In Want of a Viscount by Lorraine Heath

Author:Lorraine Heath
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2024-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

To reduce the chances of being spotted, Rook knew he should be waiting in the mews, but he wanted to ensure Nora encountered no trouble on her way to meet him. While the streets were mainly deserted of traffic, people were still wandering around, either going to or leaving the nearby pub. Therefore, he was standing with a shoulder pressed against the bookshop wall that faced a side street. From his vantage point, he had a clear view of the hotel—had even seen her brother leaving the establishment earlier. But he, himself, had faded into the shadows so it would take a discerning eye to realize he was even there.

It had pleased him immensely that she’d shared the shortened version of her name with him. Perhaps that was the reason he’d promised to show her something special tonight, spending the better part of the day ensuring he was able to deliver on his promise. If matters hadn’t materialized as he’d hoped, he could have provided an alternative, but he doubted any would please her as much as the prize he had worked diligently to secure. Being a lord had gone a long way toward helping his cause. Being able to place an exorbitant amount on palms had gone a lot further. There was definitely an advantage to having spare coins on hand with which to indulge one’s whims.

Yet he suspected for her, it would be something she treasured. Even if it wasn’t something she could disassemble and study in detail. The anticipation of her pleased reaction was greater than it should be, he knew that. However, its intensity had caused him to stand here for longer than two hours already, growing more eager by the moment for her to arrive.

What the devil was wrong with him that he couldn’t go two minutes without thinking of her, of wondering what contraption might have caught her fancy as she went about her day? That afternoon, he’d almost called on her like a besotted suitor, when he was anything but—

He merely enjoyed her company. She’d be leaving soon, and he wanted to make the most of whatever time remained to them.

Because of his positioning, he spied her the moment she reached the two glass doors through which people entered and exited the hotel. Before the well-placed liveried footman had even tugged one open for her, Rook was crossing the street with long strides that were slightly quicker than his usual pace. He refused to consider why it was that he had this overwhelming need to have her presence within his orbit as soon as possible.

When she smiled softly, hesitantly, almost shyly, all the worrisome chatter in his head quieted like the gong of Big Ben when the hammer struck it for the final time to mark the hour. The echo of the ringing remained on the air for a while, but there was an awe to the power that had created it to begin with and, as she’d pointed out last night, a somberness that settled in when the hammer went still.

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.