Midnight Rose by Patricia Hagan

Author:Patricia Hagan [Hagan, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9781619210189
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 1991-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

It was late. Erin did not realize just how late till she heard the case clock in the hallway chime midnight.

Tossing and turning beneath the satin comforter, she wondered restlessly why Ryan had not come to her bed. They had enjoyed an intimate dinner earlier, and a bottle of wine.

They had sat in the parlor sipping cognac afterward, and for the first time, he had talked to her about his mother and Ermine.

He described how they had made the transatlantic passage on the first steamship—the Savannah. “It was supposed to be a very historic occasion,” he had said, “the first crossing of a steamship. But I read in a newspaper that only eighty hours after they left Savannah, the coal supply was exhausted, and they had to resort to sails to go the rest of the way. It took them twenty-eight days to reach Liverpool.”

Erin inquired as to when they would return, and he’d said he honestly did not know. There had been no word, and since they had been gone nearly four months, he supposed they could be expected any time.

Gingerly, she had asked if he were concerned about how his mother would react when she heard of their marriage. He had laughed and said since she had never approved of anything he had done in his whole life, he saw no reason to expect her blessings now. Erin wished he would take the matter more seriously. After all, she felt it was important she get along with his mother if she was planning on moving hers into the house as soon as possible. She was just waiting for the right time to do so. After a few more days, when they were settled in, she’d approach him.

They had discussed other things, too, such as how they should plan a dinner party to celebrate returning home from their nuptial journey. Erin bluntly asked if Carolyn Manning could be excluded, but Ryan had shaken his head and said he was afraid not. He confided he didn’t care for her himself, but her father and his had been good friends. If a function were held at Jasmine Hill and she were not invited, then her entire family would consider it an insult. He didn’t want that. “Just ignore her,” he’d said. “Everyone else does.”

But Erin wondered about that, fearful of how much trouble Carolyn might cause with her vicious tongue.

They had talked on, and he had shared with her his excitement over the expected foaling of a colt sired by one of his prize horses. He had hired the animal for stud to Quincy Monroe, a plantation owner nearly two hours’ ride away. Ryan was supposed to be notified when the birth commenced, because he wanted to be there. He was hoping the mare might be carrying twins; if so, Quincy had promised he could have one.

They had shared several nice hours together, and when at last he’d got up to extinguish the lanterns and make ready for bed, Erin had gone upstairs with a warm flush of eagerness as she thought of the coming passion in his arms.

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