in. It would only confuse everyone, especially little Louisa. We continue to look for Finn. If you think we should go to Williamsburg, then that’s where we’ll go. I’m not giving up.” Valerie wrapped her arms around Alec as he pulled her close, kissing her forehead.
“That’s my girl. No giving up.” With that, he finally climbed into bed and was asleep within minutes, leaving Valerie to ponder the wisdom of going to the capital.
Chapter 17
Louisa Whitfield continued to work on a chemise, looking serene in the morning light streaming through the window. She glanced at Annabel from time to time, waiting patiently for her to leave the room and go put Harry down for his afternoon nap, but her insides were jumping. She cast her eyes down to her work, pulling the needle through the fabric with quiet precision. He would be waiting for her in the garden. The garden was small and unkempt, but there was a tall hedge at the back that hid them from view of the house. Louisa put the needle down momentarily, unable to make even stitches as she recalled their last kiss. It had been so sweet, so tender. She’d asked Annabel if she could stay a few more days, using her love of Harry as an excuse, but it wasn’t Harry she was in love with, although she had to admit, he was as cherubic as they came. It was Tom she wanted to be close to.
At eighteen, Tom was her ideal of the perfect male. He was tall, handsome, and charming. His sky-blue eyes haunted her teenage dreams , and his soft lips turned her legs to jelly. Tom’s hair was a shade darker than his sister’s, a lovely honey-blond that looked like spun gold in the sun. Louisa was positive that this was love. She’d had a momentary passion for Kit when he first came to Rosewood, but that was just a childish fancy. What girl wouldn’t be mesmerized by those black eyes and roguish smile? After Aunt Louisa had told them how Kit saved her from the pirates, she was even more impressed. Louisa watched him from afar, imagining that some day she would meet a man just like Kit, who would marry her and sweep her off on romantic adventures. Louisa often became shy and tongue-tied around him, but Kit teased her, eventually making her giggle and forget her shyness.
Tom was different. Louisa tried to picture herself married to him. She sighed, thinking of how romantic it was to be married. Her mother had explained to her where children came from when she reached womanhood two years ago, leaving Louisa shocked and disgusted. She watched her father out of the corner of her eye, wondering if he did those things to her mother, but he must have, since they conceived her. Louisa eventually came to terms with the facts, watching the adults around her for signs of affection. Her parents kissed often, and once she saw Kit push her aunt up against a tree, kissing her roughly in the woods. It didn’t seem so bad. Aunt Louisa certainly didn’t seem too put out.
Louisa hadn’t entertained the notion of kissing anyone herself until she saw Tom. She’d seen him from time to time since Charles and Annabel married, but he’d been a gangly youth, never paying her more attention than propriety demanded. This time was different. He seemed to notice her as if for the first time as soon as she came to visit. Tom’s eyes followed her around the room, and a few days ago, he joined her for a walk in the garden, skillfully maneuvering her behind the hedge, where he took her in his arms and kissed her. Louisa thought her heart would explode with joy. His kiss left her in no doubt that he was the one. They’d met behind the hedge every day since, making the most of a few stolen moments of privacy. Louisa’s lips felt tender and tingly as she demurely walked around the garden afterward, needing a few moments to recover. She was sure he loved her. Now all she had to do was convince him to speak to her
“That’s my girl. No giving up.” With that, he finally climbed into bed and was asleep within minutes, leaving Valerie to ponder the wisdom of going to the capital.
Chapter 17
Louisa Whitfield continued to work on a chemise, looking serene in the morning light streaming through the window. She glanced at Annabel from time to time, waiting patiently for her to leave the room and go put Harry down for his afternoon nap, but her insides were jumping. She cast her eyes down to her work, pulling the needle through the fabric with quiet precision. He would be waiting for her in the garden. The garden was small and unkempt, but there was a tall hedge at the back that hid them from view of the house. Louisa put the needle down momentarily, unable to make even stitches as she recalled their last kiss. It had been so sweet, so tender. She’d asked Annabel if she could stay a few more days, using her love of Harry as an excuse, but it wasn’t Harry she was in love with, although she had to admit, he was as cherubic as they came. It was Tom she wanted to be close to.
At eighteen, Tom was her ideal of the perfect male. He was tall, handsome, and charming. His sky-blue eyes haunted her teenage dreams , and his soft lips turned her legs to jelly. Tom’s hair was a shade darker than his sister’s, a lovely honey-blond that looked like spun gold in the sun. Louisa was positive that this was love. She’d had a momentary passion for Kit when he first came to Rosewood, but that was just a childish fancy. What girl wouldn’t be mesmerized by those black eyes and roguish smile? After Aunt Louisa had told them how Kit saved her from the pirates, she was even more impressed. Louisa watched him from afar, imagining that some day she would meet a man just like Kit, who would marry her and sweep her off on romantic adventures. Louisa often became shy and tongue-tied around him, but Kit teased her, eventually making her giggle and forget her shyness.
Tom was different. Louisa tried to picture herself married to him. She sighed, thinking of how romantic it was to be married. Her mother had explained to her where children came from when she reached womanhood two years ago, leaving Louisa shocked and disgusted. She watched her father out of the corner of her eye, wondering if he did those things to her mother, but he must have, since they conceived her. Louisa eventually came to terms with the facts, watching the adults around her for signs of affection. Her parents kissed often, and once she saw Kit push her aunt up against a tree, kissing her roughly in the woods. It didn’t seem so bad. Aunt Louisa certainly didn’t seem too put out.
Louisa hadn’t entertained the notion of kissing anyone herself until she saw Tom. She’d seen him from time to time since Charles and Annabel married, but he’d been a gangly youth, never paying her more attention than propriety demanded. This time was different. He seemed to notice her as if for the first time as soon as she came to visit. Tom’s eyes followed her around the room, and a few days ago, he joined her for a walk in the garden, skillfully maneuvering her behind the hedge, where he took her in his arms and kissed her. Louisa thought her heart would explode with joy. His kiss left her in no doubt that he was the one. They’d met behind the hedge every day since, making the most of a few stolen moments of privacy. Louisa’s lips felt tender and tingly as she demurely walked around the garden afterward, needing a few moments to recover. She was sure he loved her. Now all she had to do was convince him to speak to her
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