"This is how we play. Everyone select a pin."
Everyone did, including Charles. He lifted his hand to cover his lips to prevent his grin from breaking through at the color blooming to his governess' cheeks. The enticing shade of pink only heightened her beauty, causing his grin to falter. Forcing his thoughts back to the game, he cleared his throat, earning a questioning glanced from the object of his desire.
She regarded him then continued explaining. "Now, I'll place the rest of the pins on the table in a heap. Using your own pin, you must try to remove as many pins from the heap without moving any others, save the one you're trying to remove. If you jostle the pile or move a pin other than the one you intended, your turn is over and the next person has a chance. The person with the most hair pins wins."
"I think I remember a game like this, but I don't remember stealing my mother's pins to do so." He spoke conspiratorially as he leaned slightly towards her. The air around her was fragrant, reminding him of lemons and honey. He inhaled deeply. Why couldn't there be something about her that didn't lure him? Why couldn't she have smelled like damp clothing, or boiled cabbage?
She stiffened as he lingered near her. "I'm improvising." She spoke wryly.
Charles couldn't suppress a grin.
The girls took their turns. Beatrix collected four pins, Bethanny secured six before moving the heap and thus losing her turn. Berty's little pink tongue stuck out while she made a valiant effort to get two, then it was Charles' turn.
He studied the pile and began to select pins, withdrawing them one by one with practiced care. He collected ten, leaving only four on the table. He leaned back, raising a challenging brow to Carlotta, daring her to beat him.
"Miss Lottie! We haven't enough pins!" cried Beatrix.
"I should have brought more back, but it's no matter. His grace is the winner." She offered him a bright smile.
Charles tried to ignore the stab of desire her beautiful expression gave him. "Miss Lottie," he crooned, watching her eyes narrow slightly at the use of her shortened name. "I insist you try to beat my record. After all, I hate winning without a fair game."
"I haven't any more pins…" she replied, then paused as Charles gave a pointed look at her hair.
"I can't very well take down my hair, your grace," she replied, a bit of an edge to her tone.
Good, thought Charles, it was best if she had more of a prickly demeanor around him. It might remind him that he wasn't interested.
Because he wasn't.
At least that's what he was telling himself that very moment. Though his body and mind weren't in accord.
"Why ever not?" he asked casually, biting back a smirk at the annoyed glint in her eyes.
"Because," she spoke carefully, though her eyes were flashing green fire. "I'm to train the girls in the way of proper society. A lady does not unbind her hair in the company of gentlemen."
"Why not?" Berty asked.
"Yes, Miss Lottie. Why not?" Charles repeated the child's question. At Carlotta's disbelieving expression, he began to chuckle, earning him a glare.
"It, er, well it gives to much of a feeling of… intimacy." She blushed to the roots of her hair.
"But it's just us! And the duke, but he's old, Miss Lottie," Berty quipped.
Charles choked, and began to cough. Old! She thought he was old? Well, compared to a seven-year-old, he supposed he was, older. The idea of being old chafed him, yet it played into his little plan quite well.
"Er, yes, Miss Lottie. I'm quite ancient. Therefore, not a threat." He grinned wolfishly.
"You are quite… advanced in your years," she returned, her eyebrow arching.
That stung more than Charles would let on. Ever.
With a defiant gleam in her eye she began to pull out her pins.
One by one.
If she were an opera singer, he would swear it was done as a ploy. But he was convinced of her thorough innocence, at least in that aspect. After all, no ruined woman would blush as easily as she. But as she took out each pin, Charles found himself unable to even swallow. Her hair tumbled down gently, curling and waving over her shoulders in a golden halo.
And the fragrance.
It was lemon and lavender, intertwined with a fresh scent he had no name for, but knew was unique to her. It was far more potent than when he had leaned in earlier. Its potency was almost his undoing.
At last the final pin was removed and she shook her head softly, letting the entirety of her beautiful mane settle.
Charles finally was able to swallow, but his mouth was dry. If he ever needed brandy, it was now. The ploy to tease had indeed turned on him.
With a small grin she put the pins in a pile, equaling fourteen in all.
Grinning she began to extract them one by one till none remained.
"I believe you won, Miss Lottie."
"I believe I did."
More By Kristin Vayden
To Refuse A Rake
Emma has sworn off love.
After all, it is pointless to subject oneself to such torture when in the end, heartbreak is inevitable. Just like her sister had suffered. So, when Lord Daventry, the muddy brown-eyed boy from her childhood, returns to society she refuses to even look at him... well, maybe she'll look once.
Or twice.
But only because his eyes have changed into the most decadent color of dark chocolate. And his tanned skin from his travels is distracting, especially paired with his wide and devilish grin.
The stirring of her blood from his hot whisper in her ear is nothing... at least that's what she tells herself.
