affections. Not that he could resist Camellia when she put her mind to attracting him. No one could.
He stood in the foyer, even handsomer than she remembered. His gray uniform was pressed, and he had his slouch hat tucked under his right arm. He lifted his head and watched as they floated down, his eyes glowing with appreciation.
Camellia’s heart soared. She and Jane reached him at the same time, but she stepped away to allow him to hug and kiss his sister.
When he turned toward her, she sank into a deep curtsy to exhibit her gracefulness. Straightening, she extended her gloved hand for his salute.
He bent and placed a kiss on her knuckles. “I’m the luckiest man in New Orleans.”
A tiny splinter of disappointment buried itself in her mind. Where was the tingle she had expected from his touch? Was it because of her glove? A more daring man might have turned her hand over and placed a kiss on the inside of her wrist. Camellia shook her head to banish the thought and allowed her lips to curve into an admiring smile. “We are the lucky ones to be escorted by a true hero.”
“I’m thankful to have two of the people I love the most right here with me.” Jane’s pleasure was reflected in her radiant smile.
The captain helped them with their cloaks. Did his hands linger a second or two as he settled the dark velvet across her shoulders? Camellia hoped she was not imagining the tiny detail. Whether she tingled at his touch or not, she still knew Thaddeus was the man she was destined to marry.
The sun was setting as they arrived in the Vieux Carre, embarrassing the sky into a deep blush. Camellia wished she could emulate it as Captain Watkins handed her out of the carriage. She needed to get rid of her gloves. Perhaps she could leave them behind in the hotel during their meal. Frozen fingers would be a small price to pay to feel his skin on hers.
Soldiers wearing uniforms of all styles and states of repair filled the lobby. They stood in small knots, laughing and talking. But as Camellia and Jane gave their coats over to be held for them, the conversations hushed. She looked around to see that they were the center of attention. Unsettled, she looked at the captain.
His smile comforted her. “I cannot blame them for looking when I can hardly tear my own eyes from your face.”
Camellia wanted to blush. That’s what she was supposed to do when a man complimented her, but her heart continued its steady pace. She grabbed the fan dangling from her wrist and opened it to hide her lack of emotional upheaval.
One of the men separated himself from the others and moved toward them. His hair was so white Camellia at first thought he was an older gentlemen, but as he drew closer, she realized her mistake. He was about the same age as Jane’s brother, but his freckled face was nowhere near as handsome. “Thad, you rascal, you didn’t tell anyone you would be entertaining two ladies.”
The captain made a face but turned to the man who had hailed him. “Jane, Miss Anderson, allow me to introduce Lieutenant Harold Baxter, a bold scoundrel who does not mind presuming on the barest of acquaintance.”
Camellia didn’t realize he only had one arm until he bowed and his coat sleeve dangled free. She glanced away and caught the expression of sympathy on Jane’s face. It shamed her into donning a smile and turning back to the lieutenant.
“Harry, this is my sister, Jane, and her friend, Miss Camellia Anderson.”
The lieutenant grinned at them. “If I weren’t bold, I’d never get to meet the prettiest girls.”
Other men began drifting in their direction, their gazes curious. Lieutenant Baxter held out his good arm to Jane, and he winked at Thad. “I think we’d better get these two ladies into the dining room before we are overrun by the less enterprising officers present.”
Jane’s brother opened his mouth to say something but was forestalled when she put her hand on the other soldier’s good arm. With a
He stood in the foyer, even handsomer than she remembered. His gray uniform was pressed, and he had his slouch hat tucked under his right arm. He lifted his head and watched as they floated down, his eyes glowing with appreciation.
Camellia’s heart soared. She and Jane reached him at the same time, but she stepped away to allow him to hug and kiss his sister.
When he turned toward her, she sank into a deep curtsy to exhibit her gracefulness. Straightening, she extended her gloved hand for his salute.
He bent and placed a kiss on her knuckles. “I’m the luckiest man in New Orleans.”
A tiny splinter of disappointment buried itself in her mind. Where was the tingle she had expected from his touch? Was it because of her glove? A more daring man might have turned her hand over and placed a kiss on the inside of her wrist. Camellia shook her head to banish the thought and allowed her lips to curve into an admiring smile. “We are the lucky ones to be escorted by a true hero.”
“I’m thankful to have two of the people I love the most right here with me.” Jane’s pleasure was reflected in her radiant smile.
The captain helped them with their cloaks. Did his hands linger a second or two as he settled the dark velvet across her shoulders? Camellia hoped she was not imagining the tiny detail. Whether she tingled at his touch or not, she still knew Thaddeus was the man she was destined to marry.
The sun was setting as they arrived in the Vieux Carre, embarrassing the sky into a deep blush. Camellia wished she could emulate it as Captain Watkins handed her out of the carriage. She needed to get rid of her gloves. Perhaps she could leave them behind in the hotel during their meal. Frozen fingers would be a small price to pay to feel his skin on hers.
Soldiers wearing uniforms of all styles and states of repair filled the lobby. They stood in small knots, laughing and talking. But as Camellia and Jane gave their coats over to be held for them, the conversations hushed. She looked around to see that they were the center of attention. Unsettled, she looked at the captain.
His smile comforted her. “I cannot blame them for looking when I can hardly tear my own eyes from your face.”
Camellia wanted to blush. That’s what she was supposed to do when a man complimented her, but her heart continued its steady pace. She grabbed the fan dangling from her wrist and opened it to hide her lack of emotional upheaval.
One of the men separated himself from the others and moved toward them. His hair was so white Camellia at first thought he was an older gentlemen, but as he drew closer, she realized her mistake. He was about the same age as Jane’s brother, but his freckled face was nowhere near as handsome. “Thad, you rascal, you didn’t tell anyone you would be entertaining two ladies.”
The captain made a face but turned to the man who had hailed him. “Jane, Miss Anderson, allow me to introduce Lieutenant Harold Baxter, a bold scoundrel who does not mind presuming on the barest of acquaintance.”
Camellia didn’t realize he only had one arm until he bowed and his coat sleeve dangled free. She glanced away and caught the expression of sympathy on Jane’s face. It shamed her into donning a smile and turning back to the lieutenant.
“Harry, this is my sister, Jane, and her friend, Miss Camellia Anderson.”
The lieutenant grinned at them. “If I weren’t bold, I’d never get to meet the prettiest girls.”
Other men began drifting in their direction, their gazes curious. Lieutenant Baxter held out his good arm to Jane, and he winked at Thad. “I think we’d better get these two ladies into the dining room before we are overrun by the less enterprising officers present.”
Jane’s brother opened his mouth to say something but was forestalled when she put her hand on the other soldier’s good arm. With a
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