Affairs of the Heart Read Free Page B

that hung
gathered at each bedpost from the canopy.
    Her fingertips followed a
pleat until they met a dusty, satin comforter.
    Look at how
her eyes sparkle, Samuel, Josie pointed out with joy. Watch her, Samuel. She’s perfect—so full of passion. Just
like Samanda when Henry first brought her home.
    Emma’s hand breezed over
the silky material and left a path in the dust that had settled on
the bed cover over the years. She sighed deeply. She looked as if
her mind’s eye had taken her to another place and time. She
appeared to be at peace and relaxed as she sat upon the bed that
had once been Josie and Samuel’s.
    Josie sat down next to
her as a tear slipped out of the corner of Emma’s eye and a smile
played on her rose-colored lips. The earthly desire to place a hand
upon Emma’s overwhelmed her.
    Josie,
quickly before she feels your presence, Samuel coaxed. He took her by the arm and led her over
to the window, away from their marriage bed.
    Emma rose and slowly
scanned the rest of the room. It was then that her eyes came to
rest upon the portrait hanging above the mantel of the room’s
fireplace.
    “ Samuel Royal
Kinsman,” Kate told Emma with a touch of pride. “He’s Royal’s
great-great-grandfather and namesake.”
    Emma looked into the
handsome face and blue-gray eyes. Her face became flushed before
she shyly looked away for a moment, only to return her gaze upon
his face. She became overwhelmed with the warmth the painting had
captured. She tilted her head slightly to the side then pulled
shoulder-length hair across the back of her neck. Emma’s hand
gathered the hair and gently brought it straight down to the side,
her gaze never leaving those in the painting.
    Ha, she’s
flirting with me! Samuel
whispered. You’re not
jealous, are you, Josie?
    Of what,
Samuel? She’s alive. What sort of a threat could she possibly be to
me in her current state? Josie teased. She’s
perfect for Royal—just like you are for me.
    “ Hello! Kate,
are you here?” The voice bellowed through the house.
    “ Up here, in
the master,” Kate called.
    Royal’s here,
Josie, Samuel whispered
excitedly. He stopped to allow Royal Kinsman to pass through them
in a flurry after having taken the steps two at a time.
    “ The door was opened, and I wasn’t sure―”
Royal looked questionably at Emma, who was still enthralled by
Samuel’s portrait. “Kate, is everything okay?”
    “ Yes, yes, of
course, Royal. This is Emma Sorenson. She’s here about the house,”
Kate answered. “I was just showing her―”
    “ Turn around,
Emma,” Josie whispered in her ear, lightly touching Emma’s
shoulder. “We want you to meet Royal, dear.”
    A smile
appeared on Emma’s lips as she turned to meet the
great-great-grandson of Samuel Kinsman. A gasp escaped from her
th roat and her eyelids
fluttered briefly before her body began to slump.
    Oh, no, catch
her, Samuel! Josie cried,
just as Samuel reached out to hold Emma up in an off-balance
stance.
    “ Royal!” Kate
screamed, just before Emma collapsed into Royal’s arms, having
passed through Samuel’s unsuccessful grasp.
    Royal scooped her up in
his arms, carried her over to the bed, then lightly brushed the
hair away from her pale face as the back of her head rested upon a
pillow.
    She’ll be
fine now, Josie, Samuel said.
He reassured Josie as well as himself that everything truly was
well and good.
    Yes, Royal’s
with her now, Josie murmured
in reply. Now, let’s go and
try out some of that re-experiencing you were thinking about
earlier . Suggestively, she
took Samuel’s hand in hers and led him away from their marriage
bed.
    * * * *
    She looked like an angel
with her hair spread over the dusty satin pillow. A hint of pink
colored otherwise creamy-white cheeks, as if she were
blushing.
    Royal brushed away the
stray strands of hair caught in her lashes. His gaze traveled from
the long-lashed eyes, down a delicate nose and onto rose-colored
lips. His heart skipped a beat