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EXCERPT
“All that—for the one book?” He wanted suddenly, to dance a jig. To shout his delight. To grab her up and kiss her senseless. “Do you know what I can do with that money? New roofs for my tenants. Modern equipment. Enough seed for multiple new fields!” He did cross over to her, then, moving carefully until he grew close enough to grasp both of her hands. “The first time I saw you, I thought you looked like a Christmas sprite, come to life. And now, you have saved my Christmas—and possibly the future of my estate.”
Her eyes shone. “I’m so glad.”
Ellesworth stilled. “But if you mean to find a place with the duke as caretaker of his libraries . . .” It struck him—just what she’d given up. “You would have been wiser to keep this knowledge to yourself—to advise the duke of my ignorance rather than remove it.”
She lifted a shoulder and gave a wry little twist of her mouth. “I’m finding that I am not particularly wise, my lord—not when it comes to you.”
Once again, bravely said. She was courage and light and all at once he could scarcely catch his breath. The soft strip of skin at her wrists stole it away. The bare spot behind her ear called him. The short space between them pulsed with heat and aching awareness. He was a mess of tangled tension, gratitude and frustration.
Her expression shifted, suddenly. She looked nervous and sly at once. “I was smart enough, though, to arrange for that bit of mistletoe.”
She looked up. He followed the motion and found a small kissing bough hanging on the rod above them.
And that was it—all he could take. He could resist not a moment more. He swept her into his arms, trying to keep hold on a tidal wave of desire.
“All that—for the one book?” He wanted suddenly, to dance a jig. To shout his delight. To grab her up and kiss her senseless. “Do you know what I can do with that money? New roofs for my tenants. Modern equipment. Enough seed for multiple new fields!” He did cross over to her, then, moving carefully until he grew close enough to grasp both of her hands. “The first time I saw you, I thought you looked like a Christmas sprite, come to life. And now, you have saved my Christmas—and possibly the future of my estate.”
Her eyes shone. “I’m so glad.”
Ellesworth stilled. “But if you mean to find a place with the duke as caretaker of his libraries . . .” It struck him—just what she’d given up. “You would have been wiser to keep this knowledge to yourself—to advise the duke of my ignorance rather than remove it.”
She lifted a shoulder and gave a wry little twist of her mouth. “I’m finding that I am not particularly wise, my lord—not when it comes to you.”
Once again, bravely said. She was courage and light and all at once he could scarcely catch his breath. The soft strip of skin at her wrists stole it away. The bare spot behind her ear called him. The short space between them pulsed with heat and aching awareness. He was a mess of tangled tension, gratitude and frustration.
Her expression shifted, suddenly. She looked nervous and sly at once. “I was smart enough, though, to arrange for that bit of mistletoe.”
She looked up. He followed the motion and found a small kissing bough hanging on the rod above them.
And that was it—all he could take. He could resist not a moment more. He swept her into his arms, trying to keep hold on a tidal wave of desire.
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