spirit that I see. You are yourself, and it is you that I am asking to marry.”
Her soft question was very steady. “You are sure?”
Adam crossed the music room to where she still sat at her harp. “My youthful love for Antonia was only a romantic dream.” He cupped her small chin with his hand, admiring the fearless directness of her fine gray eyes. “This is reality.” Then he bent over and kissed her, very gently.
Judith gasped, the harp strings making a sudden, discordant sound as her fingers clenched on them in unconscious reaction to the soft pressure of Adam’s lips. Her husband had believed that sensual pleasure had no place in a godly marriage.
There had been occasional intimacy before his illness weakened him too much. But it had been a furtive groping in the night, quickly ended, never alluded to in any way. Judith had patiently endured his fumblings, sure that the experience could be better, grateful that it wasn’t worse.
Being kissed by Adam was quite unlike anything she had known before. She instinctively raised her hand to his shoulder, wanting to draw him closer.
He responded by clasping her slim waist and raising her to her feet. She felt very small in his circling arms, but safe and cherished.
The gentleness Adam used told her that he had guessed a great deal about her marriage, and that he was taking exceptional care not to frighten her by going too quickly. Dimly she sensed the passion he was capable of, and as his hands expertly caressed sensitive areas of her back and neck, she knew he would be able to find matching passion in her.
Even so, Judith hesitated, wondering if what she felt was a strong enough foundation for marriage. She had sworn she would never marry again except for love. But what was love but comfort and caring? She and Adam had much in common, and they could cherish each other in a very special way.
And if she married him, she would never know want or helplessness again. Her decision made, she whispered, “Yes, Adam, I will be honored to marry you.” As she spoke, Judith was surprised to realize that there were tears on her cheeks.
She felt Adam’s tension ease, and he smiled in relief before producing a handkerchief and tenderly patting her cheeks dry. “Is marrying me such a fearsome prospect?” he asked, able to tease again.
“Not in the least.” Judith found herself smiling through her tears. “I am merely having trouble believing my good fortune.”
He pulled her close again and whispered a pledge. “I will do everything in my power to guarantee that you never regret accepting me.”
“I won’t,” she said quietly, surer now that she had made the right choice. She and Adam would be very good for each other.
They settled close together on the sofa. “When and where do you wish to be married? ” he asked. “You may have anything you like except a long engagement.”
“I can see why you are a successful man of affairs, Adam. You waste no time.” Judith melted within the circle of his arm, beginning to feel quite absurdly pleased. “I see no virtue in waiting, but I would rather not make any decision until Antonia and Simon are married. Even though their wedding will be very simple, it has kept me busy with planning.”
Her eyes narrowed in thought. “In fact, it might be better if we don’t mention our betrothal until after the wedding. The household is in enough uproar already.”
“I would rather announce it immediately, but I daresay I can keep the good tidings to myself for a few days,” he said philosophically.
Judith was gratified that Adam showed no strain at discussing Antonia’s marriage. It was not surprising that he had had a youthful infatuation for his beautiful cousin, but Judith believed that he truly had put that behind him.
And if he had spoken no words of love—well, neither had she. Both of them were beyond the age of romantic delusion.
* * * *
Lord Launceston realized that he had been staring at a blank
Her soft question was very steady. “You are sure?”
Adam crossed the music room to where she still sat at her harp. “My youthful love for Antonia was only a romantic dream.” He cupped her small chin with his hand, admiring the fearless directness of her fine gray eyes. “This is reality.” Then he bent over and kissed her, very gently.
Judith gasped, the harp strings making a sudden, discordant sound as her fingers clenched on them in unconscious reaction to the soft pressure of Adam’s lips. Her husband had believed that sensual pleasure had no place in a godly marriage.
There had been occasional intimacy before his illness weakened him too much. But it had been a furtive groping in the night, quickly ended, never alluded to in any way. Judith had patiently endured his fumblings, sure that the experience could be better, grateful that it wasn’t worse.
Being kissed by Adam was quite unlike anything she had known before. She instinctively raised her hand to his shoulder, wanting to draw him closer.
He responded by clasping her slim waist and raising her to her feet. She felt very small in his circling arms, but safe and cherished.
The gentleness Adam used told her that he had guessed a great deal about her marriage, and that he was taking exceptional care not to frighten her by going too quickly. Dimly she sensed the passion he was capable of, and as his hands expertly caressed sensitive areas of her back and neck, she knew he would be able to find matching passion in her.
Even so, Judith hesitated, wondering if what she felt was a strong enough foundation for marriage. She had sworn she would never marry again except for love. But what was love but comfort and caring? She and Adam had much in common, and they could cherish each other in a very special way.
And if she married him, she would never know want or helplessness again. Her decision made, she whispered, “Yes, Adam, I will be honored to marry you.” As she spoke, Judith was surprised to realize that there were tears on her cheeks.
She felt Adam’s tension ease, and he smiled in relief before producing a handkerchief and tenderly patting her cheeks dry. “Is marrying me such a fearsome prospect?” he asked, able to tease again.
“Not in the least.” Judith found herself smiling through her tears. “I am merely having trouble believing my good fortune.”
He pulled her close again and whispered a pledge. “I will do everything in my power to guarantee that you never regret accepting me.”
“I won’t,” she said quietly, surer now that she had made the right choice. She and Adam would be very good for each other.
They settled close together on the sofa. “When and where do you wish to be married? ” he asked. “You may have anything you like except a long engagement.”
“I can see why you are a successful man of affairs, Adam. You waste no time.” Judith melted within the circle of his arm, beginning to feel quite absurdly pleased. “I see no virtue in waiting, but I would rather not make any decision until Antonia and Simon are married. Even though their wedding will be very simple, it has kept me busy with planning.”
Her eyes narrowed in thought. “In fact, it might be better if we don’t mention our betrothal until after the wedding. The household is in enough uproar already.”
“I would rather announce it immediately, but I daresay I can keep the good tidings to myself for a few days,” he said philosophically.
Judith was gratified that Adam showed no strain at discussing Antonia’s marriage. It was not surprising that he had had a youthful infatuation for his beautiful cousin, but Judith believed that he truly had put that behind him.
And if he had spoken no words of love—well, neither had she. Both of them were beyond the age of romantic delusion.
* * * *
Lord Launceston realized that he had been staring at a blank
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