Read Online Samantha James by Every Wish Fulfilled - Free Book Online

must say, Heather has done wonders. And, much to my wounded pride, all without my help.”
    “Well, you certainly tried hard enough.” His wife frowned at him good-naturedly. “You were constantly looking over her shoulder—and trying desperately not to let her know it.”
    “Oh, she knew it,” Heather injected dryly.
    They all laughed, while Miles smiled feebly. “What can I say? I taught her well.”
    The incredible blue of Heather’s eyes softened to a haze of violet. “That you did, Papa. That you did.”
    From the mantle, a mahogany clock tolled the passing of another hour. Victoria glanced between Beatrice and Christina. “Christina, it’s time to study for your Latin examination tomorrow. Bea, the dance master will be here shortly. You’d best see that all is ready in the music room.”
    Christina immediately rose, but the older girl’s full lips pouted. “Oh, Mama, must I? Please, let me stay.”
    Victoria arched a brow. “No, love.”
    “But he says I will never learn, that I have two left feet.”
    “Ah,” Victoria said lightly. “All the more reason to practice, practice, practice.”
    Beatrice sighed and murmured her good-byes. Damien smiled politely, but all the while his attention remained on Heather.
    The French doors behind her were slightly ajar. The breeze blew a wisp of hair across the curve of one cheek. He knew that, if he were to touch it, it would be as velvety-soft as the petal of a rose…he could almost feel it tickling against his skin. She raised a hand to brush it aside. He remembered the feel of her hand within his, small and dainty. A heaviness settled in his loins. God help him, he wanted to make love to her even more than he had yesterday morning….
    But what was this? He was immediately irritated with himself. He was acting like a green youth, as if he were smitten with the chit! Perhaps he’d been wrong last night. Perhaps he needed a woman after all. Maybe he should have taken that buxom, eager wench at the tavern. Perhaps then this fire in his blood would be quenched….
    Dimly he heard Victoria speaking. “Cook was telling me the spice peddler stopped by today. It seems there’s a traveling fair passing through the shire. It’s expected any day now. I remember, Heather, you always loved the jugglers when you were a child. Will you attend, do you think?”
    Damien scarcely heard her reply. The talk turned to other matters, but it wasn’t long before Heather reached for her cane. Damien wasted no time getting to his feet as well. The heat in hisloins had cooled, but the darkness in his heart had yet to lighten.
    Miles and Victoria accompanied them outside. While Miles handed Heather into the curricle, Damien resumed his place beside her.
    She picked up the reins, her regard on Miles. “What would you like for your birthday, Papa?”
    “Your prize ram,” he said promptly.
    Miles missed the wink that passed between Heather and Victoria, but Damien didn’t. When Heather laughed, a tinkling, musical sound, he felt as if he would splinter into a thousand pieces.
    “Think of something else, Papa.” With a final wave, they were off.
    Both were unaware of Victoria Grayson’s lingering gaze as the curricle sped away.
    She linked her arm through her husband’s. “Mr. Lewis seems a very nice young man, doesn’t he?”
    “Hmmm.”
    Together they strolled back inside. “Intelligent, too, wouldn’t you say?”
    “Most certainly. Heather’s made an excellent choice, if I do say so myself.”
    Victoria’s tone was innocence itself. “Bea had confided to me that Mr. Lewis was quite the handsomest man in all England. Do you suppose Heather thinks so, too?”
    Miles stopped short. “I beg your pardon?”
    Victoria chuckled.
    He blinked. “Heather, you say?”
    She reached up to touch his nose. Her tone wasairy. “Heather is a woman full-grown, my love—and she is not blind. But do you know, I do believe Bea is right.”
    She left Miles staring in dumbfounded