"No. Not anymore." His face became serious again. "For too long I had been a castaway, lost at sea, adrift in a raging storm. But then I finally saw the bright beacon of a safe harbor in all the darkness, one that has helped guide me back to solid ground." He pressed a kiss to the palm of her hand. "You are truly the light of my life, Octavia. I should like to spend the rest of my days with you. And Emma and Nicholas and children I hope we may have of our own."
"I cannot think of anything I should like more." Her cheek came to rest on his shoulder. "For one who claims no talent for words, you have certainly written a storybook ending."
Alex gave a chuckle. "We really must see that the children take to reading less sensational literature. Something from the Bard, perhaps." He thought for a moment. "I have it—The Tempest!"
Octavia looked up and brushed a kiss against is cheek. "I was thinking more of All's Well That Ends Well."
The End
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THE DEFIANT GOVERNESS
Lessons in Love
Book One
Excerpt from
The Defiant Governess
Lessons in Love
Book One
by
Andrea Pickens
Award-winning Author
THE DEFIANT GOVERNESS
Awards & Accolades
Best Regency of the Year, Nominee
RT Magazine (1998)
"Ms. Pickens delights us with a finely wrought love story featuring an irresistible pair of lovers who will melt every reader's heart.
~RT Magazine
Jane found that she was curious to finally meet the marquess. She knew his house, his lands, his possessions, his dependents and his servants. From that she had formed a very definite picture of him.
And now she was to meet him in person.
She finished sponging the hem of her gown, for she had decided not to change into her better grey merino one, but to remain in the distinctly less flattering shade of brown. As she regarded her reflection she almost grimaced at the plain, rather unattractive face that peered back at her.
But, she sighed, it had been decided that it was best to look as unremarkable as possible—not that it seemed to matter here at Highwood. Well, the hairstyle certainly accomplished that, along with the walnut leaf rinse which had dulled her once glorious hair to an insipid shade nearly as ugly as that of the dress.
She picked up a pair of spectacles from the dresser. Though only made of clear glass, they added an even dowdier touch to her appearance. She had made sure to wear them occasionally around the house so everyone was used to seeing them on her. Propping them firmly on the bridge of her nose she felt ready to meet His Lordship. Now, if she could just remember to squint...
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Mrs. Fairchild had left nothing to chance. She dutifully followed Glavin downstairs to the library.
The marquess was standing with his back to her, seemingly engrossed in the blazing hearth, when Jane quietly entered the room. She stopped near the threshold, not merely out of deference but out of surprise. The gentleman before her was over six feet tall, with long legs, narrow hips and a broad, muscular back, accentuated by the snug cut of his elegant swallow-tailed coat of claret superfine. There was a lazy, cat-like grace that radiated from his person, as well as something that hinted at a veiled power beneath the lean, hard body. Thick dark hair—not grey, very dark—fell to the back of his collar while his shirt points were moderate, allowing him to turn his head with ease. Her surprise turned to shock when he did so.
Those sea-green eyes!
"You!" she blurted out.
"Please take a seat—Miss Langley, is it?" he said coolly, neither his voice or expression giving the slightest acknowledgement that they had ever laid eyes on each other before. He motioned to an armchair while he seated himself at a massive oak desk facing her.
Jane sat, too stunned to say anything.
Lord Saybrook let the silence last what seemed to be an interminable amount of time before continuing.
"I must congratulate you on your progress with my ward during the short time you have been here. He seems to have actually learned something."
She had recovered her wits enough to detect the faint note of sarcasm in his voice. "I take it you have no high opinion of governesses then, my lord?"
"No," he admitted. "I do not. Most of them I have met have been either vapid or cruel But you appear to be neither."
Jane kept her eyes focused on her primly folded hands resting in her lap. How was one to respond to such a compliment, if compliment it was?
"With such an opinion, I wonder that you would bother hiring one at all," she said softly.
"It is necessary," was the curt reply. There was another silence. "I have also found my ward to be more... lively. I take it I have you to thank for this as well?"
Jane couldn't resist the opening. "Oh, it is really nothing, my lord. Children naturally respond to a little love and attention." She smiled innocently. "His name is Peter, by the way—in case you have forgotten."
A flush stole across his face, she noted with satisfaction, and his jaw set grimly. So, she had managed to effect a crack in his icy manner. But when he spoke, his voice was quite even.
"You may go now."
Without any further ado, he turned his attention to the papers on his desk.
It was Jane's turn to feel the heat of anger. To be dismissed like a... a servant! But as soon as she thought it, the very irony of the situation nearly made her smile in spite of herself. She rose silently and left the room, conceding the last word to him. After all, he had had an unfair advantage in the meeting. But she felt she had held her own, and even scored a hit herself.
Yet the whole meeting had infuriated her, only serving to confirm her suspicion that the marquess was a cold, hard man. When she reached her own chamber she was still fuming over the bored, sardonic look on his face, the way his eyes raked over her as if they didn't even see her. She made a vow that he would never intimidate her as he seemed to have done to the rest of the household. Not that it mattered. From what she understood, His Lordship never stayed more than a week or two at a time. But if he wanted to cross wills with her, she was ready!
