Between Ash & Sea: A Regency Historical Romance by AJ Wolf

Author:AJ Wolf [Wolf, AJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-04-20T18:30:00+00:00

FOURTEEN

“Thank you for coming to help me with this, Miss Belinda.” I smile at her, wiping some flour from my hands. If I’m being completely honest, I haven’t done anything but make a mess of this dinner and get in the way.

“Of course, Lady Temperance, I’m happy to help.” Using a hand towel, she reaches into the oven and grabs out a tray of buttered asparagus. “I was pleasantly surprised to hear you’d invited Sir Colgrove over for dinner.”

I pop my lips, watching her arrange all the food. “Not as surprised as me, I’m sure.”

She chuckles at this, using the edge of her towel to clean up a drop of sauce. “You’re allowed happiness, my lady.” She straightens, eyes finding mine. “You’re allowed to work for it too.”

My fingers press against my chest, soothing the ache growing there from the conversation. “Thank you again. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you.”

She smiles knowingly, the wrinkles around her eyes crinkling. “And that’s my cue to go, is it not?” She chuckles at the look on my face, setting the towel on the counter. “I’ll be off then. If you need anything else don’t hesitate to ask, my lady.”

I see her out, resting my back against the door once it’s shut. George should be here soon. I can’t guarantee tonight will be a complete smash, but at least I know for sure the food will be delicious.

Soon enough there’s a knock on my door and I stand quickly from my seat, running my hand over my skirts. I’m wearing something nicer than usual, given the occasion. It’s a bright emerald green with a structured waist and bust, soft off-the-shoulder sleeves, and a plush skirt that flows nicely around my legs when I move. I also spent the extra half hour taming my hair for once so that it hangs over my back and shoulders in perfect ringlets.

Gripping the handle, I pull the door open, my practiced smile wavering when I see that George isn’t alone. Not a bad surprise, I suppose, but one I wasn’t expecting. My eyes fall to the mystery man, taking in the dark short cut of his hair, the scruff covering his jaw, the bright blue of his eyes. There’s a familiarity there I can’t seem to place, something that sets my heart in a flutter.

George speaks before I can, thankfully since I seem to have lost my words, taking my free hand in his to kiss the back of my knuckles. “You look splendid tonight, Temperance.”

I look away from the stranger with reluctance, fixing the smile back in place. “Thank you, George. I see you’ve brought a guest with you.”

I back up from the doorway, arm gesturing for them to come in, and George pipes up as he passes, “Ah, yes! I dropped my grandfather’s pocket watch this morning, and Reginald found it and returned it to me.” He smiles, rocking back and forth on his heels as I shut the door. “I figured the least I could do was invite him for a meal in thanks.

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