Second Dance by Elizabeth Johns

Author:Elizabeth Johns [Johns, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Elizabeth Johns

Luca tried not to be disappointed that Henrietta was not there awaiting his arrival. Instead of going into the house to bathe for dinner, he wandered about the gardens, deep in thought. Perhaps he needed to scale back his affections. Henrietta was not a woman who liked to feel smothered or be ordered about. If he could only make her see how good they were for one another, to see things as he saw them…he had to find a way. She seemed to still love him, but she never put herself first. When she was younger, she would not have minded leaving England. But now? Most people his age were settled in one place and afraid of change. Perhaps she was not certain what she wanted to do with herself now, either, since she was travelling. His soul had not found rest without her. Never a day went by that he did not think of her and pray that God would help them find their way together again. He did not believe they had been reunited by coincidence, but he also did not want to ruin his last chance. He looked up to see the Duchess standing there, looking vexed.

“How dare you scare me like that? You speak your fancy words of growing old together, then I find you have gone out to rescue fishermen as if you were two-and-twenty!”

“Ah, so you do care,” he said, amused.

“I wish I did not.” She crossed her arms.

“I am fine, as are all the fishermen, thank you. We even managed to save the catch.”

“You went out there for fish?” She moved her hands to her hips.

“It meant a great deal to the villagers,” he explained calmly.

“There are plenty more fish in the sea!”

“Not a fact I wish to be reminded of at this time,” he muttered.

“Why do you not fight like most Italians? Instead, you smile and speak calmly.”

“I wish to save my passions for other things.” He smiled once more.

She blushed. “You will not be let off so easily,” she protested. “I am too old for you to give me frights like this!”

“As you can see I am in fine order. There was never any danger. To me, at least.”

She eyed him, clearly wishing to convey her anxieties to him, but she could not stay cross with him.

“Forgive me?” he pleaded as he took her hands in his and brought them to his lips with a gentle kiss. “I have only just found you again. Do you think me so foolish as to throw it all away over fish?”

“But I was told…”

“Shh. I don’t want to argue.” He hushed her with his fingertips and drew her in for another kiss.

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