Read Online When the Heather Blooms by Gwen Kirkwood - Free Book Online Page B

his gaze as her hands roused him still more.
    â€˜No!’ He leapt out of the bath, splashing water everywhere, but Libby didn’t care as he hugged her against him, pushing aside her gown so that they were skin to skin, pressed together. ‘I don’t know what’s got into you, wife o’ mine, but whatever it is I like it.’ His mouth nuzzled the softness of her breasts.
    â€˜Would you like your dinner now?’ Libby asked innocently.
    â€˜Dinner!’ he growled. ‘I thought I was hungry but it’s you I want to devour.’ He lifted her in his arms and carried her to their bedroom, falling onto the bed together, unwilling to part from her, even for a moment. Libby felt liberated for the first time in her life and her response was everything Billy could desire but he sighed as he drew away to reach for the drawer where he kept the hated condoms. ‘Passion killers’ he called them. Libby held his arm. ‘There’s no need for them anymore.’
    â€˜What?’ His eyes widened as he stared down into her flushed face and shining eyes. ‘You’ve been to the doctor? You – you …? I don’t …’
    â€˜Love me Billy, just love me. Now …’
    He did.
    Much later they ate by the light of the candles. Outside the birds sang their last songs of the day as the calm of the April evening descended. Through the window the sun set in a glory of vermilion and gold, aquamarine and orange as the purple shadows of evening enveloped the world at the close of the day.
    Libby felt loved and cherished beyond her wildest imaginings as Billy came to stand behind her, his arms sliding under her arms, drawing her close.
    â€˜I love you so much, Libby.’     
    The following evening Libby drove to her Gran’s cottage on her way home from work. She had warned Billy she would be a little late.
    â€˜Charlotte will be coming to stay tomorrow and I want to persuade Granny Pringle to come here for Easter Sunday lunch. I want her to meet Charlotte so much. I want them to like each other, or at least accept each other.’ She smiled at Billy and stretched her arms wide. ‘I want everyone in the world to be as happy as we are.’
    â€˜That’s impossible,’ Billy grinned, seizing her and whirling her around until she was dizzy. He gave her a lingering kiss. ‘If you don’t leave now I shall imprison you here for the rest of the day.’ Then more seriously he added. ‘I’ll come with you to your Granny’s this evening, if you think it would help? After all Charlotte is my half-sister.’
    â€˜When Granny makes up her mind nothing helps,’ Libby said, pouting her lower lip. ‘But I intend to have a good try. I don’t want her to spoil Easter for any of us, including Uncle Josh. I know he believes he’s too old for Charlotte, but she does like him and she trusts him. She will be finished at college in a few weeks’ time so she will not be his student then. If he does love her I think he ought to have his chance of happiness too.’
    â€˜Oh, I couldn’t agree more,’ Billy agreed, ‘but he will never marry Charlotte if it means hurting his mother. We both know your Granny has plenty of reasons to hate the Crainbys.’
    â€˜Only Henrietta Crainby,’ Libby said. ‘She liked everyone else. She says everyone respected Sir William and he was Charlotte’s grandfather as well as yours.’
    â€˜Maybe, but that bitch of a woman was Charlotte’s mother, however much we all wish she wasn’t. Anyway, if anyone can win your granny round, it’s you, my wee charmer, and I hope you succeed. I like your Uncle Josh. He’s genuine and sincere and I know how rare that is.’ There was a familiar trace of bitterness in Billy’s tone. Libby stepped close again and gave him an extra hug and another goodbye kiss.
    All day she had