Read Sinful Confessions Online
Authors: Samantha Holt
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Genre Fiction, #Historical, #Romance, #Victorian, #Historical Fiction, #British, #Regency, #Short Stories, #Historical Romance
Sinful Confessions (12 page)
***
“I suppose you shall be returning to
America once you are well.” Viola glanced up from her book to find the
marchioness peering down at her. “Your family must be missing you.”
Viola
offered a wide smile. “Not at all. My brothers and father will be happy to have
me out of their way for a while longer.”
Her
lips pursed. “You were lucky Julian acted so quickly.”
“I
do not think it luck, my lady. Your son is a clever man.”
Those
pursed lips softened slightly. “He is indeed.”
Viola
tried not to let her smile expand. Julian’s mother had remained coldly civil,
murmuring some slightly sympathetic words after her accident but it would take
some time to get her to warm to her. However, she knew something Julian didn’t.
He might not be able to see it and his mother certainly never expressed it, but
Viola saw pride there.
And
who wouldn’t be proud of such a man?
It
left Viola with only one conclusion. She could not give up yet. He had saved
her life. The week since the carriage accident had been painful and frustrating
but also wonderful. Julian had tended to her with such caring… she had to
believe she could change his mind.
“Mother.”
Viola’s
heart skipped when he entered the library. She eyed his broad torso and
revelled in the memory of their time together. Unable to walk properly, she had
spent the past week being cradled in those strong arms, being pressed against
that chest. It was a sort of sweet torture.
“Julian,”
his mother acknowledged. “If you will excuse me, I must talk to the
housekeeper.”
When
she was gone, Julian rolled his eyes and settled behind his desk. “Was she
bothering you?”
“No,
not at all.”
“Was
she rude?”
“No
more than normal. I’m not so delicate that I cannot handle her myself, Julian.”
He
let slip a reluctant smile. “That I well know.” He glanced at her leg that was
resting upon a footstool. “How is it? Are you in pain?”
“No.
It is better but it’s ugly.” She scrunched up her face in annoyance. “It will
scar.”
Julian
shook his head. “It is not ugly. Besides, a scar is nothing compared to what
could have happened.”
Viola
lifted her skirt to eye the steadily healing laceration. He raised a brow and
skimmed his gaze down her. Heat gathered low in her stomach.
“What
are you writing?” she asked, tucking her skirts back around her and placing her
book aside.
“A
letter.”
“Har-di-har.”
She narrowed her gaze at him. “Another complaint?”
“No,
a letter of thanks to the doctor.” He waved a slip of paper at her. “I intend
to reward him richly for his services.”
“You
know he said that you did all the work.” She gave him a soft smile. “You saved
my life, Julian. Had you not acted so quickly, I might have lost my leg or my
life. You know how easily these things can kill a person.” His expression grew
thoughtful and he stared at her intently. She fidgeted under such scrutiny. “What
is it?”
“I
nearly lost you.” He stood and came to her side. Sinking down to his knees, he
took her hand and placed a fingertip to it. He wrote the words as he spoke
them, tracing tiny letters on her palm. “I was so terrified of losing you by
marrying you and yet I nearly did anyway.”
She
cupped his rough jaw with her free hand. “But you didn’t. And you saved me. Had
you not been there, I might have died.”
“Yes.”
His jaw worked. “I love you.” Again he sketched the words. “I cannot lose you
again. I was so terrified of getting hurt that I hurt us both. I won’t make
that mistake again.” He turned over her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
“Marry me.”
For
a moment, she forgot to breathe. Was she merely dreaming again? Had her English
lord truly asked for her hand in marriage?
“Viola?”
he prompted.
She
laughed and took his face in her hands to kiss his forehead. “Of course, I
will. I love you, Julian Cynfell, Marquess of Lockwood, Viscount of Marworth,
Baron of Alderwood... have I missed any?”
“Several
actually,” he said with a wry smile before gripping her hands and turning his
face to kiss both of her palms. “I loved you from the first word, Viola,” he
told her. “I’ll love you until the last.”
My
Dearest Viola,
Today
it has been eighteen years since we married. You always claimed I gave you so
much—a life in England, a beautiful home, five handsome children—but the truth
is, you gave me everything. You gave me hope, love and joy.
Indeed,
I have wealth and power, but none of this could have brought me so much
contentment as being able to tell people that you are my wife. Even I, with my
way with the written word, cannot explain what I feel for you. It is something
so precious that it cannot be expressed by mere ink and paper. It is something,
I think, only you can understand.
You
know that I have always said I would rather die than let anything happen to you
and that still stands. However, you banished the black fear from within me with
your love and kindness. Though I long never to be parted from you, I know
without doubt, that our souls will remain forever entwined.
On
this day, our eighteenth wedding anniversary, please know that my love and
admiration for you has only ever grown. With every trial we have faced, we have
come out stronger. I’ve enjoyed watching you become more beautiful and graceful
with each passing year. Your humour and tranquil disposition will continue to
carry this family through whatever else the years bring us, and I thank God
every day that you have passed these traits onto our children.
I
will forever be grateful to you for never ignoring my letter and for proving to
me that I am worthy of your love. I only hope I can spend the rest of the days
ensuring that I remain worthy.
Your
loving and doting (and sometimes grumpy) husband,
J
THE END
If you enjoyed this title, please consider
leaving a review.
Sign up to Samantha’s
newsletter
for updates on new release, free books and giveaways.
Other titles by Samantha Holt
To
Steal a Highlander’s Heart (Book 1 of the Highland Fae Chronicles)
To Dream of a Highlander (Book 2 of
the Highland Fae Chronicles)
To Avenge Her Highland Warrior (Book
3 of The Highland Fae Chronicles)
Contemporary Romance
Find Samantha on
Facebook
Copyright
2015 ©Samantha Holt
All rights reserved. No part of
this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written
permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles
and reviews.
This is a work of fiction.
Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination
or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance
to actual events, locales, organisations, or persons, living or dead, is
entirely coincidental.