“Good. I want you to have your heart’s every desire, of course, and to have a wedding befitting my greatest treasure. But I also want to do this deed as soon as possible. Now, the reverend is an early riser. We can make an early morning of it.”
Karo informed him, more or less politely, that he was again mistaken. She had plans for a late night and then sleeping in. Since it wouldn’t exactly be a white wedding, no matter her dress. She had lots of plans for them.
“I won’t change my mind,” she promised. “There are lots of things I have yet to try. And I wonder if you don’t, too.” It was the last thing she said before their lips reconnected and her brain went temporarily blank. She would climb the tree and call her parents later. Right now she had an agenda that was much more important.
Epilogue
Hence, babbling dreams! you threaten here in vain!
—Colley Cibber from Richard III
The afternoon sun was glinting off the third-floor windows way up in the trees. Neither Karo nor Tristam could see the house from the shelter of their bower, even if they had been inclined to look up at it, but it was probably best for their peace of mind. They didn’t see the slight movement of the shutter in the garret, or hear the soft laughter of Hugh Vellacourt and Eustacie La Belle who looked down and watched the lovers in the garden. It was also doubtful that Tristam or Karo would have shared the spirits’ amusement at the recent reburial of Old Father Basco’s bones under the bush in the graveyard.
“Should we let it rain on them, ma cher?” Eustacie asked, looking at the bank of clouds gathering in the east. She cherished Hugh as much now as the day they met, though she had to admit his ever-changing appearance remained a bit of an oddity.
“Non. We shall make this storm pass away. They have, after all, done us a great service by removing that hateful book from the house. And it is sweet that she wished to bury our bones together.” The two specters smiled at each other. Centuries had not dimmed their love, and their bones were buried together—in the armoire that Tristam had complained about moving to the garret. Reuniting them had been a herculean effort by a different Vellacourt, another attempt to expel Hugh’s ghost.
“It will be wonderful to have guests at Belle Ange again,” Eustacie said. “Shall we attend this nuptial feast? We shall have to keep our distance if we do. You make Karo so very hot, and I chill her to the bone.” Eustacie went over to the bookshelf and selected a volume of Japanese erotica. The illustrations were beautiful. “Hm…This is new to the collection and very interesting. I am glad they discovered it and brought it up here. Such thoughtful children. Maybe we can show them some for their honeymoon.”
Hugh looked back at his lover and chuckled. “Bien entendu. But of course we shall attend the feast! It is to our credit that they wed. Without a gentle nudge, they would still be circling and scratching at one another like wary cats.”
“Bien. Then come away, cher, and let them make their plans and love in peace. It is only for a few days more. And we should also decide if we wish to see this home in California.”
“Very well.” The shutter closed slowly, and Hugh Vellacourt waved a lackadaisical hand at the two bodies twisted pleas urably in the garden. “Adieu, mes enfants. Until Saturday.”
Critics Rave about Melanie Jackson!
THE NIGHT SIDE
“The Night Side delivers in spades…A seasoned storyteller, Jackson delivers another entertaining story.”
—Fresh Fiction
DIVINE FANTASY
Jackson “has a wonderful way with descriptive language. There are some great connections with previous books and a surprise at the end.”
—RT Book Reviews
A CURIOUS AFFAIR
“For a very different type of murder mystery and some very quirky characters and a twist at the end you won’t see coming, pick up A Curious Affair, because in this tale, curiosity does not kill the cat!”
—Romance Reviews Today
DIVINE NIGHT
“Not to be read quickly, Jackson’s latest is closely connected to the two previous Divine stories…This is an excellent addition to this series.”
—RT Book Reviews
WRIT ON WATER
“An intriguing mix of mystery and romance, with shadings of the paranormal, this is a story that pulls you in.”
—RT Book Reviews
DIVINE MADNESS
“This tale isn’t your everyday, lighthearted romance…Melanie Jackson takes an interesting approach to this tale, using historical figures with mysterious lives.”
—Romance Reviews Today
DIVINE FIRE
“Jackson pens a sumptuous modern gothic…Fans of solid love stories like those of Laurell K. Hamilton will enjoy Jackson’s tale, which readers will devour in one sitting, then wait hungrily for the next installment.”
—Booklist
THE SAINT
“This visit to the ‘Wildside’ is wonderfully imaginative and action-packed…[A] fascinating tale.”
—RT Book Reviews
THE MASTER
“Readers…will not be disappointed. Her ability to create a complicated world is astounding with this installment, which includes heartwarming moments, suspense and mystery sprinkled with humor. An excellent read.”
—RT Book Reviews
STILL LIFE
“The latest walk on the ‘Wildside’ is a wonderful romantic fantasy that adds new elements that brilliantly fit and enhance the existing Jackson mythos…Action-packed.”
—Midwest Book Review
THE COURIER
“The author’s imagination and untouchable world building continue to shine…[An] outstanding and involved novel.”
—RT Book Reviews
OUTSIDERS
“Melanie Jackson is a talent to watch. She deftly combines romance with fantasy and paranormal elements to create a spellbinding adventure.”
TRAVELER
“Jackson often pushes the boundaries of paranormal romance, and this…is no exception.”
—Booklist
THE SELKIE
“Part fantasy, part dream and wholly bewitching, The Selkie…[blends] whimsy and folklore into a sensual tale of love and magic.”
—RT Book Reviews
Other books by Melanie Jackson:
THE SELKIE BRIDE
THE NIGHT SIDE
DIVINE FANTASY
A CURIOUS AFFAIR
DIVINE NIGHT
WRIT ON WATER
DIVINE MADNESS
THE SAINT
THE MASTER
DIVINE FIRE
STILL LIFE
THE COURIER
OUTSIDERS
TRAVELER
THE SELKIE
DOMINION
BELLE
AMARANTHA
NIGHT VISITOR
MANON
IONA
Copyright
In fond memory of Becky and Max and Goldie, Gone over the Rainbow Bridge—Rest In Peace
LOVE SPELL®
July 2010
Published by
Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Copyright © 2010 by Melanie Jackson
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E-ISBN: 978-1-4285-0900-9
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Visit us online at www.dorchesterpub.com.
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Melanie Jackson, The Ghost and Miss Demure