An Unexpected Sin (17 page)
Authors: Sarah Ballance
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Historical, #General, #Historical Romance, #virgin hero, #secret pregnancy, #Scandalous, #Puritan, #entangled publishing, #lovers in a dangerous time, #Salem witch trials, #forbidden romance
Not a breath was heard in the whole of the inn as they awaited Susannah’s response. When she closed her eyes his stomach swayed. Would she deny him? When they opened, she blinked back tears. “I have the letter you sent Anne many weeks ago. I was not able to forward it, for I did not know where she was, but I was not sorry to keep it from her. I was not sorry to keep you from her.”
“We already share a love for Anne,” Josiah said gently, low so only she could hear. “Perhaps we can share this quest toward forgiveness.”
Susannah took his hands and nodded. “That we will,” she said. “You have my blessing.”
Relief flooded him, but he had one more stop to make.
Anne’s grandmother.
Josiah laughed as he stopped in front of her. “All of this talk, and I know not your name.”
The old woman patted his hand. “Call me as Anne does,” she said. “As it seems you have made a great-grandmother out of me.”
“In due time,” he said, laughing.
“Go, boy. Claim your bride.”
That was approval enough. He went to a very tearful Anne and took her hands in his. “I have waited a great many years for this moment,” he said, “but I could ask for nothing more. With the blessing of your family, I wish to take you as my wife. Will you have me?”
“Yes.” She smiled with the innocence of an angel and pulled him close. With her lips grazing his ear, she added, “Every chance I get.”
About the Author
Sarah and her husband of what he calls “many long, long years” live on the mid-Atlantic coast with their six young children, all of whom are perfectly adorable when they’re asleep. She never dreamed of becoming an author, but as a homeschooling mom, she often jokes she writes fiction because if she wants anyone to listen to her, she has to make them up. (As it turns out, her characters aren’t much better than the kids). Though she adores romantic suspense, she writes in many genres. Her ever-growing roster of releases may be found at
http://sarahballance.com
.
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Also by Sarah Ballance…
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