Page 76 of Sweet Siren
"Or a rogue who's a second son. His papa likes his oldest boy. Sedate andprudent."
"Boring."
"True. We need a man who rouses the spirit, breaks a few rules and thenrepents."
Liv nodded. "Moreexciting."
"There you are! So this house with its creamy stone and meandering front drive is just the setting for the return of the prodigalson."
Liv laughed and put an arm around her girl's shoulders. Camille, with her sixteenth birthday next week, was as tall as Liv now. She was an elegant swan, with perfect pink cheeks and small white teeth, a river of golden hair streaked with glistening copper. She was quite breath-taking to look at. In fact, when they'd dined out these past few evenings, Liv had noticed the covetous glances sent to her gorgeous daughter. If she wished it, Camille could marry early and quite well. But Liv hoped she'd wait a very long time to choose a groom. If she could persuade her daughter to enjoy that opportunity, then Liv predicted her only child would find the perfect man to love and to love her inreturn.
Liv took the rocky path toward the frontsteps.
"I hear thesea."
Liv looked back at Camille who had paused, her eyes closed, a rapturous look on herface.
She spun and headed for the cliff. "I have to see it! Come on,Mama!"
"Wait for me!" Liv ran behind herdaughter.
Camille came to an abrupt halt in front of the Dominican abbey's arches. Wild flowers growing around her feet, they decorated her skirt as if they'd been painted there. A glorious riot of summertime blooms, pinks, yellows and whites dotted her daughter's pale green muslin gown. She trailed her fingertips through the blossoms, scattering petals in the breeze. "Oh, this is glorious. I bet it's wonderful on a moonlit night. A marvelous place to be kissed and to fall inlove."
Camille's words had Liv wrapping her arms around her waist, envisioning what it must be like to be romanced in such a place.I could hope for that. Want it badly. Once in my life."Enchanting, yes. Itis."
Camille shot her a wild look. "You'll leave it just like this, won't you? Mr. Hanniford won't make you cut down the flowers and put up giant rhododendrons and prickly roses, Ihope."
"I doubt it. He likes this as it is. Although we will clear the path here from the house and build a secure terrace to have easy access to thearches."
"Superb! So it will be easy to waltz out here too. An orchestra inside in the—" She pointed toward the walled stones of the house. "What will that be? That room that fronts thisview?"
"An orangerie with large Frenchdoors."
"So you could dance inthere?"
"I suppose so, yes." She turned to the opening where the doors would go and she could see inside, Killian in an elegant swallowtail welcoming his guests and dancing with...me.
"The winds won't blow out the glass?" Camille asked, her knowledge of building and decor sound at herage.
"No. They will be double paned. Unusual but necessary. Sturdy to counter the seaward winds, but light enough to allow the brilliance of the viewinside."
"Like a conservatory for the sea and the sun and the wild flowers ofSussex."
Liv laughed. "Come inside, my girl. You are waxingpoetic."
"I must have venues, you know. Wonderful places forassignations."
Liv arched a brow at her. "Keep those venues in your imagination, my dear. Not in your experience for many years tocome."
"I shall fall in love in an instant, Mama." Camille said it as if it were ordained. "You've always knownit."
"Dear god. I do hope not. Rogues abound. I do hope you have the sense to wait to fall for a man who can complement you in energy as well asimagination."
Camillepicked up her skirt and swished the fabric like a coquette. "He, whoever he is, must not beboring."
"Trust me. He won't be if he must keep up with you." She looped her arm through her daughter's. "Let's see thehouse."
Camille adored every inch of the place. She'd oo-ed and ahh-ed in the drawing room, sighed in the long gallery, pretended to play an imaginary piano in the small salon, twirled about in the orangerie like a debutante before she stood in awe in the massive kitchen. "Dear me, Mama! Who are we feeding in thiscavern?"
