Fairest of Them All by Ruth Ann Nordin

Author:Ruth Ann Nordin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, love, suspense, gothic, danger, curse, snow white, wallflower heroine, spinster heroine, beauty vs darkness
Publisher: Ruth Ann Nordin

Chapter Thirteen

Evander glanced up from the book he was trying to read in the candlelight. He picked up the pocket watch from the desk and saw a half hour had passed. Most of the time, the hours didn’t pass so slowly. One day often blended into another until they all seemed to merge together. The passage of time had ceased to exist for him, and it would have been completely lost to him if it hadn’t been for Tabitha. Having to see that she found a husband had forced him to be aware of the years as they passed. He’d promised his first wife he would do everything possible to see to her daughter’s happiness.

But today, he had another reason for being aware of the passage of time. Viola would be back this evening. Even as he thought about it, his pulse raced with excitement. It’d been so long since he experienced something as wonderful as a lady’s embrace. Ladies were soft and gentle. They had a way of making everything bad fade away. Viola had been no different. She’d managed to make him feel connected with the world again. More than anything, he wanted to return to the state of bliss that she’d brought him to last night. All of it had been wonderful. Holding her, talking to her, making love to her…

He checked the time again. With a shake of his head, he set the pocket watch back down and straightened up in his chair. It was a little after four. He didn’t expect Viola until around eight. That gave him four hours until he could be with her again. But first, he was hoping to speak with Tabitha. He’d sent a letter down to her that morning. He couldn’t imagine what could be taking her so long to come up here.

Maybe she’s tired of dealing with you. You’ve avoided her for most of her life. Your curse killed her mother and every step-mother she’s had up to now. Maybe she’s reached the point where she can’t take it anymore.

She had been resistant to him marrying Viola. Perhaps the decision to do it anyway was now catching up to him.

A series of knocks came at his door. He set the book down and jumped out of the chair with relief. That was Tabitha’s knock.

He opened the door and smiled. “I’m glad you came up here.”

“Well, you did send a letter saying you wanted to speak with me about something important,” she said.

She didn’t seem upset with him. That was a good sign. She was upset the last time they’d spoken.

He shut the door and pulled up the chair to the desk. Once she sat in it, he went to the other side of the desk and sat down.

“I heard you went to your first ball last evening,” he said.

“Yes,” she replied. “Viola did a good job of making sure my dance card was full. I didn’t have a moment to myself. I was dancing all evening. I met more gentlemen in a single evening than I saw when Viola took me for a walk through Hyde Park.

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