Page 21 of The Burning Passion of a Fiery Lady
“No,” said Leonard, his eyes wild. “No!”
“Yes, Leonard,” she had insisted. “I know that it is early days, but I think that I am in love …”
“I have heard of him,” he spat, his eyes wild. “Gilbert Drake. He is obscenely wealthy. That is the reason, isn’t it? Your parents are pressuring you to marry him because he is so rich!”
She had known, then. She had known that there was nothing she could say, or do, to stop it. Leonard would still believe that she was secretly in love with him because he wanted to. He would never accept the truth.
She had to be cruel, to be kind. There was simply no other way.
She didn’t want to do it. She had tried to avoid it for months now. She still cared deeply for him, as a friend; it would hurt her to lose him. But there was simply no other way, now.
“I want you to leave,” she had said slowly. “I want you to leave, and never come back. I never want to see you again, Leonard.”
“What?” he had stammered, his eyes bewildered.
She had taken a deep breath. “If you do not leave this minute, I will scream. I am not lying.”
He had stared at her, not believing it for a moment. But then, there must have been something in her expression that finally showed him she was determined.
“You will regret this,” he had said quietly. “He will not make you happy, Susannah. Only I can do that.” He had paused. “Wewillbe together, someday. I know it.”
She had stared at him but hadn’t said another word. With one last burning look at her, he had left, quietly slipping out the door.
She had stared at that door, not moving, for a long time. Her heart had been bereft. He had been a good friend to her, and she would miss him. But that didn’t stop the deep relief that she was feeling, at finally being free of his relentless pursuit of her.
***
Amy’s eyes were wide, as she listened to the story.
“You never saw him again until he came here?” she whispered softly.
Susannah shook her head. “It has been seven years, Amy. I had almost forgotten about him entirely.” She took a deep breath. “I was shocked when I saw him in the parlour, but I was ready to be amenable, and treat him as an old friend, until he started saying that he loved me again …”
Amy sighed. “Perhaps he was just trying it on for size, my dear. Men can do things like that; it is as if they are testing the waters.” She paused. “His intentions are probably good. He was young – youths are often foolish in love, after all. He is probably just checking up on an old friend.”
Susannah sighed. “Perhaps you are right. But still, I do not want to see him today. I want to see how the horse master and his apprentice are getting on, at the stables …”
Amy gave her a knowing look. Susannah could feel herself blushing, to the roots of her hair, but she said nothing.
Jasper Stone. He was waiting for her. She could feel it, deep within her soul.
Chapter 9
Jasper watched the horse on the edge of the rope as he guided it around the corral. But he wasn’t really seeing it, at all. In his mind, he was still in the stables the night before, with Susannah pressed against him in his arms.
He shivered with desire. The kiss had been passionate, so passionate that he had barely been able to restrain himself from taking her, then and there. But he was glad that he hadn’t given in to the lust for her that had flown through his veins like molten lava. He didn’t want to quickly tumble her, like a serving wench. No, the lady of The Willows was worth far more than that.
She had been in a difficult relationship with her husband. A relationship where Gilbert Drake had controlled and diminished her, making her believe that she was not worthy, that everything that had happened was somehow her fault. But she was still loyal to the man, to some degree, despite her declaration that she hadn’t been in love with him for a long time.
Jasper knew it was complicated for her. She was still trying to untangle what had happened in her marriage, as well as genuinely grieving for the man her husband had once been. He must respect that and go slowly with her.
He took a deep breath. Susannah Drake deserved to be worshipped like the goddess that she was.
He glanced anxiously back at the house. Had she woken up this morning, regretful of what had happened in the stable last night? Was that the reason that she wasn’t here now?
But just as he was starting to worry, he saw her, quickly walking towards the stables. His heart seized. Once again, he was struck by how beautiful she was. It was as if every time he saw her, it was new again. It was as fresh as the first time that he had laid eyes on her.
He knew now that it was too late. He had known, instinctively, that she was dangerous to him. He had tried to resist her because of his own broken heart, but it had always been a hopeless enterprise.
