The Gypsy and the Widow Read Online Free PDF Page B

moaned and finally cried out.
    Immediately he turned her about, lifted her onto her knees, and entered her from behind. Now he was a man possessed, overwhelmed with his desire, his love for this woman. He plunged into her again and again and yet again until she cried his name aloud and the soft folds tightened about his kori.
    He was lost then to anything beside the need to drive into her deeper, harder, faster. His cries joined with hers as he emptied his very soul into her.
     
     
    Chapter Four
     

     
    Soon after Tem had left, Joanna heard the back door open and Mrs. Peter’s heavy tread in the kitchen.
    A few minutes later, Mrs. Peters entered the drawing room and stopped short when she saw Joanna sitting on the sofa with her leg on a stool.
    “Madam,” she sputtered, “how came you to be undressed and in your wrap?”
    “I, um, I wanted to prepare for bed early and I managed to open everything on my own.”
    Mrs. Peters stared at her. “Well you look uncommonly well. I’ve never see you smile so, or your color so high. Perhaps with your cooking and shopping and dressing yourself, soon you’ll not be needing me.”
    “Oh no, please, Mrs. Peters—”
    “What is wrong with you ankle?” The woman scowled at the bandaged appendage.
    “I fell. It is not too bad.”
    Mrs. Peter’s scowl deepened. “Who wrapped it for you? Surely you could not—”
    Someone knocked at the front door and Mrs. Peters went to answer it, leaving Joanna sitting in the drawing room wondering what she should say should the woman question her further.
    Seconds later, Nash came barreling into the room and she swept him into her arms.
    Mrs. Peters appeared at the doorway. “There is a Gypsy girl at the front door. She says she must talk to you.” She scoffed and added, “Doesn’t even know that the likes of herself should go to the back.”
    “Bring her in.”
    Mrs. Peters sniffed. “Best see her at the door. Those Gypsies,” she said with disgust, “cannot be trusted. Be careful she does not steal that gold bracelet right off your arm.”
    Joanna, sighing, decided not to argue with Mrs. Peters and limped to the door.
    The young girl, dressed in bright green and yellow, stood fidgeting on the porch.
    “I thank you for bringing Nash,” Joanna said. “I can see he had a happy time.”
    “He did not play today,” said the girl. “Even the smallest had work to do. And he worked too.”
    “Yes, Mother,” Nash chimed in, “we were picking up the hay that had fallen on the ground after the men lifted big bunches onto the wagon with their pitchforks. I picked up bundles and bundles! Tem said I worked well, that in just a few years I might be big enough to use a rake.”
    The girl smiled. “He was a good worker.”
    “May I work again tomorrow, Mother? There is still more good hay on the ground.”
    Joanna laughed. “You may indeed,” she said, “but we must do lessons in the morning.”
    Nash pouted and mumbled that he did not care to do lessons.
    “Tem says that he will return when we are finished in the field this evening,” the girl said.
    Joanna could feel the heat in her cheeks and hear the happiness in her own voice as she said, “Ah, yes. Tell him I will be glad of that. Thank you.”
    She watched the girl skip down the path. When she closed the door and turned, she saw Mrs. Peters scurry away down the hall.
     
     
    Chapter Five
     

     
    The frantic knocking on the door awakened Joanna. She rolled to her side and put a hand on the sheets beside her. Were they still warm from Tem’s body? They were cold. She had been dreaming.
    There was a loud knock on her own door, and Mrs. Peters poked her head in and announced that Sir Edward awaited her below.
    “So early?” Joanna was surprised. As a rule, friends did not call before breakfast.
    Mrs. Peters just looked at her.
    Joanna swung her legs to the ground. “Perhaps I best dress.”
    Mrs. Peters shrugged and looked balefully at the stocking bandage on Joanna’s