Lord Daventry has one response to marriage. Drink Brandy. Especially when his mother decides it is time for him to produce an heir. Reluctantly, he attends his first ball since returning from India, swearing to head to White's shortly after the first dance. However, he is pleasantly surprised to discover that Miss Emma Kingsly, the same girl he tried to kiss when she was nine, is still unmarried.
Her frigid demeanor should have warned him off... but unable to ignore a challenge, he plunges in head first... never expecting to fall in love with the one woman in the ton completely set against marriage.
Redeeming the Deception of Grace
Lady Grace Hashiver has perfected the art of hiding behind a sarcastic wit when it comes to dealing with the rakish Ewan Emmett Duke of Greys, her childhood tormentor. It's her only weapon, for if she let her guard down even for a moment; surely he'd know just how much she loved him. A love she knew could never happen.
Ewan Emmett, Duke of Greys is perfectly thrilled to torment Grace at every opportunity, until an old acquaintance begins an honest suit for Grace's hand. When Ewan begins to feel the pangs of jealousy causing him to question his reasons for his constant teasing of Grace, he discovers a depth of emotion he didn't know he harbored towards the golden haired beauty. Suddenly he is not longer the tease, but on the receiving end of the torment as he wonders if he's to late to fight for her love.
Sometimes, all love needs is a little healthy competition. Wouldn't you agree?
Knight of the Highlander
Colin is not who he claims to be...
His position as the blacksmith of Clan Chattan is simply a cover, a means to an end. He was sent with one mission; find Jacobite loyalists and eliminate their threat. But that's not what keeps him up at night, or what burns hotter than his forge. The most dangerous threat is one of his own making; falling in love.
Arywnn knows someone is watching her...
In her dreams he's handsome, braw, and willing to take her away from her reclusive mother and tyrant laird father. But her daydreams are a frivolity she cannot afford, not while a spy lurks within their clan. Worse yet, her father has promised her hand to whomever discovers the blackguard.
A midnight meeting...
A whispered kiss...
And a rogue English knight all change the course of destiny in a way neither could have ever imagined.
Colin must play
a dangerous game, but the prize is worth the risk; Arywnn's heart.
Living London
Book one of the Westin Legacy
Love is stronger than we can imagine.
Love is never impossible. But for Joselyn Westin, it's not probable. After the death of her grandmother, Joselyn feels lost in world that seems empty, till a cryptic message in one of her grandmother's favorite books changes everything.
Sometimes love happens in the most unexpected, incredible places. Jocelyn wakes up in London, during the Regency Era. But her knowledge of the time is poorly lacking, even with all the historical romances she's read. She quickly learns that life is the greatest teacher.
What Joselyn discovers is more than just history, it's a way of living, a way of loving and discovering that for love, nothing is impossible.
Especially when you find yourself "Living London."
Surviving Scotland
Book Two of the Westin Legacy
Only love is strong enough to grasp what it was never meant to have.
Elle can't deny that Ioan is handsome. That is, until he opens his mouth. How can someone so masculine and striking be so irritating? Yet part of her knows that if his sarcastic and teasing temper changed, she'd lose her heart.
Ioan knows that Elle is untouchable. To protect his heart, he keeps her at arms length with incessant teasing and a quick wit. She can never know the truth. But like a moth drawn to the flame he can't resist her. Indeed he already burned.
When the Jacobites attack Carnasserie castle, the Black Watch come to assist. Though Elle has her own personal battle to win, they both with learn that Surviving Scotland isn't for the faint of heart…
Beyond Broken
He was searching for hope in a world that offered him everything. With his life spiraling out of control, he sought salvation at a rehab center, never expecting to find light after admitting all the darkness he carried. The last thing he needed, was to fall in love.
But sometimes we can't choose who we love--it chooses us. And that what she did; she chose him, mind, body, and soul. And he was helpless in love's grasp.
She knew his name spelled trouble, but was unable to distance her heart until it was too late, until it already deep within his grasp. Sometimes, even when you want to help those you love, even when you have the best intentions--they have to love themselves enough to want to change.
Nobody ever said love was easy, and for them? The battle has just begun.
**Beyond Broken is a NA romance with a very strong inspirational thread. However, it is still not considered a religious or inspirational romance because of the elemental theme of drug abuse, sex, and strong language**
Pursued
When everything falls apart, you're faced with two choices. Do you lose your faith or do you really begin to live it?
For Abby, she chooses to walk by faith, and in turn God takes the smoldering ashes of her world and begins to bring her to life.
Levi Jensen was waiting for the right woman. He'd made his share of mistakes and refused to settle for just anyone. But he never thought God would bring him a petite blonde with two children. But Levi soon learns that God's plans are always better than our own.
God created romance. Abby and Levi learn first hand, that through difficulties, hardship and mistakes, God brings about beauty for ashes. He always writes the best love stories. The kind that last forever.
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