Read Online Come Be My Love by Patricia Watters - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Patricia Watters
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your all-consuming goal again?" He gave her a slow, lingering smile. "I believe you were saying something about the injustice of our man-made laws. But I think you missed the point entirely. You fail to see that those laws are made for the benefit of women."
"Fiddlesticks!" Sarah pressed against his chest, releasing herself from his grip. "You know as well as I that you men make the laws with your own aims in mind. And because of them the women of Victoria are doomed to a life of fashionable dissipation. Unless, of course, someone offers a challenge."
"Fashionable dissipation?" Jon could not contain the rueful smile. "As I look around, I fail to see women in a state of fashionable dissipation."
"Of course you don't!" Sarah said, stamping her foot for emphasis. "You wouldn't know it if you saw it." Gathering her skirt, she climbed into the coach and sat opposite Esther who, with her boxes of purchases, had taken up one entire seat.
Jon crowded in beside her, aware of the firm set of her jaw. She had more grit and determination than any woman he'd ever come up against, he gave her that. And for some inexplicable reason, that intrigued him. Just sitting beside her with her body pressed against him and the flowery fragrance of her perfume filling his nostrils made him uncomfortably aware of a growing need. And the thought that she was undoubtedly adroit in the art of lovemaking and could quite aptly satisfy that need was becoming increasingly mind-consuming.
"Jon?" Esther asked, drawing his attention from Sarah. "Miss Ashley has expressed a desire to find permanent lodging. Do you know of a vacant cottage, or perhaps some rooms for let where she and her maid might stay?"
Jon thought for a moment, and said, “Joseph Pemberton has a furnished cottage this side of Cadboro Bay. He's wanting to find a tenant as soon as some work is completed."
Sarah looked at him and said, with interest, "How far is it?"
Jon shrugged. "Maybe a fifteen-minute ride from the house. But right now a carriage can't get through because a windstorm left some limbs across the road."
Sarah sighed her disappointment.
Esther said to Jon, "After church on Sunday, why don't you provide Sarah with a mare and ride with her to the cottage."
"A splendid idea," Jon said.
"I would appreciate the use of a horse, but I'm perfectly capable of finding my way to the cottage... alone," Sarah quickly replied. "I assure you, it's not necessary for you to escort me."
"I insist," Jon said. "You are a guest in our home, and I feel responsible for your welfare. Furthermore, an unescorted woman in this country is not safe." Which was true, though his reasons for wanting to escort Miss Sarah Ashley had nothing to do with protecting her. The fact was, he wanted to know more intimately the woman who lurked beneath Sarah Ashley's independent facade. Hell! Who was he fooling? He wanted to know more intimately the woman who lurked beneath her clothes, and that was the bare, raw truth.
"Thank you for your concern," Sarah replied, "but as man's equal, I am prepared to go forth with confidence and meet dangers with courage. And I am certainly capable of going there alone. But I would appreciate the use of a horse."
Steadying his gaze on her, Jon said in a firm voice, "Nevertheless, Miss Ashley, it's best that I accompany you, so if you wish to see the cottage, you'll have to contend with my presence."
Sarah sighed. "Very well then, if you insist."
Jon couldn't help but smile. Then he folded his arms, settled back against the coach, and contemplated the outing, and the scenario he hoped would take place inside that furnished cottage. According to his mother, via Harriet Galbraith, who'd spent some time in San Francisco, Sarah fled there because of a scandal. Although he usually placed no credence on the prattling from Harriet Galbraith's wagging tongue, this time there could be a measure of truth in it. Sarah's demeanor definitely hinted at a daring that went beyond mere dress
"Fiddlesticks!" Sarah pressed against his chest, releasing herself from his grip. "You know as well as I that you men make the laws with your own aims in mind. And because of them the women of Victoria are doomed to a life of fashionable dissipation. Unless, of course, someone offers a challenge."
"Fashionable dissipation?" Jon could not contain the rueful smile. "As I look around, I fail to see women in a state of fashionable dissipation."
"Of course you don't!" Sarah said, stamping her foot for emphasis. "You wouldn't know it if you saw it." Gathering her skirt, she climbed into the coach and sat opposite Esther who, with her boxes of purchases, had taken up one entire seat.
Jon crowded in beside her, aware of the firm set of her jaw. She had more grit and determination than any woman he'd ever come up against, he gave her that. And for some inexplicable reason, that intrigued him. Just sitting beside her with her body pressed against him and the flowery fragrance of her perfume filling his nostrils made him uncomfortably aware of a growing need. And the thought that she was undoubtedly adroit in the art of lovemaking and could quite aptly satisfy that need was becoming increasingly mind-consuming.
"Jon?" Esther asked, drawing his attention from Sarah. "Miss Ashley has expressed a desire to find permanent lodging. Do you know of a vacant cottage, or perhaps some rooms for let where she and her maid might stay?"
Jon thought for a moment, and said, “Joseph Pemberton has a furnished cottage this side of Cadboro Bay. He's wanting to find a tenant as soon as some work is completed."
Sarah looked at him and said, with interest, "How far is it?"
Jon shrugged. "Maybe a fifteen-minute ride from the house. But right now a carriage can't get through because a windstorm left some limbs across the road."
Sarah sighed her disappointment.
Esther said to Jon, "After church on Sunday, why don't you provide Sarah with a mare and ride with her to the cottage."
"A splendid idea," Jon said.
"I would appreciate the use of a horse, but I'm perfectly capable of finding my way to the cottage... alone," Sarah quickly replied. "I assure you, it's not necessary for you to escort me."
"I insist," Jon said. "You are a guest in our home, and I feel responsible for your welfare. Furthermore, an unescorted woman in this country is not safe." Which was true, though his reasons for wanting to escort Miss Sarah Ashley had nothing to do with protecting her. The fact was, he wanted to know more intimately the woman who lurked beneath Sarah Ashley's independent facade. Hell! Who was he fooling? He wanted to know more intimately the woman who lurked beneath her clothes, and that was the bare, raw truth.
"Thank you for your concern," Sarah replied, "but as man's equal, I am prepared to go forth with confidence and meet dangers with courage. And I am certainly capable of going there alone. But I would appreciate the use of a horse."
Steadying his gaze on her, Jon said in a firm voice, "Nevertheless, Miss Ashley, it's best that I accompany you, so if you wish to see the cottage, you'll have to contend with my presence."
Sarah sighed. "Very well then, if you insist."
Jon couldn't help but smile. Then he folded his arms, settled back against the coach, and contemplated the outing, and the scenario he hoped would take place inside that furnished cottage. According to his mother, via Harriet Galbraith, who'd spent some time in San Francisco, Sarah fled there because of a scandal. Although he usually placed no credence on the prattling from Harriet Galbraith's wagging tongue, this time there could be a measure of truth in it. Sarah's demeanor definitely hinted at a daring that went beyond mere dress
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