Beyond Pemberley (Timeless Regency Collection Book 20) by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mirror Press
Published: 2025-06-09T00:00:00+00:00

“When I consider,” she added, in a yet more agitated voice, “that I might have prevented it! I, who knew what he was. Had I but explained some part of it only—some part of what I learnt, to my own family! Had his character been known, this could not have happened. But it is all—all too late now.”

—Pride and Prejudice

THOMAS WAS STANDING at the bottom of the stairs when Lydia walked down in her shabby pelisse that hid her bathing suit. He wasn’t wearing his wig, nor was his mouth smiling, but his countenance seemed happy.

“I thought that you might be too weary after the party.”

Lydia took his arm and grinned. “Parties give me more energy.”

Thomas led her from the house and locked the door behind them. They walked silently to the beach. Lydia used to be afraid of the quiet, but with Thomas, it felt comfortable. She didn’t need words to fill up the air or polite conversation. He led Lydia to her favorite part of the beach, and she set down her towel and began to take off her boots and stockings.

Unbuttoning her pelisse, Lydia couldn’t help but break the silence. “Come with me into the water and wade your feet.”

Thomas tugged at his cravat. “I don’t like getting wet.”

She dropped her pelisse on the rocky beach.

“But I promise you that it will be great fun,” Lydia said and then kissed him hard on the lips. “I promise more enthusiastic embraces if you come into the English Channel with me.”

“If you insist,” Thomas said formally, causing Lydia to gurgle with laughter.

She watched as he took off his coat and his boots and stockings. “Shall we?”

“Yes!” Lydia said, taking his hand and tugging him toward the water at a run. The beach was rocky and pebbled, unlike the glorious white sand of the Caribbean, but she didn’t mind. She didn’t release Thomas’s hand until they were knee-deep in the English Channel. “Isn’t this refreshing?”

His teeth chattered. “If by refreshing, you mean freezing.”

Lydia put her arms around his neck and pressed her full body against his. She could feel his heart beating against hers, the hardness of his torso and the warmth radiating from him. She kissed his neck and made a trail of kisses to his lips. They were cold at first, but they warmed quickly. His hands made a slow burn from her shoulders to the dip of her waist. Lydia shivered, not from the cold, but out of the sheer pleasure of being in his arms. Thomas’s mouth moved over and over hers. Lydia met each kiss with all her heart and all her passion.

This was not the infatuation of a girl but the love of a woman. And unlike George Wickham, Thomas Holden was worthy of the highest of devotions.

All too soon they broke apart, but Lydia was loath to leave the strength and circle of his arms. “Now that was refreshing!”

Thomas chuckled, a low sort of rumble from his chest. Lydia laughed, too, and couldn’t help splashing him a little.

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