Virginia and the Wolf by Lynne Connolly

Author:Lynne Connolly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Published: 2020-04-16T14:56:18+00:00

Chapter 14

“Virginia,” he said softly.

She opened her eyes.

“We’re at the inn where we’ll rack up for the night. We’re in Salisbury, well away from the finest inns.”

“Won’t someone recognize us?”

“Not here. Not dressed like this.” He glanced out of the window. “We can disappear easily in a larger town. This place isn’t on the usual route for any of the great roads.”

Realization hit her hard. “If nobody knows us here, then we can travel as brother and sister now.”

“If you wish.” His voice was quiet and steady. “Do you?”

She stared at him as the sound of a busy inn yard went on around them. Horses whinnied, and men shouted instructions, but she ignored them all, for this was a turning point. If she confirmed that she wanted to travel as brother and sister, he would accede to her wishes. He wouldn’t flirt with her or approach her in any way society would consider shocking.

But she could no longer deny that she wanted him badly.

They could be lovers.

And then there was the other problem.

Perhaps he would not notice her virginal state. He was mad for her as she was for him, so in the throes of passion, that small event could pass unnoticed. And she was tired of waiting, tired of being neither one thing nor the other. Not a proper wife and widow.

In six years she would be well past the age when a woman could consider marrying and bearing a child.

She would be alone, and although she had thought she’d reconciled herself to her fate, even looked forward to it, all she saw now was years of loneliness. Comfortable loneliness to be sure, but a solitary existence doing good works and becoming a matron, an established face in society as a widow.

Never to know married love, never to experience intimacy.

She wanted to do it at least once in her life, but she balked at doing it with a stranger, or an acquaintance. And she would not become the kind of widow who took frequent lovers. She did not have that in her.

If she was to do this, it would be with Francis, and it would be tonight.

She shook her head.

“Say it, Virginia. Shall we travel as siblings from now on?”

“No.” She choked the word out and could not say any more.

He didn’t speak again until he was standing on the cobbles of the inn yard, reaching up to help her down. Instead of allowing her to use the steps, he clasped his hands around her waist and swung her down. “You are sure?”

He released her and took a step back.

“No.” She swallowed. “But I don’t want to close the door on the possibility. I…” She couldn’t find the words.

“You don’t want your life to be bereft of intimacy.”

“No,” she said, thankful that he knew what she meant.

“Here it is then, Virginia. If you accept me as a lover, you must know that I will not give you up. I want you in every way possible.”

His eyes told her everything she needed to know.

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