by Janet Woods
Halfway up the stairs was a small landing where they turned at an angle. Above, a window of multicoloured glass let in the light. He pulled her down on to a stair. ‘You look pretty in blue.’
‘Charles—’
‘I know. I know. You don’t want to encourage me in case I’m disappointed. Do you think I’m so shallow that I can fall out of love so easily?’
‘No, I—’
‘I know everything about you, Celia.’
‘You don’t know about my father.’
‘What of him?’
‘He duped my mother into marrying him, when he was already married to someone else. I’m illegitimate,’ she blurted out.
‘I don’t give a fig about your father . . . or your mother, except she must have been an exceptional woman to have raised you so nicely under the circumstances.’
He pulled her against him. ‘I’ve come prepared for every eventuality. If you feel the need to cry I have handkerchiefs. If you want to curse, I promise not to be shocked. If you want to make love, I will find us a soft bed.’
Her hands flew to her cheeks. ‘Charles Curtis, you are making me blush.’
He gazed at her cheeks and grinned. ‘So you are.’ He took out the book and gazed at his list, then at his watch, then fell to one knee. ‘Dearest Celia, my love. Will you marry me?’
‘What is on that list?’ She plucked it from his hand and read it. Her eyes met his. ‘You have it all planned. Don’t contact her for a while, then she’ll miss you . . . give her flowers . . . show yourself at work to your best advantage so you impress her with your skills. Apples?’ she spluttered.
‘Sorry, it was supposed to be a fraud trial, but the court list was switched at the last minute.’
‘I was impressed. You look sweet in your wig and gown.’
He winced. ‘I was supposed to look professional and in command of myself. Dearest Celia. Is it to be yes or no?’
Her eyes scanned down the rest of the list. ‘Show her the house you want to buy for her, and see if she likes it.’
‘She does.’
‘Charles. This is a big house.’
‘Big enough for a man and his wife, plus a little girl called Lottie and a dog called Spot . . . and one or two other small creatures in time, perhaps.’
‘It will need servants to help look after it. Can you afford it? There must be something smaller around. There’s a pretty cottage for sale in the village.’
He grinned. ‘I earn five thousand pounds a year.’
She blinked. ‘Well . . . if you think that will cover your expenses . . . but you might have to economize a bit. It’s a lovely home though. It just needs to be loved.’
‘I need to be loved.’
‘I love you. I’ve always loved you, from the very moment we met . . . which was why I couldn’t spend that money. I didn’t want you to think I was a gold digger, and it gave me an excuse to see you again, because I always knew I’d give it back.’
‘Number Five: Propose marriage. Number Six: Kiss her. Seven . . .’
‘Charles Curtis . . . I could shake you. Of all the conniving, cold–blooded creatures.’
‘Not at all. I just followed the advice offered by Thomas Hambert, my mother, and my friend Bart. Yes or no!’
‘I give in,’ she said faintly, and threw the notebook over the bannister into the hall below. ‘Can we get on to the kissing part now.’
He took her face in his hands and his mouth came down to hers. His fingertips slid into her ears and his thumbs caressed the edges of her smile. He kissed her slowly, tenderly, and she nearly fell apart with the ache of wanting him. Her arms slid round him.
‘I love you so much,’ he whispered against her scalp.
‘And I you.’
He held her at arm’s length. ‘Did you read the last item on the list?’
‘About the ring in your waistcoat pocket? I read that first.’ She held out her left hand, where a sapphire surrounded by diamonds sent out a loving glow.
He began to laugh. ‘That’s going to be the last thing you steal from me, Lady Lightfingers.’
‘Except for your heart.’
‘You stole that years ago,’ he said, and kissed her again.
Table of Contents
Cover
Recent Titles by Janet Woods from Severn House
Lady Lightfingers
Copyright
Chapter One: London, 1850
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten: 1854
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen: 1855
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two: September