Samantha Kane by Brothers in arms 9 -Love's Surrender

Author:Brothers in arms 9 -Love's Surrender [Inconnu(e)]
Language: fra
Format: epub

Vanessa seemed rather melancholy today. Nick didn’t care for

that at al. It was hard to woo a sad woman. Or so he imagined.

It was also hard to woo a woman—one you planned to know

carnaly as soon as possible—when her wide-eyed maid was in

attendance. Nick glowered at the girl sitting next to Vanessa in

the carriage, across from him and Oliver, and she shrank back

the carriage, across from him and Oliver, and she shrank back

against the seat as if she wished to disappear.

“What are we handing out at the orphanage?” Oliver asked

Vanessa. “Should we stop and pick something up?”

“Food and clothes,” Vanessa answered. “I had them sent ahead.

The wagons should be waiting for us there.”

Nick frowned. “Shouldn’t they already have those?”

“They do,” Vanessa said with a nod, “but traditionaly they

receive a new set of clothes at Christmastide, and some special

treats, such as sweetmeats and chestnuts.”

“Why today?” Oliver asked. “I would have expected that on

Twelfth Night instead.”

“Yes, wel, many of the orphanage workers are with their

families on Twelfth Night. The children attend church and are put

to bed. It’s thought that giving them the gifts now is better for

everyone.”

Vanessa’s argument was a solid one, but Nick couldn’t help but

feel sorry for the children and their sad Twelfth Night. On the

other hand, he’d never gotten a gift of any kind at Christmastide

from his parents. Not out of spite or dislike, but because they

simply didn’t think about it. Nick had been six before he realized

he was missing out.

he was missing out.

“We have chestnuts?” Oliver asked hopefuly. Nick grinned.

“Yes,” Vanessa said, dragging the word out a bit. “Why?”

“I like chestnuts.” Nick laughed outright at the anticipation in

Oliver’s voice.

“There may be one or two extra for you,” Vanessa promised.

“But only if you behave.”

Oliver solemnly crossed his heart. “I swear, Lady Vanessa, I

shal be on my best behavior.”

Vanessa laughed then, and Nick relaxed. Whatever had been

bothering her had been washed away with Oliver’s teasing.

Thank God for Oliver.

When they arrived Vanessa sent her little maid back with the

carriage. “Return in about two hours,” she told the carriage

driver. Nick was elated. Two hours of unchaperoned time with

Vanessa.

An hour later his elation began to wane. They had not had a

moment’s peace. Vanessa was very wel liked by the children

and staff at the orphanage, and she clearly doted on them al.

Nick couldn’t begrudge them her time. She was so happy here,

and free with her smiles and laughter. He hadn’t seen her like this

and free with her smiles and laughter. He hadn’t seen her like this

before. Her work here was obviously important to her.

The children accepted Nick and Oliver because they came with

Vanessa. The staff was not quite so welcoming. Nick found

judgmental eyes watching him at every turn. He could almost

hear them talking amongst themselves later, trying to decide

which of them was more worthy of Vanessa’s attentions. If they

only knew they were both having an affair with her, how

shocked they would be. Nick would have laughed at the thought

except for the grave implications were they to actualy find out.

Vanessa would be branded a whore or worse, and the chances

were quite good that she wouldn’t be alowed back into the

orphanage.

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