Read Online The Wanton Widow - A Regency Novella by Caylen McQueen - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Caylen McQueen
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eyes.”
Willow flashed a smile at him as they headed into the stables, where she instructed the groom to prepare two horses. When they rode out, they stayed close to one another, fearing they might lose each other in the lattice of trees. As early as it was, Willow swore she could hear the hoot of an owl overhead. The orange sunrise seemed to set the branches ablaze.
When they were out of the forest, Edward followed Willow to a hillside, where she dismounted her horse and sat in the grass. But the dew was heavy, so she hopped up almost immediately. But it was too late. Her breeches were dampened by the dew, making them quite uncomfortable to wear.
“ It's beautiful out here,” Edward said, admiring the halo of light that surrounded the early morning sun.
Willow's horse prodded her in the back, so she gave his snout a scratch. “It is beautiful,” she agreed. His gaze was fixed on the sunrise, but her gaze was fixed on his profile. The longer she was in his presence, the more handsome he was. “Edward...?”
He turned in her direction. “Yes?”
“ There is something I have to say,” Willow said. “I might regret it, but I know I would regret it more if these words were left unsaid.”
“ What is it?”
“ For the past week or so, I have thoroughly enjoyed your company.”
“ As I have enjoyed yours.”
“ You're not like other men,” Willow said. As soon as she saw him frown, she added, “And I mean that in a good way. Other men might claim to be gentlemen, but you are a true gentleman. All along, you have treated me with kindness and respect. I enjoy our conversations so much...”
“ As do I,” he echoed. “And I believe I might have a new affinity for pinches.”
“ An affinity for pinches?!” she repeated with a giggle. “Am I going to have to come up with a new punishment for stammering, Mr. Harcourt?!”
“ You might... for when I catch myself stuttering, it's almost as if I anticipate it,” Edward said, smiling cheekily. “I wait for it. It gives me pleasure.”
“ Next time, I'll have to box your ears!” Willow wagged a finger at him as she issued her threat. “Anyway, you have taken me off course. What I mean to say is... I care for you a great deal.”
“ And I care for you,” Edward parroted. “Your friendship means so much to me, Willow.”
“ Friendship ...” Willow was crestfallen as she repeated the word. “You see... that's the thing, Edward. I don't want your friendship.”
“ P-pardon?”
As intense as the moment was, she didn't feel like pinching him or boxing his ears. “The fact of the matter is... I think I might be falling for you.”
There was silence for several seconds, apart from the chirping of the birds in the nearby trees. Edward blinked several times, thoroughly taken aback by the widow's admission.
“ I think about you every second of the day, but I don't know why,” Willow went on. “When I hear you talk about Jane Abrahms, it makes my heart ache, because I want so badly for you to say those things about me !”
“ Willow, I...”
“ Wait!” She held up a finger, so he allowed her to continue. “You've never held a woman in your arms... I want you to hold me in your arms. You say you have never been kissed, but I want so desperately to kiss you!” Willow coiled her arms around her body, hugging herself. “The worst of it is... I don't feel like I deserve you! And I know you could never be with me, nor would you want to be with me. Nevertheless, I felt it was necessary to tell you exactly how I feel.”
Edward opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out. He was more tongue-tied than he had ever been in his life.
“ You have no reason to lack confidence, Edward,” Willow continued. “You are handsome and kind and thoughtful and charming. What woman could possibly ask for anything more?!”
“ I... had no idea you felt this way.” When Edward blinked, he swore he could see stars in his eyes.
“ Last night, Philip
Willow flashed a smile at him as they headed into the stables, where she instructed the groom to prepare two horses. When they rode out, they stayed close to one another, fearing they might lose each other in the lattice of trees. As early as it was, Willow swore she could hear the hoot of an owl overhead. The orange sunrise seemed to set the branches ablaze.
When they were out of the forest, Edward followed Willow to a hillside, where she dismounted her horse and sat in the grass. But the dew was heavy, so she hopped up almost immediately. But it was too late. Her breeches were dampened by the dew, making them quite uncomfortable to wear.
“ It's beautiful out here,” Edward said, admiring the halo of light that surrounded the early morning sun.
Willow's horse prodded her in the back, so she gave his snout a scratch. “It is beautiful,” she agreed. His gaze was fixed on the sunrise, but her gaze was fixed on his profile. The longer she was in his presence, the more handsome he was. “Edward...?”
He turned in her direction. “Yes?”
“ There is something I have to say,” Willow said. “I might regret it, but I know I would regret it more if these words were left unsaid.”
“ What is it?”
“ For the past week or so, I have thoroughly enjoyed your company.”
“ As I have enjoyed yours.”
“ You're not like other men,” Willow said. As soon as she saw him frown, she added, “And I mean that in a good way. Other men might claim to be gentlemen, but you are a true gentleman. All along, you have treated me with kindness and respect. I enjoy our conversations so much...”
“ As do I,” he echoed. “And I believe I might have a new affinity for pinches.”
“ An affinity for pinches?!” she repeated with a giggle. “Am I going to have to come up with a new punishment for stammering, Mr. Harcourt?!”
“ You might... for when I catch myself stuttering, it's almost as if I anticipate it,” Edward said, smiling cheekily. “I wait for it. It gives me pleasure.”
“ Next time, I'll have to box your ears!” Willow wagged a finger at him as she issued her threat. “Anyway, you have taken me off course. What I mean to say is... I care for you a great deal.”
“ And I care for you,” Edward parroted. “Your friendship means so much to me, Willow.”
“ Friendship ...” Willow was crestfallen as she repeated the word. “You see... that's the thing, Edward. I don't want your friendship.”
“ P-pardon?”
As intense as the moment was, she didn't feel like pinching him or boxing his ears. “The fact of the matter is... I think I might be falling for you.”
There was silence for several seconds, apart from the chirping of the birds in the nearby trees. Edward blinked several times, thoroughly taken aback by the widow's admission.
“ I think about you every second of the day, but I don't know why,” Willow went on. “When I hear you talk about Jane Abrahms, it makes my heart ache, because I want so badly for you to say those things about me !”
“ Willow, I...”
“ Wait!” She held up a finger, so he allowed her to continue. “You've never held a woman in your arms... I want you to hold me in your arms. You say you have never been kissed, but I want so desperately to kiss you!” Willow coiled her arms around her body, hugging herself. “The worst of it is... I don't feel like I deserve you! And I know you could never be with me, nor would you want to be with me. Nevertheless, I felt it was necessary to tell you exactly how I feel.”
Edward opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out. He was more tongue-tied than he had ever been in his life.
“ You have no reason to lack confidence, Edward,” Willow continued. “You are handsome and kind and thoughtful and charming. What woman could possibly ask for anything more?!”
“ I... had no idea you felt this way.” When Edward blinked, he swore he could see stars in his eyes.
“ Last night, Philip
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