Her Lord's Claim (The Forbidden Saga #4) - Maggie Ryan Page 0,1

Lucy’s continued silence was threatening to shatter him and told him the truth. As the beautiful melody ended, he saw Charles striding toward them. Never in his life had he felt such a crushing weight as he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her palm. “I hope you find every happiness, Lucille.” About to release her, he shook his head. “No… that’s not true. I wish you the joy you’ve given me from the first moment I saw you teetering on that ladder.”

About to release her hand, her question stopped him.

“Do you think Cleo is proud?” she asked, attempting to bring the smile back to his face that she’d seen less and less often as the night wore on. She watched as the heat she’d seen in his eyes when he’d spoken of his heart was replaced by sadness and wished she hadn’t spoken. Even though his hand tightened around hers, she felt him moving away. He hadn’t answered her question and his eyes had moved to look over her head.

“Lucas,” she said, her heart pounding in her chest. He looked so distant and it frightened her. He closed his eyes briefly at the sound of his name coming from her lips and when they opened, the smile he gave her looked forced. His free hand lifted and he stroked a finger down her cheek, the touch soft and yet felt as if he were the very essence of the fire she felt beginning to burn beneath her flesh.

“Yes, little one, Cleo is very proud of you tonight. You have nothing to fret over and nothing to fear. I’m just sorry that… I only wish I…” he paused as she felt another touch, this one from Charles who had laid his hand on her shoulder.

“What?” Lucy asked, sensations swirling through her as Lucas stepped away and offered her a small bow and another smile.

“This is your night, princess and it has been an honor,” Lucas said, and with a final look at the joined hands, finally released her.

Before she could speak, Lucy was turned and pulled into Charles’ arms as he bent to kiss her lips for the first time. His lips pressed hard against her own and when he released her, she gasped for air, her mind spinning. She wasn’t aware of the room crowded with people watching the drama of the evening draw to a close. She wasn’t aware that Edward and Louisa stood only a few feet away. She wasn’t aware that Pastor Reed stood watching, his disapproval coloring his face. She didn’t see the soft smile of Lady Eddinberg as she stood next to her husband, his arm holding her to his side. She didn’t notice Eleanor Summers standing across the room, as she chaperoned her young students. All she felt was the burn on her cheek where a fingertip had been and the ghostly presence of her former professor’s lips against her mouth as her hand lifted and a finger touched her lips. She saw Lucas standing alone even as Charles beamed and reached for her again.

Suddenly as if a veil had been lifted from her eyes, Lucy’s mind cleared and her smile was breathtaking to observe as it lit her entire face. Every person in the room watched and smiled remembering the first time they had known they were in love. Not a person moved as Lucy stepped forward, her arms lifting to wrap themselves around the man who had captured her heart. As she drew his head down and kissed him, she understood what her sister had meant. She knew she had found her true self as well as her soul mate. The depth of her emotions was revealed as the lips beneath hers branded her with his claim. Every fiber of her body now burned with the desire for this man, this one man to teach her the passions that had been ignited deep within her soul.

Edward began to clap his hands in approval as every guest witnessed a real fairy-tale coming to life. The room was soon filled with the sound of dozens of people clapping as they smiled and chuckled. Safely tucked into the loving arms of her husband, Louisa smiled as she heard the clock chime the magical hour of midnight. Her twin was not only the belle of the ball, she had outdone Cinderella—she had two men desperately in love with her. She looked into her husband’s face and saw his smile reflected hers. They both