Romance: Detective Romance: A Vicious Affair (Victorian Regency Intrigue 19th England Romance) (Historical Mystery Detective Romance) (85 page)

     Grinning in spite of herself, Lorelei graced him with a
good-natured
nudge as she informed him, “You’re still a royal sweet talker, sure enough. And while I do envision you as the kind of man I would indeed like to marry someday,
I
am not quite ready to say I do—not quite yet, anyway.” She paused, looking him straight in the eyes as she emphasized, “I don’t want to be ordered like a piece of merchandise—I want to be courted.”

     Jacob nodded.

     “Well, that I can do,” he assured her, adding as he arched his eyebrows, “with pleasure, miss.”

     Proving his words moments later, Jacob suggested that the two of them go for a ride, alone this time, and at a leisurely pace as they lost themselves in the splendor of their natural surroundings.

     Joining hands
between
them, they basked in the
ethereal
vision of towering hibiscus trees and
tall,
stately oak, heather
strewn
fields boasting lush gold ivory growths of sunflowers and daffodils, and—of course—the endless golden crops that sprang forth both roses and corn in equal measure.

     “Absolutely beautiful place—one where I’d quite like to live someday,” she mused with a grin, adding as she raised a firm finger for emphasis, “only I must forewarn you. I do not and I will not shuck corn—under any circumstances.”

     Jacob laughed.

     “Not a problem, miss,” he conceded, adding as he inclined his head in her direction, “would you mind overmuch tending your own personal rose garden on this property? One in which you could reap and sow your own roses—also sowing any profit that you earn from the sale of those roses?”

     Brightening immediately, Lorelei nodded with girlish glee as she considered this prospect.

     “Oh, Jacob, I would love that idea,” she enthused, adding as she cast a longing gaze over a nearby bed of ebullient yellow florals that captured the beauty of the sun above, “I could keep a booth at market and call it Lorelei’s Roses.” She paused here, adding as she rolled her eyes heavenward, “I reckon that I’m a far sight better at farming than I am at naming businesses.”

     Jacob guffawed outright.

     “Not at all, Lorelei’s Roses sounds just amazing,” he assured her, adding as he arched his eyebrows to curious effect, “and how about a little side venture in addition, one called Lorelei’s Horses?”

     Lorelei froze, bringing her own mount to a dead stand still as she processed these words.

     “You mean to say I could raise and breed horses? A whole herd of them, all by my lonesome?” she marveled, adding as she pointed an authoritative finger straight in Jacob’s direction, “OK then, forget about the courtship. I hereby demand that you marry me. Now.”

     Meeting these words with a gleeful beam, Jacob brought her hand to his warm, moist lips for a most gentlemanly kiss.

     “As much as I out and out love to hear these words, darlin’, I still do reserve the right to court you profusely, kiss your hand repeatedly, and spoil your lovely socks off,” he declared, accenting his words with a stately bow that touched Lorelei’s heart.

     Making good on this promise, Jacob soon escorted Lorelei back to his ranch house, a modest but attractive two-story home with ivory walls, a crystalline bay window and a columned front porch graced by a homey old pair of rickety wood rocking chairs.

    
“I am fully aware, Lorelei, that a fine young woman such as yourself might have just a few reservations about bein’ alone with a man inside his house, and without a chaperone,” he told her, adding as he made a broad gesture in the direction of the rocking chairs, “so I thought I’d serve us supper outside.”

    
Soon the couple shared a fine country dinner in the waning sunlight that soon gave way to sunset; their heads tilted together as they feasted on fried chicken, hominy and grits, buttered mashed potatoes, as well as a luscious bowl of homemade strawberry ice cream served with sprinkles and a cherry on top, as per Lorelei’s request.

     “Delicious!” The joyful lady smacked her lips, adding as she arched her eyebrows inquisitively in the direction of her host, “How did you learn to cook this
good
, Jacob?”

     Her host smiled.

     “My ma,” he told her, tone soft and wistful. “Back a few years ago when I first bought this place, my parents used to visit every Saturday night. Ma and I would cook up supper, and we’d always follow up our meal with some ice cream and a good bit of Bible study.”

     Lorelei nodded.

     “Sounds wonderful,” she praised, adding as she took another hearty bite of homemade ice cream, “do your folks still live around these parts?”

     Jacob shook his head.

     “Actually, Lorelei, they don’t live at all,” he revealed, adding with a deep sigh, “one evening, as they were coming home from my place, they got caught up in a terrible storm. The rain and the wind battered their wagon, which eventually toppled over into a creek.” He paused here, adding in a trembling voice, “Ma and Pa were both killed in the accident.”

     Setting aside the rose print dish that—or so Lorelei guessed—had once been a part of his mother’s china collection, Lorelei wrapped her arms around Jacob’s muscled shoulders and enshrouded him in a comforting hug.

     “Oh, Jacob,” she whispered, pressing her soft pink lips against his carved cheek as she offered, “I am so sorry to hear this.”

     Jacob said nothing for a moment, just graced his lady with an affirming squeeze as he clutched her arms and rested his head in the crook of her neck.

     “Thank you, darlin’,” he said finally, cuddling close and sweet to his
loving
guest as he continued, “I miss my ma and pa so much, but I never did allow myself to cry.” He paused, adding as he shook his head, “Cowboys don’t cry, Lorelei. They drown their sorrows in whiskey and women, so that is exactly what I did. In trying to mourn my parents and family in my own special way, I have done things that have disgraced Ma and Pa—that have besmirched and
spoiled
my family name.”

     Lorelei shook her head.

     “You have done wrong, Jacob, but just remember that the damage here is far from irreversible,” she reminded him, continuing in a comforting tone, “you have not killed anyone. You have not forced yourself on any woman. You do show sorrow and repentance for your misdeeds, and the good Lord is sure to forgive you.”

