First Season / Bride to Be by Jane Ashford Page A

Anabel.” Bending, he kissed her. Once again Anabel felt that melting sensation in all her bones. His practiced hands knew just how to move, and she felt as if she were being carried away by an irresistible tide. She was powerless, motiveless; all her senses swam.
    It was some time before Norbury pulled away. His breathing had quickened, and his green eyes were clouded with desire. He held her away from him and laughed shakily. “Enough of that, I’m afraid. I can’t answer for myself otherwise. You fill my veins with fire, Anabel.”
    She blushed a little, half flattered, half confused. No one had ever said such things to her before.
    He took a deep breath and straightened. “When shall the wedding be? Soon.”
    â€œI…” She hadn’t thought further than the proposal.
    â€œNext month? There is no reason for us to wait.”
    â€œBut I must tell my mother, my family.”
    He smiled. “That will hardly take a month. Let us set it for a month from today.”
    He was so eager that she found it hard to resist him. But she wasn’t ready to go this far. “We can decide that later, can we not? There is so much to do.”
    Norbury frowned, then shrugged. “Very well. I’ll send the announcement to the Morning Post today, and you can begin your vast preparations.” He smiled again. “You must come down to Kent and meet my mother. She doesn’t get to London now. She will be delighted. Shall I tell her next week?”
    â€œI…” Anabel felt overwhelmed by all these sudden plans.
    â€œWe don’t want to leave it too long.”
    â€œI suppose I can.”
    â€œSplendid. I’ll write her today.”
    She made an effort to contribute something. “You must become better acquainted with my children also. Shall we go out together?”
    Norbury’s smile faded a bit. In his infatuation with Anabel, he had tried to forget that she was burdened with a family. He didn’t want to think of her as another man’s wife or as the mother of any but his children. “Of course.”
    She caught the change in his tone and looked up anxiously. “I’m sure you will love them when you know them.”
    â€œNo doubt.”
    â€œWhen shall we go? Monday, perhaps?”
    â€œI had thought of starting for Kent Monday.”
    â€œOh. Well, before that, then.” She frowned. “They are right here, after all. You needn’t go anywhere.”
    Seeing her growing concern, he nodded. “I can be free for a while on Saturday morning.”
    It seemed a grudging acceptance, and Anabel’s frown remained.
    â€œWhere would they like to go, do you think?” he added. “I know very little about children.”
    â€œThey love the park. We could go walking.”
    He nearly grimaced, but her expression made him suppress it. There would be plenty of time to deal with the children later. “I will see what I can arrange.”
    She smiled, relieved, though he had set no time.
    â€œAnd now I should go, I suppose.” He rose. “We shall be very busy for the next few weeks.”
    She got up and walked with him to the library door. There he paused and pulled her into his arms again, molding the length of her body to his. Anabel put her arms around him, feeling the movement of hard muscle in his back. “I can scarcely wait so long,” he murmured before bending to kiss her again.
    Only his embrace held her upright as his hands caressed her shoulders and back. She was again swept away by a tide of intense sensation. Her brain whirled with it, and when he drew away again, she found it hard to breathe.
    â€œI shall see you tonight,” he said, smiling. “And the announcement will be published tomorrow.” He went into the front hall, and she followed him shakily.
    When he was gone, Anabel returned to the library for a few moments to regain her composure. She must go upstairs and tell her