Too Dangerous to Desire (26 page)

Adam and Evelyn slipped beneath the wild winds and rolling waves . . . and slowly started to sink.

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t was a crisp fall morning. Evelyn split the log with an axe. There was a lot of work to be done before the winter winds set in and the snow started to fall.

The brisk sea breeze carried with it memories, and she neglected her chore for a moment to look out across the gray water.

“Are we dead?”

Adam spit seaweed. “I think so.”

She touched herself to feel the aches and fatigue and . . . “Then why are we wet?”

The waves still crashed and the winds beat
,
but the brutal summer tempest was dying
;
the ocean was right
ing itself.

Adam rolled across the rough sand to be beside her. “Maybe we’re not dead?”

Had the sea taken mercy upon them and tossed them back out onto land? She looked into the distance to see the faint flicker of lights in port.

Evelyn grinned despite the hurt in her jaw. “I think you’re right
,
Adam.”

Another grin touched Evelyn’s lips at the fond recollection. It had surprised her and Adam both, their survival. The sea had offered them a second chance.

The clip-clop of hooves resounded.

Evelyn searched the beach for Adam with her eyes. “You’re late!”

He steered the horse over the embankment and toward the sturdy cottage. With an easy grin, he dismounted—and kissed her passionately on the lips. “It’s good to see you, too, my dear.”

Content with her husband’s atonement, she said, “What took you so long in the village?”

Adam fingered the fob watch in his pocket and checked the time. “I was detained at the post.” He then handed her the letter. “It’s a note from the duke and duchess.”

Evelyn set the axe aside and snatched the mis
sive. She broke the red wax seal and scanned the elegant script. “We’re invited to a wedding.”

Adam unpacked the household supplies strapped to the animal’s back. “For whom?”

“For Captain James Hawkins.”

Adam balked. “Black Hawk? You’re not serious?”

Evelyn giggled with equal astonishment. “I’m afraid it’s true.”

“But who the devil would marry
him
?”

“I don’t know . . . but I can’t wait to find out.”

Adam whistled in disbelief. “I suppose split
ting wood will have to wait, then.” He nudged his head toward the pile of kindling. “You really should let the servants do that.”

“We don’t have any servants.”

“We really should get some servants to do that.”

She laughed heartily. “Maybe when the babe comes.”

Evelyn patted her belly. Although she wasn’t showing yet, she had missed her menses, so it was natural to assume she was enceinte.

“I purchased some more of that blue fabric you like so much, Evie.”

She eyed the bundle of material. “It’s perfect. I’ll get started on the drapes tonight.”

She and Adam had never made it to Amer
ica. Instead they had both decided to remain in England now that she was forever safe from the prince. Their new seaside home was reminiscent of Adam’s quaint country cottage—only bigger. Her husband had insisted their new abode have room for a growing family. And she was quite in accord.

“There’s strawberry jam in the cottage; fresh baked scones, too,” she said. “If you’re hungry.”

“I’m famished.”

“Adam!”

But Evelyn’s protest turned to laughter as he wrapped his arms around her and nibbled her neck.

“I have work to do,” she charged.

“It can wait,” he said in that sensual and robust tone.

Evelyn closed her eyes, susceptible to his charm. “And you can’t?”

“Not a minute more, I’m afraid.” He scooped her in his arms and headed for the cottage. “We really should hire servants, so you and I can better spend our time.”

“I want
us
to work on the cottage together.”

He set her on the bed with care. “Then I’m afraid we’re going to work at a rather slow pace.” He kissed her soundly. “The distractions, you know?”

She smiled. “I don’t mind the distractions.”

Not one bit. She looked forward to every dis
tracting moment with her husband—and all the lazy days of happiness that stretched before them both.

The potage bubbled in an iron pot over the fire:… 28

Chapter 4

“You’re alive.” 37

Chapter 5

The steady chopping sound roused Adam from his deep and… 49

Chapter 6

Lieutenant Eric Faraday eased himself into a seat, for a… 59

Chapter 7

Evelyn picked at the blades of grass in a blind… 75

Chapter 20

Evelyn glanced down at her tattered dress. She had ripped… 236

Chapter 21

The warm and brilliant rays of the setting sun painted… 243

Chapter 22

“Are you ready?” 258

Chapter 23

Evelyn stood beside the window in the parlor. Ever since… 271

Chapter 24

Adam hoped she would come. 282

Chapter 29

Adam wandered through the castle causeways. 338

Chapter 30

“Welcome aboard the Bonny Meg, Lady Evelyn.” 348

Chapter 31

Evelyn was alone in the cabin with Prince Vadik. 358

Epilogue

It was a crisp fall morning. 369

This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

TOO DANGEROUS TO DESIRE
. Copyright © 2008 by Alexandra Benedit. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book onc
screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

Adobe Acrobat eBook Reader June 2008 ISBN 978-0-06-169617-6

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