     Jacob smiled.

     “Well, I do believe the good Lord already has forgiven me
to send me an angel like you
,” he cooed, pressing his full soft lips against her fair skinned cheek. “I wonder, though, as to whether Lillibet and John Townsend can find it in their hearts to forgive my grave trespass against their marriage.”

     Lorelei bit her lip.

     “As far as I have heard, Jacob, Lorelei and John have no plans to divorce. So if John is willing to forgive his wife, then hopefully he will extend the same forgiveness to you,” she offered, adding through gritted teeth, “in lieu of this forgiveness, he just might extend his fist instead, to hit you upside your noggin!”

     Jacob laughed, letting loose with a chortle that seemed to release with it months’ worth of sadness and tension.

     “Woman, you’re a blessin’,” he praised her, adding as he pulled her closer to him, “And while I do enjoy talkin’ to you, I do believe I’d far rather kiss you, instead.” He paused here, adding as he swept his hat from his head in a single courtly flourish, “With your kind permission ma’am, of course.”

     In lieu of a verbal response, a blushing Lorelei turned full in her chair to face the man of her heart, staring deep into his eyes with a gentle smile as she nodded her assent.

     Without further hesitation, Jacob leaned forward and covered her lips with his, rubbing his full moist mouth against hers as they lost themselves in the tender throes of a sweet romantic advance.

     Leaning into his kiss, Lorelei inhaled her man’s appealing musky scent as she ran her fingers through the silky strands of his soft, honey blond hair.

    She purred contented against his sumptuous lips as he continued to ply her with the sweetest, truest kiss; all the while massaging her neck and shoulders as the tendrils of his luxurious hair fell soft against her chest.

     Finally, the couple broke their kiss, their hands clasping tight between them as they continued to stare deep into one another’s eyes.

     “You, Miss Lorelei, are an amazing woman,” Jake praised her, adding as he squeezed her fingers between his, “in the brief time that I have known you, dear lady, you already have saved me and changed my life. And I cannot wait to see what the future brings.”

     Lorelei smiled.

     “Only time will tell, just what the future promises for us—and, furthermore, just what the Lord has in store for our relationship,” she told him, adding as she graced him with a shy smile, “For the immediate future, however, I was wondering if you still would like to escort me to the church dance next week?”

     Jake blinked.

     “Well, certainly miss,” he agreed, adding as he inclined his head sharply in her direction, “only I thought that you had no interest in accompanying me to the dance.”

     Lorelei shrugged, hoisting her chin upward to prideful effect as she announced, “A woman always has the prerogative to change her mind. And today, dear Jake, you have pert near changed mine.”  

*****

     “Criminy! What am I doing?”

     The eternal embodiment of the feminine tomboy, Lorelei never minded the perpetual wearing of riding or walking skirts—but dancing skirts?

     “This courtin’ business is no easy feat,” she rolled her eyes heavenward, inhaling
sharp
as her best friend Norma mummified her within the confines of a strangulating corset.

     She did admit that she did take quite the liking to the ebullient azure ball gown that she had purchased at a local dressmaker shop; a lush satin effort with a fine ruffled bodice, wide sleeves that boasted additional ruffles as well as pure lace trim, and a smooth flowing skirt that fell graceful to her feet.

     She also favored the blue satin ribbon as well as the matching choker that adorned her hair and neck, and when she inspected the completed ensemble in the brass bordered frames of her full length bedroom mirror, she couldn’t help smiling.

     “Not bad,” she whispered, turning to Norma with a smooth flourish as she blushed in spite of herself.

     Her escort for the evening reflected these sentiments moments later as he arrived at her home in a black polished carriage guided by two ivory chargers.

     “You, my lady, are beautiful,” he praised her, kissing her hand as he made a deep bow before her.

     “Thank you!” she returned, adding as her rebellious gaze perused the black mohair jacket and pants, as well as the sleek white satin shirt that completed his own ensemble for the evening, “So do you!”

     Soon the couple walked into the simple but clean-lined social hall that formed a far corner of Willowbrook Church; a hall adorned this evening with shimmery tulle tissue banners every color of the rainbow, as well as pennants and swirls that brought some much needed color to the room.

     Taking her tenderly in two strong arms, Jacob swept Lorelei across the surface of a clean tiled dance floor, swirling and swaying her in time to the music played by a violinist who stood
unobtrusively
in the corner.

     Bending her body backward in a thrilling dip, Jacob graced Lorelei’s lips with a whisper soft kiss as their bodies grew closer together.

     Soon, their proper ballroom dance evolved into something of a lustrous tango, their beings merging to form a radiant constant as they twirled like a vibrant kaleidoscope across the width and breadth of the dance floor.

     “This is perfect,” Lorelei breathed, feeling as light as air as his sturdy hands enclosed her waist and their chests pressed together.

    Jacob shrugged.

    “Almost,” he agreed, “but not quite.”

     With these words, he lifted his head to address the violinist in the corner, a man who now paused between songs to take guest requests.

     “Dear Sir!” Jacob summoned his attention with a spirited wave, “Could you please play The Yellow Rose of Texas, and dedicate the song to my lady friend here?”

     Soon an exalted Lorelei kicked up her heels as she and Jacob launched into yet another jaunty, spirited reel; their hands clenched tight together as they and other dancers made broad circles across the floor.

     Finally, the couple collapsed in an affirming hug as their signature song came to a close, walking together in the direction of a refreshment stand that formed a far corner of the social hall.

     They froze seconds later, and their smiles dissolved as their path was blocked by the presence of a tall, muscled man, one who struck a strong stance before them as he glared outright at a startled Jacob.