An Absent Wife (21 page)
Authors: Camille Oster
More of his weight came
down on her chest and he traced the curves of her brow gently with his finger. “I am asking you to give this everything. I’m asking you to trust me, and I fully acknowledge the past and all the mistakes I made. But I want us to be together, properly. Please be my wife, Adele.”
A
dele sat up abruptly, making him lean back and step away. “Lysander, I...” she started, pulling her dress to her to cover her nakedness. Lysander looked disbelieving and hurt as he stared back at her. “I’m not sure I’m the one you want to be with. I know how you reacted to that woman at the opera. You loved her. Are you sure you’re not turning your attention to me because of convenience. If she is the one you love, you should be with her.”
“Nothing between us has ever been convenient, Adele. And yes, I did care for her a long time ago, when I was young, but she’s not what I want. I want us. I want what we could have.
”
“You’ve hurt me so very much,” she started and he stepped forward, cupping her face in his hands.
“I know I did and I’m so sorry. I want you to trust me, but it’s going to require a leap of faith on your part. I’m here to catch you, but I can’t do it for you.”
Adele looked into his earnest eyes. She wanted to believe him with everything in her.
“And you won’t bury me in the country again?”
“Not unless you take me with you.”
A vision of a happy future filled her mind. She wanted it so desperately, but she would have to trust him, and be utterly devastated if he wasn’t true. Strictly, he had never lied to her, but the stakes were so very high in trusting him. But then could she walk away from this—knowing what he’d proposed? The answer was no. She would be stuck in the moment forever if she did, given no peace.
Slowly, she nodded, h
er insides a turmoil of fear and hope—the hope growing stronger. A broad smile spread across his face. “Well then, wife, I think we need to retreat upstairs so I can give you an official welcome home. I think I need to ensure that you will never have the heart to leave again.”
Watching his wife, Lysander sat at the small mosaic table in the shaded patio of their rented house in Cairo, where they liked to hide from the midday heat. The three story house had ar
ched walkways facing the patio in the center of the house. They’d lived there for four months, exploring the city and the surroundings. Adele smiled as she watched her eighteen-month old son with the Egyptian cook’s ten-year old daughter.
“Perhaps it’s time to move on,” he suggested, bringing his wife’s attention to him. Reaching out for him,
she let her fingers entwine with his. “Where should we go? Athens?”
“In her letter, Mrs
Callisfore said Jerusalem was marvelous.”
“The
y both have appeal, but I think my interests are taking me more to Greece.”
“Are we ready to start making our way back to England?”
“I don’t know,” Lysander said, looking away. “I want us to be thoroughly bonded before we go back.”
Adele smiled and stroked the side of his head with her palm. “I don’t think that is an issue.”
“I just want your memories of us being together to be stronger than the memories from before.”
“You know I don’t care where we are
, but saying that, I think we are ready to face the challenges of London.”
Grabbing Adele’s wrist, he kissed her palm. “I love you.”
Adele still blushed every time he said it. “Now, Athens? How shall we travel? Timmy does adore a ship,” she said, looking over at her son. “We will have to see Delphi, of course. Oh, and maybe Corinth. We could also look at going to Constantinople—wouldn’t that be exciting!”
Leaning back in his chair, Lysander smiled at her exuberance. Adele loved planning travel as much as she did actually experiencing it. He would let her indulge in planning for a few weeks before he booked their tickets. Their life in London could wait. It wasn’t going anywhere.
Other Books by Camille Oster
Defying a P
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Jane Burrows knows that the corporate environment is difficult to navigate at the best of times. It is especially difficult when the important account lead hates the very sight of her. Damon D'Arth is a corporate warrior who knows his way around the politics in the world for major infrastructure. Jane needs to stand up for herself and her mentor's interests.
This job is the key to Jane's future and she's been given a great opportunity, but now she needs to prove that her promotion was justified. She just isn't sure she can survive in this high pressure environment with hidden dangers and equal exhilaration. Her mentor's support is the only thing that is keeping D'Arth from ripping her to pieces.
Undoing One’s Enemy
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Lord Eldridge returns to London to reclaim the estate that had been stolen from him. He is determined on the ruination of the family that destroyed his, but his plans conflicts with his gentlemanly duties to the remnants of the Hessworth family, Amelia Hessworth and her ailing aunt.
Amelia Hessworth's willful pride and determination only increases the stakes as she refuses to accept a fate less than the one she wants. She won't let circumstance or the arrogant man whose come to throw her out of her home stop her, even as she has little choice in the short-term but to rely on support from the man who despises her. In fact, she learns to embrace the freedom outside of Society's strict expectations.
To say they don't get on is an understatement, but circumstances can be cruel.
http://www.amazon.com/Undoing-Ones-Enemy-ebook/dp/B00A159B1I/ref=la_B00ALPYJHE_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1363414729&sr=1-3
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An Unlikely Savior
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Virginie is certain that her guardian's faith in his half-brother is misplaced, but her dire circumstances mean she must beseech his assistance. She must reach safety beyond French shores and she will just have to put up with his considerable disapproval of her and everything she stands for.
Truth and Sparta
– Spartan do what they please when it comes to Helot girls and Chara curses the day that Nicias—effectively an enemy of her people—lays eyes on her and decides that he wants her for himself. His attention places her and her family in an awkward position, exasperated by her brother’s increasing appetite for rebellion. Soon she is placed in a position where she needs to take decision action to save her family—no matter the cost, and that includes the building attraction she feels for the Spartan soldier who is the cause of all her problems.
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