by Anne Herries
‘How could I possibly be bored when I am with you?’ she said and leaned forwards to kiss him. ‘It was a sigh of content, you dear man. I love you so much, Daniel. I never dreamed I could be this fortunate.’
‘I am the fortunate one,’ he said huskily, pulling her close so that their bodies touched, silken flesh against silken flesh. She immediately felt the burn of his need and giggled with pleasure as she pressed closer. His hand smoothed down her back as his kiss had her arching into him. Their desire took fire and they were swept away on a tide of passion. ‘I am not sure I deserve such happiness, Eliza, my darling.’
Eliza nestled into his body, tasting the salt of his sweat on her lips. Each time he made love to her it seemed only to get better and better. He had taught her the pleasures of loving with gentleness and consideration, but sometimes there was such hunger between them that they did not leave their room for most of the day. She thought that perhaps today might be one of those halcyon times when the hours passed in a haze of love and pleasure.
She ran her hands over his back, feeling the strength of honed muscles and the tiny sprinkling of hair just at the bottom of his spine. She found his sensitive spot and tickled him, laughing as he growled and rolled her beneath him in the linen sheets.
‘Now that certainly deserves some punishment, madam,’ he threatened. ‘Tell me, what shall I do to chastise you today?’
‘I think you might keep me in bed until sunset, when you will rise and take me dancing,’ she said and laughed as he groaned and gathered her to him.
‘Eliza, Eliza,’ he murmured. ‘What am I to do with you?’
Eliza did not answer—she was too busy kissing him, beginning with his neck and then his shoulder and then working her way down his body, finding the sensitive spots that made him moan with pleasure. It was, she had decided, time that she showed her husband she could do a little punishing, too
Epilogue
It was just a year and one day later that Daniel walked into the breakfast room to find Eliza drinking coffee. He dropped a kiss on her head and sat opposite, showing her the letter he held.
‘This has been delivered by hand, Eliza. It is for you and comes from a solicitor in London. I know the firm, though I have never used them personally.’
‘Please open it for me, dearest.’ Eliza’s thoughts were far from lawyers and business letters. ‘I cannot think what it may be.’
Daniel broke the seal and perused the contents for a moment, then, ‘Good lord! A man by the name of Mr Henry Jarvis has left you his entire fortune—I have never heard you speak of an Uncle Henry, Eliza?’
‘No, for I do not have one.’ Eliza was puzzled, then nodded. ‘I believe he may be Mrs Bancroft’s brother. He lived in India for most of his life. I found a letter in her sewing box and wrote to inform him of her death, making it plain that I was her adopted daughter and no blood relation.’
‘Well, it seems your letter touched him. He had no other family and—good grief! He must have been a nabob. He has left you more than a hundred thousand pounds. That is a huge amount of money, Eliza—whatever shall you do with it?
‘I have no idea.’ Eliza placed a hand on her ever so slightly rounded stomach and smiled. ‘Perhaps you could invest it in land and property for our children, Daniel?’
‘Certainly, if that is your wish, my love.’ His eyes dwelled fondly on her for a moment, because she was carrying their first child so well. Then his eyes lit with mischief. ‘You realise what this means, Eliza?’
‘I have no idea, but I dare say you will tell me,’ she said, seeing the sparkle of humour in his eyes.
‘The gossips in Bath were right all along. It seems you were a secret heiress after all, Eliza.’
‘So I was,’ she murmured in her calm contented manner. ‘Would you pass me that delicious peach conserve please, Daniel? I believe I shall have another slice of toast.’
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7622-6
SECRET HEIRESS
Copyright © 2010 by Linda M. Sole
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