A Regency Christmas My Love Read Free

pacing to the bed.  He took her hand and raised her to stand then put his arms around her.  Creighton held her for the space of a minute and then he traced her cheek with the back of his knuckles lifting her chin with his fingertips.  Staring into her purple eyes he slowly closed the space between them and gently touched her soft warm lips.  A fire started in his veins and he pulled her further into the kiss, deepening the kiss and parting her lips to slide his tongue into her recesses fully tasting her.  She tasted of honey and gingerbread and he sighed. It was the feeling of coming home. Then he set her away from him turned and left the room the second time without looking back but his grin was even wider than before.
         Vicky gasped in outrage and then he slowly warmed her from the inside out.  His tender kiss was the most tactile experience of her young life and she sizzled with the flaming passion he aroused in her small frame.  She was lost.  She wanted to bathe in the heat of his arms.  Suddenly, she was alone again. He was gone and all his warmth and heat dissipated.
     
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    Chapter Two
         Creighton was gone for only a few minutes and there was a knock on her door.  Vicky thought maybe there was something he forgot to tell her.  She was still standing in the middle of the room with her fingers on her mouth trying to understand what had happened between them.  Her pulse was still racing. She did not think she could take another kiss.  She thought she would feint from the last one.  Vicky slowly turned and put her hand on the door and opened because she thought she might like to feint after all.
          A strange tall thin man with black eyes and a hooked nose with a black top hat and gloves in his hands bowed to her.  He shuffled his feet and looked into the room.
         “I am Mister Crawley and I was told a Miss Victoria Grace was in this room.  Would that be you?”  “Yes, I am Miss Victoria Grace. May I help you?”  “Yes, I just came from the bank and I understand that you are the only one responsible for your father’s debts.  I have come to collect on those debts.”
      Vicky stumbled back aghast.  She shook her head in disbelief.
           “I am sorry but I do not have any money and they took everything else that I own except for my clothes.”  Her eyes filled with tears again and she trembled.
          “You will come with me please.”  Mister Crawley took her by the hand.
         Vicky tried to tug her hand away from him but he held on to her and pulled her after him.  He took long strides and she stumbled.  Surely there was some mistake.
           “I don’t understand.  Where are we going?  I have no way to pay anything if I am in prison.  Please, let me find employment and I will repay all I owe.” 
        Mister Crawley shook his head in disgust and pulled her arm all the more.
         “There is no way that you could pay what your father owes by working as a maid or governess.  There may be something we can arrange that I will discuss in the carriage.”
         “That would be very kind of you.  Let me get my pelisse, hat and gloves.” 
          “No, you will come with me now and stop struggling with me.”  He jerked her arm.
          “Here is my carriage.”  Mister Crawley took her hand and helped her into the black carriage.  It had covered windows and no markings.  It looked a little frightening to Vicky.  She shook from the cold and fright of this horrible man.
         “Where are we going?  Are we going to the bank or to Newgate?  I really will pay all that is owed, if you will just give me a chance.”  Tears ran down her cheeks again.
          “You will pay me what is owed and more.  I have a job for you and you will do as I tell you.”  His tone of voice changed and he was speaking to her in a very nasty manner.
           “I don’t understand.  Why are you