A vigorous tramp through the home wood to collect greenery, one of the pleasures of the Christmas season, had heightened his anticipation. Soon Frances Burdett would arrive, and after a year of patience—and no women—he would finally get on with his life. Not that he’d chos...
London: January, 1802A lady should never run, but Arabella Wilbanks lifted her skirts and positively sprinted up Cavendish Street toward home. “There must be some mistake,” she panted at Ralph, her footman, who was doing his best to keep up. “My uncle wouldn’t dare do such a thing!”Ralph nodd...
Juma dozed off after a stony, sullen hour with Beowulf and a book light. Rose cradled the camellia blossom while Jack went from news to music to a football game on the radio. He made a few unsuccessful attempts to reach Gil and asked a couple of questions about features of her phone, but nothing ...
"Hold on a minute.""Let go of me!" Ophelia ripped herself away from him.Lord Almighty. "Look, Ms. Beliveau," Gideon tried, "I don't know what you've been through, or why you can't let yourself be pleasant with me, but my sister's at risk. If you won't tell me what you're planning, I have no choic...
Theodora Southern swerved to avoid one of the rowdy guests at the New Year’s Eve celebration at Westerly House. She had had enough of the worst Christmas house party ever. She glanced behind her, but Maynard Buxton, the bane of her existence, was doing his best to coax one...
From his vantage point high up in the live oak at the top of Papa Mound, he could see all three mounds and the museum. Over by Mama Mound, his people were clearing what little trash remained from last night’s concert. He’d had them remove the firewood and kindling from Papa Mound first. The disgr...
Not about falling lanterns, of course, but in a complicated way. Usually, he knew what he wanted and persevered until he got it. When it came to Edwina, he couldn’t think straight. He wanted to bed her—of course. Marry her? He didn’t know. He’d been through one uneasy marriage and couldn’t stomac...
Judging by legend, this particular mutation has existed for millennia but is still sufficiently rare that most people don’t believe such beings exist. D. Tull, Society for the Protection of Not-So-Mythical Beings “You dragged me back from Mongolia for nothing.” Gerry Kingsley managed to stop hims...