When Love Comes Calling: Two Short Stories by Samantha Kane Read Free Book Online

as the housekeeper swept her into the house. Here, at The Byrne. And the thought didn’t scare the wits out of him. As a matter of fact, it sounded damn good.

    T wo weeks later Sylvie showed Edmund to the door after their morning tea and pastries. “Are you going to see Mrs. Tilbury today?” Sylvie asked as they walked slowly.
    “Yes.” Edmund stopped and took his hat and gloves from Jernigan. “I’ve found her some work as a washerwoman and given her some funds from the parish, but I want to make sure she and the children have enough provisions. When she finally came to see me they were nearly starving. I’m appalled that she waited four months after her husband’s death to seek assistance.”
    Sylvie shook her head and sighed. “It’s very hard for some of the women to admit they need help. Accepting charity marks them in the neighborhood, no matter what you or I say or do. It is an attitude that is very pervasive here in the country, where people are expected to help themselves.” Sylvie had to clutch her hands together to keep from smoothing Edmund’s jacket across his shoulders after he put his hat on. “I do hope the work you’re doing with the parish charity board will help. Prior to your arrival I was the only one calling for more assistance to the widows and orphans. Most of the others wish to keep the funds in case of an emergency at the parsonage or the church, and the last vicar quite agreed with them.”
    Edmund smiled at her, his eyes saying what he couldn’t speak. The look was so tender Sylvie nearly gave in and touched him. Edmund turned and stepped to the door. Sylvie blushed at the knowing look he gave her. He knew she’d been about to touch him and he’d moved deliberately.
    “I shall handle the board.” Edmund’s voice was hard as he said it, and Sylvie almost felt sorry for Sir Josiah Poole, who’d led the conservative board for years. “I hope more women will come forward if they are in need of assistance, and do not wait as long as Mrs. Tilbury now that they know the parish is available to help.” His voice softened. “I shall give Mrs. Tilbury your regards.”
    Sylvie cleared her throat self-consciously. “Yes, yes do, please.” She glanced out the door behind him. “I’ve had cook make up a basket for them. I believe it’s waiting by your horse.”
    “I shall make sure they get it,” Edmund said while looking out at the drive. He turned back and again his eyes said more than he could. “Thank you, Lady Bartlebyrne.”
    He tipped his hat and Sylvie stayed to watch, dreamy-eyed, as he mounted his horse and rode away, turning in the saddle to smile at her before riding out of the drive. She went back in the house, humming happily as she swayed to a tune in her head, the same tune Edmund had hummed in her ear last night as he waltzed her around her bedroom naked. She looked up to catch a smile on Jernigan’s face. The butler immediately wiped his expression clean, but Sylvie felt herself blush, and she hurried back into her solar to escape.
    Edmund had visited her almost every night for the last two weeks. The three nights he hadn’t come had been interminable. They had kissed, licked and sucked every single inch of skin on each other’s bodies, and Sylvie still blushed at the memories. He had even introduced her to anal sex, something she had never even dreamed of. Who could imagine that a man’s cock there would feel so good? It was a way to fuck him without having to worry about pregnancy, and he loved it. She loved it. He’d brought her a gift, a “toy” he’d called it. A dildo made from jade. They had had hours of fun playing with that. She wanted him so much, every minute of every hour of every day. She knew it was foolish—eventually this affair would have to end. He would lose interest in her as she began to age more noticeably, and he would look for a younger woman to take to wife. The thought ripped through Sylvie’s chest like a rapier, cutting out