The Defiant Governess
Lessons in Love
Book One
by
Andrea Pickens
~
To purchase
The Defiant Governess
from your favorite eBook Retailer,
visit Andrea Picken's eBook Discovery Author Page
www.ebookdiscovery.com/AndreaPickens
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Page forward and complete your journey
with an excerpt from
SECOND CHANCES
Lessons in Love
Book Two
Excerpt from
Second Chances
Lessons in Love
Book Two
by
Andrea Pickens
Award-winning Author
SECOND CHANCES
Reviews & Accolades
"Creating a marvelous heroine... Ms. Pickens combines a wonderful sense of the absurd with appealing emotional intensity to create a lilting romance for all to enjoy."
~RT magazine
Her mind was so occupied that Allegra failed to notice that Lord Wrexham had reined his mount to a halt and was watching as she scrambled over a tall stile. Smoothing her skirts down over her sturdy half boots she suddenly became aware of his presence. Though the unbecoming bonnet shaded most of her face, a hint of a frown peeked out from beneath the broad brim.
Drat the man. She really preferred to avoid him as much as possible.
"Oh—good afternoon, my lord." Her tone was as chilly as her expression.
He inclined his head a fraction. "It appears you are partial to taking the country air."<
br />
"Lessons are over for the day. I am following your wishes to make myself scarce."
"I did not mean it literally, Mrs. Proctor," he replied dryly. "Do not feel that you must... wear yourself to the bone."
Her lips repressed a smile. So the earl actually had a sense of humor. "I enjoy doing a bit of sketching," she said.
Wrexham raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't have expected you to indulge in such a frivolous pursuit."
"It does not meet with your approval? Perhaps you consider it a pastime fit only for young females."
The earl dismounted with an easy grace and fell in step beside her. There was a flash of amusement in his eyes at her last comment, though he chose to ignore her challenge.
"What you choose to do with your own time is your concern, Mrs. Proctor," he answered as he casually wrapped the reins of his dappled grey stallion around the long fingers of one hand. "My concern is with Max."
Her eyes shot up to meet his. "Is something wrong?"
"Not at all," he admitted. "Max has made great progress in his studies. He has responded well to your teaching."
She looked at him warily. "I trust you do not mean to imply..."
"No. I do not believe you are throwing your cap at my son."
"I should hope not," she muttered. "Why, I'm almost old enough to be his mother."
The earl appeared to be regarded her face and the errant wisps of honey colored hair that curled around her ears. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Max is a highly intelligent young man," she continued. "It has been a pleasure to work with such a good student." She hesitated for a moment. "He is also unfailingly polite, cheerful and courteous."
"Unlike his father," murmured Wrexham.
She opened her mouth as if to speak.
"It does seem that his moods have improved considerably," he went on, without waiting for a reply from her. "At least he is no longer flying into the boughs every time I speak to him." He shook his head. "I know this is an awkward age for him, but I was beginning to think he couldn't abide my very presence."
"You needn't worry on that account, my lord. Max thinks you are—how did he put it—a great gun."
"He said that?" The earl's features softened perceptibly.
"Indeed he did."
"Thank you, Mrs. Proctor," he said after a moment. "You did not have to say so."
Allegra decided to change the subject. "I was wondering sir, have you made any progress in finding a new tutor for Max?" After a tiny pause, she added, "I know how much you disapprove of having a female performing that duty in your household."
Wrexham walked on for a few paces before answering. "No. I have not." His eyes strayed to the scudding grey clouds moving in over the craggy hills. "It seems we are in for some rain shortly. I fear you had best come up with me if you are to avoid getting drenched."
"That is not at all necessary. I don't mind a spot of rain."
"Max would no doubt ring a peal over my head if you took a chill and were unable to preside over the schoolroom." Before she could argue any further, his hands came around her waist and lifted her effortlessly up across the saddle.
He mounted as well and steadied her until she was settled into a more comfortable position in front of him. Her skirts fell in folds over his left knee and she was disconcertingly aware of the warmth radiating from his muscled thigh. To her further dismay, his arm circled her waist as he took up the reins in one hand.
"Really, my lord! There is no need for you to trouble yourself..."
His face was quite close to hers. The spicy, slightly exotic scent of bay rum and leather filled her senses as he replied. "Ulysses can carry both of us with ease."
"Well, as long as he can find his way home," she murmured.
He threw back his head and laughed. "I shall have a care that the Sirens do not lure us off course."
In spite of herself, she smiled too. She had forgotten how refreshing it could be to have a lively conversation with a someone whose sharp wits and obvious erudition matched her own. Most people didn't understand her pithy observations, or simply missed her meaning altogether. She had a feeling the Earl of Wrexham was a man who missed very little.
She would definitely have to be on guard.
Second Chances
Lessons in Love
Book Two
by
Andrea Pickens
~
To purchase
Second Chances
from your favorite eBook Retailer,
visit Andrea Picken's eBook Discovery Author Page
www.ebookdiscovery.com/AndreaPickens
~
Discover more with
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Andrea Pickens created her first book at the age of five—a neatly penciled story about cowboys—however she has since moved on from Westerns to writing about Regency England, a time and place that has captured her imagination ever since she opened the covers of Pride and Prejudice.
A graduate of Yale University, she now writes full time and feels very fortunate that her work allows her to travel to interesting destinations around the world—but her favorite spot is London, where the funky antique markets and used book stores offer a wealth of inspiration for her stories.
Andrea loves hearing from her readers. You can contact Andrea through her website: www.andreapickensonline.com or through her publisher at [email protected]
Table of Contents
Cover
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Excerpt from THE DEFIANT GOVERNESS - Lessons in Love, Book 1
Excerpt from SECOND CHANCES - Lessons in Love, Book 2
Meet the Author
Andrea Pickens - [Lessons in Love 03] Page 23