Read Lord Runthorne's Dilemma: A Regency Romance Online
Authors: Sarah-Jane Steele
Elizabeth
forced herself to step back. James kept pace with her. “I have not forgiven you,” she said.
“
I abjectly beg your pardon,” James murmured, never taking his eyes from hers.
Elizabeth
felt as though she was drowning. “You do not know what you are begging pardon for,” she whispered.
“
I have no doubt you will tell me,” James said. He was close now, his eyes filling her vision, his lips close to hers.
“
I hate you for thinking I was Alice’s mother.”
“
I know,” he said. His lips brushed hers as he spoke. “I am a fool. How can I ever make it up to you?”
The urge to twine her fingers in his hair and pull his lips down to hers was overwhelming.
Summoning the last of her self-control, Elizabeth stepped back, again. Still James kept pace.
“
Marry me, Elizabeth,” he said.
Elizabeth
shivered. James’ hand slipped from her cheek to her shoulder and down her back to her waist in a slow, sensual stroke. Elizabeth gasped.
“
Marry this fool who loves you,” he whispered.
“
I will not be immured away in the country,” she said against his lips.
“
You shall live in Town all year if you wish,” he murmured.
“
I want you to shower me with jewels.”
“
I shall clothe you in nothing but diamonds.”
Elizabeth
trembled at the image that conjured. “I prefer emeralds,” she said, just to be perverse.
“
I will lay a pirate’s treasure at your feet.”
“
Hmm,” Elizabeth said as James’ arms pulled her close. Now there was no space between them and she felt his sigh as surely as he did hers.
“
We shall have beautiful daughters,” James said.
Elizabeth
smiled. “I have decided we shall only have sons,” she said.
“
A handful of each,” he said, his voice a low, sensual promise.
Elizabeth
had the oddest sensation that her bones were melting. “You are browbeating me,” she whispered.
James
smiled. He drew on the ribbons of her hat and tossed it to one side. Then he tilted his head a fraction and, at last his lips caressed hers.
It was fortunate,
Elizabeth decided with the small part of her mind available to her, that his arms were so strong. If he was not holding her so close, she would have sunk to the ground because her knees seemed suddenly too weak to support her. She slid her hands up his arms to his broad shoulders and felt him groan.
James
broke the kiss suddenly. “We can get a special licence,” he said. He sounded breathless. “We can have a summer wedding.”
Elizabeth
felt the overwhelming urge to giggle. She controlled it with difficulty. “I do not think so, my lord,” she teased. “I have my heart set on a winter wedding.”
James
’ eyes glinted, dangerously. His kiss, however, was as soft as the first blossom of spring. Elizabeth gasped at the heartrending gentleness of it.
“
Oh, James,” she said. “Very well. A summer wedding it is.”
His
lips smiled against hers, but she did not care.
If Love can sigh
For one alone,
Well pleased am I
To be that one.
Thomas Moor 1780-1852
Amongst other things, Thomas Moor was a prolific poet and song-smith. Many of his poems were set to Irish airs and were very popular with all strata of society. ‘When Love is Kind’ is one of my favourites and seems to work equally well sung as a melancholic ballad or saucy song. It is reproduced here.
When Love is kind
,
Cheerful and free,
Love's sure to find
Welcome from me.
But when Love brings
Heartache or pang,
Tears and such things --
Love may go hang!
If Love can sigh
For one alone,
Well pleased am I
To be that one.
But should I see
Love giv'n to rove
To two or three,
Then -- good-bye, Love!
Love must, in short
,
Keep fond and true,
Through good report,
And evil too.
Else, here I swear
,
Young Love may go,
For aught I care --
To Jericho.