"'Twas a long winter, was it not?" came Lady Fairley's response. "And 'tis always nice to have a project to occupy the mind during such long, bitter winters."
"Hmm." Lady Houghton shook her head at her friend's antics, watching her draw up a list of ways to encourage grandchildren. "Did I not hear you vow mere moments ago never again to interfere in the lives of our children?"
"Oh, well. And I shan't . . . except for ensuring that I get grandbabies."
"But you swore on your honor." Lady Houghton taunted.
Margaret gave her a dry look. "Elizabeth, darling, you know that a mother lets nothing, not even her own needs, not even her honor, stand in the way of her child's happiness . . . and getting her grandbabies."
"Alice!" Jonathan leaped to his feet the moment he saw her approaching and silently blessed his mother for whatever it was she had said. Things must be fixed, for that was the only reason he could see that Alice would be there. He knew he was right when, as soon as she spied him, a smile bloomed on her face. She picked up her pace to run into his open arms.
"Oh, thank God," he said softly, holding Alice close and swinging her around in a half circle before setting her down. Peering down into her face in question, he asked, "Mother straightened everything out? You will marry me?"
"Aye." Alice laughed happily. "She explained everything, and really, she is a dear, Jonathan. You are very fortunate."
He goggled at the claim. "A dear? Fortunate? She nearly lost you for me."
"Nay. She loves you very much, Jonathan. And were it not for her help, we would not be together."
"Her help? Ha!" He scoffed at the very idea. "She did everything in her power to turn my attentions away from you. Had I listened to her, we never would have even met. Why, that first morning, she did everything in her power to dissuade me from accompanying her to the gardens where she was to meet you, your mother, and uncle."
"Which only made you more determined to accompany her," Alice pointed out gently.
Jonathan stopped his pacing to turn slowly toward Alice. The truth dawned on him. "She manipulated me."
Alice nodded apologetically. "She knew that if she asked you to accompany her to meet the daughter of a friend, you would balk. And that if she acted at all as if she thought I was suitable, you would find some excuse not to be interested in me. So she--"
"Played me false. She acted as though you were thoroughly unsuitable in her opinion and . . ." He narrowed his eyes. "Your uncle?"
"A trick, I fear," she admitted with more apology. "His attentions were false, something they stirred up between the three of them. It was intended to keep you around us long enough for you to get to know me."
"Your mother was in on this, too?" he asked in horror.
"Well . . ." Alice grimaced. "Your mother said that she was not, but I suspect she was: Mama is the only one who could have convinced Uncle James to participate."
"Damn." Jonathan sank slowly to sit on the bench. Alice peered at him, obviously worried.
"Jonathan? Are you all right? Has this changed things? Do you not wish to marry me after all?"
"What?" He glanced at her distractedly; then what she had said sank in. He leaped to his feet again. "Nay! I mean, aye! Aye, of course I still want to marry you. I just . . . well, I--" He made a face. "It is discomfiting to know I am so easily played by the woman."
Alice seemed amused by that comment when he suddenly whirled on her. "Did she admit to involvement in getting the king to order me to marry?"
"Er . . . well, no. That did not come up." She frowned briefly, then moved to stand in front of him. "But does it really matter, my lord? I mean, you do really want to marry me, do you not? 'Tis not simply a case of having to marry, and I am the most likely candidate . . . is it?"
Recognizing her fear, Jonathan took her hand. The last thing he wanted was for her to believe such nonsense. "Nay, Alice. You are not simply the most likely candidate. Even were there not a pressing need to marry, I would surely want to wed you. And most likely just as swiftly. In case you had not noticed, my passions become carried away whenever you are about."
She ducked her head and rubbed her fingers over the knuckles of his hand. "Actually, I had not noticed, my lord. It appeared to me last night that you were the one in control, and that I was the one carried away."
"That is only because my mother interrupted us," he assured her. "I kept telling myself that I could not take your innocence, that your satisfaction must be enough until I could get you properly wed to me. . . ." He grimaced. "'Struth, I was a heartbeat away from ravishing you there on the ground like some lowborn wench."
Alice blushed, but smiled. "And are you sure you will not mind being married to such a wanton as myself?" At his uncertain look, she quietly admitted, "I fear I do not think I would have minded being ravished there on the ground. In fact, I would not protest should you wish to do so now."
Jonathan felt his body harden and tighten at the very suggestion. He swallowed thickly. Damn, just the thought of it had him ready for action. Hesitating briefly, he glanced around, gauging the odds of getting caught. They might be getting married, but they weren't yet. He wouldn't see her shamed before he--His thoughts died abruptly as he became aware of Alice's hand drifting down toward the more than obvious bulge between his legs.
"Perhaps," she murmured, meeting his startled gaze boldly, "you might even teach me to please you as you pleasured me, my lord. Your mother promised not to interrupt us this time."
"Oh, Alice, my sweet." Jonathan laughed. "Whether my mother was involved or not, you are definitely the right bride for me."
She smiled widely at those words and took his hand to lead him around the bench and toward the bushes behind it. "I am glad you think so, my lord. I, too, think we shall be terribly happy together."
"Until my mother next interferes," he added dryly.
"Oh, nay." Alice paused and leaned into his chest, her expression serious as she slid her hands up around his neck. She drew his head down for a kiss.
Jonathan's legs nearly gave out at the shock of her aggression. His lovely lady was a very quick learner! He let his arms slide around her and pressed his hands against her bottom, urging her up against his hardness. Her tongue delved into his mouth and explored with an abandon that left him trembling. He actually moaned aloud when she broke the kiss and leaned back to murmur, "She has vowed never to interfere again."
"Oh, that is all right then," he whispered huskily, then claimed her lips once more.
Jonathan had little real hope that his mother could fulfill that vow. The woman simply did not know how not to interfere. Still, he would keep that little tidbit to himself. He had no intention of scaring off the woman he loved. He was rather hoping that by the time Alice realized his mother simply did not have the nature to keep that promise, Alice would love her enough to overlook it. Lady Margaret of Fairley was a woman who grew on a person, and her intentions were always the best. She loved her son and wanted what was best for him. And this was one of the few times Jonathan agreed with his mother. As his new bride-to-be led him farther into the surrounding trees and bushes, he conceded Alice was definitely the best. And despite her interference, or perhaps because of it, so was his mother.
About the Author
LYNSAY SANDS is the nationally bestselling author of the Argeneau/Rogue Hunter vampire series, as well as numerous historicals and anthologies. She's been writing stories since grade school and considers herself incredibly lucky to be able to make a career out of it. Her hope is that readers can get away from their everyday stress through her stories, and if there are occasional uncontrollable fits of laughter, that's just a big bonus. Visit her official website at www.lynsaysands.net.
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Also by Lynsay Sands
An English Bride in Scotland
The Husband Hunt
The Heiress
The Countess
; The Hellion and the Highlander
Taming the Highland Bride
Devil of the Highlands
The Brat
Love Is Blind
The Perfect Wife
The Chase
What She Wants
The Reluctant Reformer
Bliss
Lady Pirate
Always
Sweet Revenge
The Switch
The Key
The Deed
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
KNIGHT OF MY DREAMS originally appeared in the print anthology A Mother's Way, under the title "Mother May I?"
KNIGHT OF MY DREAMS. Copyright (c) 2002 by Lynsay Sands. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
EPub Edition May 2014 ISBN: 9780062317247
Print Edition ISBN: 9780062317254
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Lynsay Sands, Knight of My Dreams
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