Lords Of Desire Part 42

"But I love it, Edith. Truly, I do. The school is a marvelous place; I'm so proud of John. Besides, I only go once or twice a week now that we've moved out to the Abbey. John's teaching me to drive and he says he'll buy me my own motorcar soon. That will make it so much easier to get back and forth."

"Your own motorcar? Surely you jest!"

"Indeed not," Christobel said indignantly. "I'm a perfectly able driver."

Edith just shook her head. "Honestly, you never cease to amaze me. Why, you make me feel so...so old-fas.h.i.+oned. Now that I think about it, you're quite like the town of Cranford, aren't you?"

"Are you saying I'm brash and ill-mannered?" Christobel teased. Truth be told, Cranford was beginning to grow on her.

"No, just that you're forward-thinking and capable. I think perhaps you-and Cranford, too-represent the future of England, while people like me, well..." She trailed off, shaking her head. "I fear we're more suited to the past. The world is changing so quickly, isn't it? I can only wonder what it will be like for little Ezekiel here."

Christobel shook her head. "Goodness, I've never known you to be so contemplative. Is that what motherhood does to you? Anyway," she continued, "I'll settle down soon enough with a babe of my own, and-"

"Do you mean that you're already-"

"Heavens, no!" she cut her off. "We've only been married two months, after all."

"Yes, but I'm fairly certain the pair of you got a head start on such matters," Edith said, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

"Edith!" she scolded, though of course it was true. Still, she hoped to have the renovations entirely complete at the Abbey before setting up a nursery. If only she could keep her hands off her husband. Her cheeks warmed at the thought.

"Why, you're blus.h.i.+ng, Christobel."

"Oh, shut up! Besides, it's your own fault. You're the one who not only insisted we play hide-and-seek that day, but who also paired us up."

"If I'd had my way on that particular day, I'd have paired you with Sir Edmund, instead. What a ninny I was!" She shook her head with a smile.

"Speaking of Sir Edmund, did you hear that he and Miss Bartlett are engaged?"

"No! Wherever did you hear that?"

Christobel folded her arms across her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, feeling smug. "I had it from Miss Bartlett herself, just last week. We've been corresponding, you know. I quite like her. You do realize this means that you made not one, but two successful matches this year?"

"Why, I suppose you're right, though the couples got a bit mixed up. Still, I expect I can take credit."

"Unmarried ladies and gentlemen from all over are going to be clamoring for your invitation come autumn. It shall be quite a spectacle, I think. Look, Zeke is waking up." He'd begun to make soft mewling noises as he rooted around. "He must be hungry."

Edith smiled warmly as she readjusted her bed jacket and placed the baby at her breast. "It hasn't even been two hours, greedy little b.u.g.g.e.r."

At the sound of a motor, Christobel rose and hurried to the window, drawing aside the drapes and craning her neck to make out the familiar sight of the s.h.i.+ny green motorcar chugging up the drive in a cloud of dust.

"There's John!" she said, her heart racing in antic.i.p.ation. "I'm glad he made it in time for supper. He's so looking forward to meeting his nephew." Dropping the drapes back into place, she turned back toward her sister. "Wait, not just his nephew-little Zeke is also John's first cousin once removed, isn't he? Goodness, I didn't think of that before now."

Edith c.o.c.ked her head to one side. "Why, I suppose you're right. Imagine that, some sort of double relation. Well, go on, I know you're dying to run down there and greet him. There's still time before supper; go off to the pond, or wherever it is you two lovebirds always go off to."

Christobel couldn't help but laugh. It was true; they did favor the ornamental pond. After all, John had proposed to her there. But not as much as we favor the old abandoned gristmill, she thought, smiling wickedly to herself.

Not half as much.

Dear readers, I hope you enjoyed meeting Lord and Lady Kilgorn in "The Naked Laird." They burst into my imagination while I was writing The Naked Baron, so I was delighted to have this chance to explore their love. (And I have to thank the ladies waiting in line at the 2007 RWA "Readers for Life" literacy autographing for the t.i.tle. It's quite amazing how much people enjoy brainstorming Naked candidates.) If you're curious about how Lord Dawson and Lady Grace (diehard Naked fans will remember them from The Naked Gentleman) and Alex Wilton and Lady Oxbury resolve their tangled pasts to find their happy endings, you don't have long to wait. The Naked Baron will be out in May 2009.

Thanks so much for being "A Naked Reader"!.

Sally.

SOME PLEASURES, ONCE TASTED....

Even after finding his betrothed in the arms of another man, Nicholas, Viscount Lancaster, knows he must wed. Propriety-and the dire state of his finances-decrees it. At least a visit to his country estate provides relief from playing the role of loving fiance, as well as a surprising encounter with Cynthia Merrithorpe. Once his childhood companion, Cynthia has grown into a lovely, alluring woman-one who's undertaken a daring ruse to avoid being sold into a miserable marriage.

ARE TOO DELICIOUS TO FORGET....

When Nicholas left for London to a.s.sume his new t.i.tle, Cynthia was forced to put aside her girlish infatuation. Now he's returned, more wickedly attractive than ever. And this time, Cynthia is determined to experience the pleasure she's dreamed of for so long. But with a man like Nicholas, seduction is only the beginning of a sensual journey that will tempt them both to defy convention, and uncover the very heart of desire....

Look for Victoria Dahl's.

ONE WEEK AS LOVERS,.

coming in August 2009!

A MIDNIGHT CLEAR.

Christmas at The Grandview Hotel is just the thing Miss Miranda Granger needs to heal her wounded heart and soul. While staying at the lavish new seaside resort perched on the beautiful but treacherous chalky cliffs of Eastbourne, she will supervise her wayward stepsisters, tend to her widowed father, and try to recover from the betrayal that damaged her pa.s.sionate spirit and left her forever ruined.

After months of desperate searching, enigmatic American painter Troy Davenport has finally located the object of his obsession, a fragile, brown-eyed siren named Miranda Granger, at The Grandview Hotel. He's been able to think of nothing else since a chance encounter with the then-anonymous woman on the deck of the ocean liner Lucania so many months ago. He plans to paint her-nothing more-until an undeniable pa.s.sion sparks between them. But when Troy's secrets lead to betrayal and heartbreak, it will take a Christmas miracle for him to reclaim the woman he's grown to love....

Look for Kristi Astor's.

A MIDNIGHT CLEAR,.

coming from Zebra Books.

in the fall of 2009!.

ISBN: 0-7582-3975-0.