped her lips, the heat puffing against his shoulder. His body tensed, nipples drawing tight, and the next instant her palm flattened against his chest. He’d never felt anything quite as…

He finished his wine, savoring the last sip with a look of self-satisfaction. Milos, too, seemed to be waiting expectantly for Nicholas to reveal more, and, bolder than Alessia, he asked, “Well, who is this mystery woman who is coming?” Nicholas held Alessia’s gaze and replied to Milos’s question. “Claire’s mother.” Claire’s mother. Alessia’s heart…

A small child appeared in the crack that opened. “Yeah?” “Hello there. Is this Thomas Crane’s house?” “My pa cain’t get ’round just yet,” he said. “I know. That’s why I’m here. Is-is your mother here, please?” “Mama’s abed sick. If you got wash, you can take it to the Paulsons’. It’s down there a…

Gruver staggered to his feet and stood blinking. Soapsuds dripped from his face and clothing onto the soaked floor. “I-I beg your pardon, Mr. Halliday,” Penelope stammered. “The Hallidays have a dinner guest” Mrs. Pratt’s tone was scathing. “Your childish pranks are best saved for your own time and at the expense of your own…

Alessia didn’t even know the woman’s name. She wouldn’t recognize her if she danced on her traveling case and sang “Camptown Races” at the top of her lungs. Alessia wrung her hands and racked her brain for a solution. “Claire, you’re positively white! Let me fetch Mrs. Trent to see to William, and I’ll help…

Those were not impressions one had of a brother. She hadn’t even experienced those self-torturing and humiliating thoughts about Gaylen, and he’d convinced her to forfeit her virginity to him! She would have married him! That thought brought her up short. Had she loved him? Perhaps his flight had been the best thing. One day…

“I certainly do understand, darling,” Elizabeth said. “Having two babies of my own, I remember all too well. Don’t give it a second thought. We’ll do it again, and I’ll see you Thursday of next week.” Relieved, Alessia gave her hand a grateful squeeze, gathered her crutches and hurried from the restaurant. She studied the…

“And you would discredit her for loving your brother?” “Not if William is really my brother’s child.” Milos worked his jaw and stood with his weight on one leg. He sliced the air with the edge of a palm, punctuating his next sentence. “Do you have reason to believe he’s not William’s child?” “I have…