A Dream of Desire by Nina Rowan

Author:Nina Rowan [Rowan, Nina]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781455509584
Amazon: 1455509582
Goodreads: 18306815
Publisher: Forever
Published: 2013-12-31T13:00:00+00:00

Talia could not remember a time when James Forester had hosted a dinner party. He attended them often when he was in London, enjoying the good food and drink as much as the next man, but never had he organized one himself.

“Do you need any assistance?” Talia asked him as they left Wapping the day after Lady Hamilton’s ball. Talia was hardly one of society’s renowned hostesses, but she’d organized several parties for her father over the past year and knew all the proper rules of etiquette.

“I don’t think so.” James frowned, a vague look of worry crossing his features. “My housemaid assures me she can make all the preparations.”

“Polly?” Talia tried to think of a way to phrase her concerns delicately. “Er, James, she’s not organized a dinner party before, has she?”

“No.”

Talia chewed on her bottom lip as they settled into the cab. Considering how trying James had been since his return, she didn’t necessarily want to help him at the moment. But she also didn’t want to see his first foray as a host end up a complete disaster. She couldn’t bear to think of people laughing at him.

“Perhaps you’ll allow me to consult with Polly?” Talia asked carefully. “I arranged a party for fifteen people just before my father left London, so I’m quite capable of ensuring all goes smoothly. If you’ll allow me to help,” she added.

Rather than be appreciative or even relieved at the offer, James only frowned more deeply. “You’re invited as a guest, Talia.”

“I shall be a guest. I’m merely offering my assistance for the preparations. To plan the menu, arrange the seating, order the flowers. That sort of thing. Unless you’d rather leave it all to Polly. Or do it yourself.”

“All right,” James muttered. “I’ll tell her you’ll arrange it, then. Thank you,” he added grudgingly.

Talia gave him an amused look. “You’re quite welcome.”

He looked so…frustrated. He’d been that way ever since he returned. So unlike the warm, cheerful James he’d always been.

Talia’s heart tightened. He’d changed because her declaration of love had put a wall between them that had never been there before. If she hadn’t confessed her love, perhaps everything would be the same as it once was.

“Ask the driver to take us to Old Bond Street,” she said.

“What is in Old Bond Street?”

“Something you’ll enjoy,” Talia promised.

James called up the order to the driver; then the cab lurched into motion. A half hour later, they came to a stop.

“It’s just a short walk,” Talia said as James descended before her, then extended a hand to help her down.

As she always did, Talia relished the moment his fingers closed tightly around hers, the warmth of his grip evident even through the layers of both their gloves. And, also as she always did, Talia loosened her grip first, the moment the ground steadied beneath her feet. She didn’t want to give James reason to believe she might want to cling to him. And she certainly didn’t want to feel as if she’d never want to release him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.