The Wedding Bed (The Sun Never Sets, Book One) (17 page)

His hand b
rushed his pocket as they danced. The gift he’d had custom-made for her rested inside. A bracelet to add to her bangles. Diamonds and rubies, England and India. Not separated, but woven together with strands of gold. Later. He would give it to her later. They had all the time in the world.

“I want
to introduce you to my sisters,” she said.

The Sisters
Staunton. He stifled a groan and gave a rueful smile. So there was no escaping that fate after all. “You’ve forgotten,” he said, “they already know me.”

“No. They know the boy who hid from us
.” She laid her hand gently on his chest and gazed up at him. “They’ve never met the man I married. The man I fell in love with.”

He brushed
his lips against her temple. “Whatever you want,” he promised. “But first, we have all of London to explore together. Where would you like to begin?”

“I have no idea.”

“
Covent Gardens, the Royal Opera House, the Victoria and Albert Museum…” He rattled off the first few sites that came to his mind, working his way through the list of places which would enthrall Calla.

He
r face flushed with excitement as she considered her options. Watching her, Derek realized he couldn’t possibly wait until they returned home to have her. Just one kiss, one scandalous embrace. But not in the middle of the dance floor. Where he could take her? The gardens were too obvious. The kitchens, among the maids and footmen? Or maybe the library…

She
let out a soft sigh and smiled up at him. “Wherever you want to go is fine with me.”

Author’s Note

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading
The Wedding Bed.

I find nineteenth century
London fascinating, particularly the collision of cultures which occurred between England and her territories. (And, really, has a woman’s figure ever been so erotically exaggerated as by a corset and bustle?) The contrast between prim and naughty is too delightful for an author to resist.

Calla and Derek’s story is the first in my
The Sun Never Sets
series, taken from the famous phrase coined in the nineteenth century, “The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire.”

Coming next, the author fully intends to put
Jonathon Hollinshed, Viscount Brooksbank, through his paces in
Wicked Games
, which will be released in Spring 2014.

Want more? Please check out my other books
, now available on Amazon’s Kindle:

“Hot Historicals” written by Ava Archer Payne:

Out of Her League

The Wedding Bed

Wicked Games
(Spring 2014)

Historical Romance written under the pen name Victoria Lynne:

With This Kiss

Captured

Chasing Rainbows

What Wild Moonlight

I love to hear from readers!
Let’s talk romance: I’m always looking for a great new book. Tell me what you’re reading, what you like, what you don’t. Feel free to message me on Facebook!

Happy reading, and all the best to you and yours!

—
Ava Archer Payne