The Ragged Heiress by Dilly Court Read Free Book Online

could feel the warmth of his body through the thin cotton of his shirt. The male scent of him made her dizzy with desire and her body seemed to fit his so closely that they had become as one being. She returned his embrace with a passion she could never have imagined possible. This might be their first real kiss but she knew in her heart that it would not be the last. Too soon he drew away, holding her at arm’s length.
    ‘You are beautiful, Lucetta Froy,’ he said softly, tracing the outline of her lips with his forefinger. ‘I don’t want to leave you but I must go now. I will return tomorrow.’
    ‘No,’ Lucetta whispered breathlessly. ‘You must not come here. Papa would not permit it.’
    ‘I will speak to him. Everything will be all right, I promise you.’ He blew her a kiss and backed away into the darkness.
    Lucetta stood motionless, hardly able to believe what had just happened to her. Nothing seemed real.She was floating above the ground. She was totally and completely happy. Life was wonderful – she was in love.
    In spite of everything, Lucetta slept well and awakened next morning with a feeling that something amazing was about to happen. Hundreds of butterflies seemed to be fluttering about in her stomach and she felt that she was invincible. There would, of course, be a long and uncomfortable session with Papa. He would lecture her at length on her inappropriate behaviour, but the worst he could do to her would be to forbid her to leave the consulate, or to stop her allowance. She stretched luxuriously and smiled. What did money matter when she had found the man she would love forever? Sam had promised to return today and her heart leapt at the thought of seeing him again. She must look her best. What gown would she wear? She must get Naomi to dress her hair in the most becoming style so that when he saw her he would fall in love with her all over again.
    Lucetta snapped upright in bed. Had he said he loved her? Fingers of fear gripped her heart. Had she dreamed the whole thing? She raised her hands to her temples, closing her eyes, and then she opened them again, smiling. How foolish she was. He might not have told her he loved her in so many words, but his actions spoke for themselves. Surely a man could not kiss a girl with such passion if his heart were not well and truly lost to her?
    She reached for the bell pull and tugged at it tosummon Naomi before leaping out of bed. Ignoring the fact that she was clad only in her nightgown, she threw the French windows open and stepped outside onto the veranda. Birdsong filled her ears like a heavenly chorus and a flock of white Balinese starlings took off from a banyan tree, chattering and flapping their black-tipped wings, the iridescent blue feathers on their heads glinting in the sunlight. Why had she never noticed how beautiful everything was before? She lifted her arms, raising her face to the sun as she inhaled the scent of the champak which grew close by. Reaching out she plucked a blossom from the bougainvillea that spilled in a waterfall of purple from the roof of the veranda, and she tucked it behind her ear, native style. The lush foliage and flowers in the neatly tended garden sparkled in the sunshine as the raindrops from last night’s tropical downpour evaporated in a steaming mist.
    The click of the latch on the bedroom door made Lucetta turn her head to see Naomi enter her room with a jug of hot water and fresh towels.
    ‘Good morning, Naomi,’ Lucetta said happily. ‘Isn’t this the most glorious day?’
    ‘Good morning, missy,’ Naomi replied, smiling as she filled the bowl on the washstand and replaced the soiled towels. ‘You sleep well?’
    Lucetta went back into the room with her feet barely touching the ground. She gave the startled maid a hug. ‘I slept so well. Thank you for the clean towels and the hot water. You are wonderful. Everything is wonderful.’
    Naomi looked at her doubtfully. ‘Missy?’
    ‘And you haven’t