Miss Prestwick’s Crusade
Anne Barbour

Excerpt

A STARTLING CONFESSION

Edward rose from his desk and came round to escort Helen from the room. She wished he hadn’t. As she placed her hand on the door handle, he reached to open it for her, enclosing them briefly in the firelit silence. His fingers were warm on hers. The dark eyes that gazed down into hers were warm as well, with a light in their depths she felt was in no way attributable to the fire.

“Helen—” he began, “You have—you are—”. He laughed softly. “For the first time I regret that I have no skill with words. He lifted a hand to brush a wisp of hair away from her cheek. “I can only say that you have brought a joy— a light into my life that I never thought to experience.”

Vainly, Helen attempted to marshal her thoughts, her principles, the caution she had been trying to maintain since her arrival here. All for naught. She was aware only of the breathless delight of his fingers on her skin. When he bent his head, she lifted hers without reservation, and when his lips brushed hers, she welcomed the kiss as she might a draft of cool water on a hot day…