by Josie Dennis
“Mr. Kingley!” Harriet said, dropping a curtsey. “And Mr. Churchill.” She slanted a look at Emmy, who flushed hot. “I daresay this is a surprise.”
“Harriet,” Emmy said in warning.
“Oh do not trouble yourself, Miss Woodson.” Harriet beamed up at the two gentlemen. “I shall see myself out.”
“Harriet…!”
Before she could utter another word she was alone with Gabriel and Stephen. One shut the door, the other latched it, and they approached her.
“Is your father about?” Gabriel asked.
“Mrs. Waltham took him outside on the terrace.” She backed up, eager to put distance between the two objects of her heart’s desire. And her heart’s misery. “Harriet is a horrible gossip. It will be mere hours before her assumptions are spread far and wide in Highbury.”
Neither gentlemen seemed put out by that bit of news. She narrowed her gaze on them. “Why are you two here? I believe I made matters clear in my missive.”
“You are quite mistaken, Emmy. On several counts,” Stephen said, stepping close and taking her hand in his. “First of all, I broke off my engagement. Weeks ago, when we first began our arrangement.”
She blinked rapidly as she tried to process his words. “You are not engaged.”
“No. Nor will I ever be.”
“I do not understand.”
“Marry me, Emmy,” Gabriel said.
“W–what?” Her legs gave out beneath her, and she plopped down on the settee once more. “Gabriel…”
Stephen sat beside her while Gabriel fell to one knee before her. “I love you, Emmy. We both love you.”
Inexplicably she began to cry, soft sobs that she could not seem to stop. “You love me. That cannot be.”
“It is true,” Stephen said. “From the start, it was our plan to make our arrangement permanent.”
“But how can that be possible?” she asked. “It is not.”
“You will marry me and move into the Abbey. Stephen will join us.”
“Gabriel is taking me under his wing,” Stephen said. “He shall show me the ways to run a grand estate, and at last I will have reason to stay in Highbury. My father will no doubt be pleased.”
“And Stephen will effectively dodge any marriage-minded girls thrown his way,” Gabriel said with a nod.
“Yes,” Stephen agreed. “I shall speak of my broken engagement as something I can never overcome.” He grinned. “That is very romantic, don’t you think? Quite suited to my temperament.”
Their words came at her in a rush, pelting her tender heart with hope and then snatching it away in the next breath. How could they present such a rational solution to the most irrational life she ever thought to envision for herself?
She looked from one to the other. Love was clear on both their faces, swirling in their eyes, and she let out a strangled laugh. Their expressions changed to puzzlement and she laughed harder still.
“Emmy?” Gabriel asked, his brows drawn together.
In sharp contrast, Stephen chuckled. “Have we finally driven you mad?” he teased.
Her heart gave up in that moment. She loved them both for their differences, curse her weakness.
“Oh, no! I love you both, so very much. I cannot marry you, Gabriel.”
“What?” Gabriel’s fine mouth flapped open and shut.
Stephen lost his beautiful smile. “Why not?”
How she wished she could simply surrender her will as easily as she had her body and soul! She could not.
“Your status in Highbury, Gabriel. My own reputation. Neither would survive this liaison.”
“This is not a liaison, Emmy,” Stephen said. He took her hand in his. “This is forever. Both you and Gabriel have earned enough respect from all and sundry.” He winked. “I can manage to be circumspect. None will learn of anything that would sully either one of you. I love you both.”
She stared at him. “You love Gabriel?”
Stephen nodded.
“As I love him, Emmy,” Gabriel said. His eyes were dark, earnest. “I can only envision a life with both of you in it. Can you not see the beauty of that?”
“I can,” she admitted.
“Then accept Gabriel, love,” Stephen said. “Make us both the happiest of men for the rest of our lives and we shall do our damnedest to make you happy as well.”
Hope bloomed within her and she could not bear to tamp it down again. She kissed Stephen’s cheek and lifted Gabriel’s hand to her lips. “I will marry you, Gabriel.”
Gabriel let out a breath. “We shall endeavor to keep you happy, Emmy,” he said.
Stephen echoed his sentiments with a nod. “This is forever, love.”
Forever. It was bliss.
“My father will be pleased to see me settled nearby,” she said.
“You may spend your days tending to him,” Gabriel offered.
“And your nights in the arms of the men who love you,” Stephen added.
They began to kiss and caress her, arousing her passions so easily as she gave herself up to them. She’d thought she knew everything about love and making the perfect match. She couldn’t have been more mistaken.
She’d learned her lesson, and was a happier woman for it.
THE END
WWW.JOSIEDENNIS.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Josie Dennis writes erotic romances for the discerning reader. Her characters find love in the most amazing places and the Happily Ever After is a guarantee. Readers who like their romances hot, and their heroes and heroines open to ideas they’ve only explored in their fantasies, will find her Erotic Romances quite satisfying. Josie divides her time between Central Florida and New England.
Also by Josie Dennis
Ménage Amour: Classics Rekindled 1: Wild Heights
Available at
BOOKSTRAND.COM
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com