by Sally James
‘I - what do you mean?’ she asked, breathless.
He came across and pulled her to her feet. ‘Thank you for the best birthday of my life,’ he said, and took her in his arms, bending to capture her lips with his own. ‘Julia,’ he said, as they broke apart, ‘I want you to release me from my promise.’
‘What promise?’
‘That I would not expect a proper marriage. But I have grown to love you dearly, and from what you said when you were delirious, I think you could come to love me too.’
Julia thought back and blushed. She was recalling her dream that she had told him she loved him. ‘It was a dream!’ she exclaimed.
He laughed. ‘You may have thought so, but I did not imagine it. You did not know what you were saying, but I know it was the truth. Julia, could you love me?’
She nodded, unable to speak. This was a dream come true. With a satisfied sigh he drew her into his arms again, and kissed her long and deeply. As they broke apart he pulled the pins out of her hair and let it ripple over his hands. She was wearing a simple muslin gown, fastened with strings round the neck. He pulled the strings free, and slid the gown down over her body. Swiftly he divested himself of his clothes and before Julia knew it she was lying in his arms. He caressed her gently, murmuring how much he wanted her, kissing her until she was desperate for more, and when she thought she could bear it no longer he entered her, and it was the most exquisite sensation she had ever known.
Hours later, it seemed to Julia, he sat up and reached for the champagne. Quickly he released the cork and poured the bubbling wine into the glasses. He handed one to her, and took the other, raising it in salute.
‘To Julia, my dearest love, and the best birthday present I have ever had.’
She sighed with pleasure. ‘I think it may already be the day after your birthday, Carey.’
‘We will stop the clocks. But now, sweetheart, we can pretend it’s a birthday every day. In case I didn’t say, I love you dearly. I was so fortunate to find you on that Bavarian road. It was an odd marriage, but the best one I could ever have made.’
‘For me too,’ she whispered, and he set down the glasses and reached for her.
‘We’ll start the clocks again in - oh, a year’s time?’ he suggested, and she laughed, and went to him.
Copyright © 2008 by Marina Oliver/Sally James
Originally published by Robert Hale [UK] (ISBN 978-0709085485)
Electronically published in 2014 by Belgrave House/Regency Reads
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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.