A Spinster by the Sea: The Siren’s Retreat Quartet—Book Three by Grace Burrowes

Author:Grace Burrowes [Burrowes, Grace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grace Burrowes Publishing

Chapter Five

Anne’s kisses were sunshine on a peaceful ocean and fresh breezes on home shores. She advanced slowly into her kisses, like early spring gently waking the land. She gradually bundled closer and tightened her hold on Augustus’s waist.

He tried for restraint, tried for delicacy, and only half succeeded. By the time he broke the kiss, he had Anne up against one of the conservatory’s marble columns, and arousal was threatening to put common sense to rout.

Anne cuddled nearer on a sigh. “I am not by nature impulsive, though I am so very glad to see you, Tindale.”

That Augustus could inspire her to yield to impulse was almost as gratifying as the resulting kisses had been.

“One hoped that was the case,” he said, making the effort to step back. “I am only prone to rash behavior where you are concerned. Do you really need a different shawl?”

“No.” Her expression held a ghost of her younger self, running barefoot half the summer, climbing trees, and galloping headlong over hill and dale.

“Then let’s get ourselves down to the beach. As much as I want to lock that door and indulge in wild fantasies, we must confer.”

Anne smoothed her fingers through his hair. “I contemplated sending my regrets this morning. Now I’m glad I showed up. Tell me of these wild fantasies, Your Grace.”

The intensity of those fantasies shocked Augustus. Would they shock Anne? “First, assure me that Billingsley behaved like a gentleman. You are clearly able to handle him and any presumptions he might be entertaining, but I need to hear the words.”

“Lord Hume was more than civil. I’ll introduce you to him. About those fantasies?”

Augustus had seen Hume being more than civil. Billingsley had bent near to Anne whenever she’d spoken, sat right next to her on the garden bench, and patted her hand at least half a dozen times. Lily had counseled patience, while Augustus’s instincts had advised pugilism.

“We will have no talk of wild fantasies,” Augustus said, “when we must do the pretty before half the nitwits and ninnyhammers in polite society. Lily has spies in London, and they have sent news by express.”

Anne fussed with her shawl. “Marie has thrown Corbett over for some German noble. Hume wanted to be the first to tell me.”

Augustus led the way to the doors. “I knew she’d toss him over, but didn’t think she’d manage it in such high style or quite so soon. Then again, a man who will abandon his bride at the altar deserves to be publicly abandoned in turn.”

Anne remained near the marble column, brows knit. “You think Marie was intent on some sort of feminine justice?”

“I doubt she was intent on springtime in Berlin, and she had to know Corbett’s parents would cut him off without a farthing if he went through with his latest blunder. Corbett got the least of what was coming to him, and I will ensure that my opinion on the matter is known to all.”

Anne came along the fern-bordered path and

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