Love at First Glance (8 page)

           
“Let me guess, it’s full of ‘I love you’ and ‘I long for you’, et cetera, et cetera.”

           
Lillian playfully hit her brother on the arm. “Something like that. He says that he will be back to England next month.”

           
A devilish grin spread across her face.

           
“What are you thinking my dear sister?”

           
“Nothing I care to share with you. Anyway, this must remain a secret,” she said as she neatly folded the telegram back in the envelope and tucked it away in one of her pockets.

           
“As long as I get a chance to meet this Romeo. I’m not particularly in to my sister dating mysterious men.”

           
“Fine. I will arrange for the two of you to meet when he comes back from America.”

           
Victor kissed his sister on the cheek and exited the room with a laugh.

           
Lillian sighed and flopped down in the nearest seat. She read the telegram over and over until she had memorized each word. She was definitely in love with one
Johnathan
Bailey.

Chapter 11

           
The next month couldn’t come fast enough. Luckily for Lillian, Charlotte backed off of her matchmaking and left well enough alone. She hadn’t had to be paired up with Cyril
Aimsley
again against her will. Her sisters were very happy to make the acquaintance of whomever their mother picked. Kate was still courting her beau and Olivia hadn’t shown much more interest in her escort since the night of the ball.

           
Lillian filled her days with gardening and trips in town. She’d even taken to volunteering at the local hospital. She had to do something to take her mind off of
Johnathan
. Thinking of him had become a daily activity. He’d sent several more telegrams, and she’d taken to going to the butler to check on the telegrams so as to intercept them before her parents found out.

           
She’d been successful in doing so thus far.

           
Lillian couldn’t wait until the day that
Johnathan
held her in his arms again. That day wouldn’t come soon enough.

           
His last telegram said that he would return to England in two days. Lillian wanted nothing more than to meet him at his home in
Lanchester
, but she didn’t want to appear too forward.
 
So she decided to wait until he gave her word on when and where they should meet up.

           
That evening, Lillian took her journal outside to the garden and began writing what was in her heart. Some came out in poetry and some came out as letters to her lover. Whatever it was, she wrote about how she was feeling for
Johnathan
and how she hoped that he felt for her. Through his correspondence, he professed his love for her and said that he would always be true to her.

           
Lillian hoped that he was telling her the truth about how he felt. She had never had a man profess his love to her and it was a bit scary. It scared her to know that she was responsible for a feeling so strong in another person and that that other person had the ability to make her feel immense happiness or tremendous lows.

           
And she started feeling those tremendous lows as the days dragged on with no word from
Johnathan
. She checked the telegrams and mail daily and there was nothing from him. At first she tried to tell herself that maybe he was wrapped up in family business and that business was keeping him from sending her word.

           
But that was not totally realistic. There had to be some point during the day in which he thought of her. And when he thought of her, he should be sending her word that she was on his mind and in his heart. Then it dawned on her that he could be on a ship on the way from America to England. Surely that could be the reason why he’d not sent her any messages. Surely he was sitting on a ship, writing her love letters every day and when he stepped foot on British soil, he would call on her and hand her a stack of letters that professed his undying affection and love.

           
Maybe she could do the same for him. Lillian decided to not just write in her journal, but to write Jonathan letters that she would give him once he was back in her presence. That would surely make him happy to know that she’d thought about him as much as he’d thought about her.

           
Lillian decided to write the letters to
Johnathan
. She hoped that he would appreciate w a woman that could share with him how she was feeling. They had never really talked about feelings, but the passion and love between them was undeniable. He was an attentive lover and he did nothing but make her feel comfortable while they made love.

           
Lillian giggled at the thought of her and
Johnathan
in his bed. It seemed like right there, under that down feather blanket, it was the perfect place to be.

           
With
Johnathan
, she felt a sense of security and she hoped that he wouldn’t break her heart. She wondered how he would describe what he felt about her in his own words?

           
All of that she would soon find out. He was to return home shortly and she wouldn’t have to daydream about him anymore.

Chapter 12

           
One day came and went. Two days came and went. Three, four, five. When seven days came and went and there was still no word from
Johnathan
, Lillian felt like something was wrong. Surely he would have contacted her by now to let her know that he was back in England.

           
She was becoming a bit frantic. She didn’t want to think that she’d bared her heart and soul, and body to a man that neither appreciated all that she’d given, nor respected it.

           
Her frantic feelings soon gave way to anger. She was beginning to feel her fairy tale unravel.

           
She decided to go into town and call on
Johnathan
just to see if he was alright. It wasn’t the type of think a lady did, but Lillian was sure that society’s rules would approve a woman who was concerned about her lover going to check on his well-being.

           
Once she got to the village, she went straight for
Johnathan’s
home. When she arrived, nothing appeared out of place. She knocked at the door and waited. There was no answer and she knocked again.

           
Still no answer. Her heart swelled. Where could he be?

           
Maybe he’d gone into town to the market or to the pub for a drink. That would be an innocent enough thing to do.

           
Just as she descended the stairs, an older woman appeared from the house next door.

           
“Can I help you dear?”

           
Lillian felt like she should hurry up. There was no way that she wanted anyone to know that the daughter of the Countess and Earl of
Lanchester
called on gentlemen.

           
“No. Not at all,” she said gingerly stepping down the stairs.

           
The woman waved, but still looked concerned.

           
“You sure dear? You look like you got a lot on your mind.”

           
“Alright. I do have a question for you, if you please.” Lillian stopped halfway down the steps and turned toward the woman.

           
“Do you know that man that lives here?”

           
A look of relief came across the woman’s face as if she’d just avoided some tragic circumstance.

           
“Yes dear. Why yes I do. Known the family for quite some time. Nice folks. I think the son is there mostly now. Nice fellow. Helps me bring my bags from the market. Haven’t seen him in a while though.”
           
“Why thank you ever so much.” Lillian had heard all that she needed to hear.

           
It was just possible that he’d not returned as scheduled from America. Jillian walked down the front steps and got into her car. She’d driven herself to town that morning so she could spend as much time as she wanted there.

           
As she drove down the tree lined street, she saw a car pull up in front of
Johnathan’s
house. She pulled over and waited to see what was going to happen.

           
She was far enough away that it wouldn’t be obvious that she was watching what was going on. A man got out of the car, and she could tell that it was
Johnathan
. Her heart skipped a beat. She took a deep breath and thought about what she should do next. Should she just show up at his home again as if she hadn’t just left.

           
She held on to the steering wheel tightly, her mind spinning. He was back in the country, but was he ready to see her yet?

           
Lillian decided to take a chance and go back to his house. After all, their entire relationship was based on taking chances. She took a chance by meeting with
Johnathan
and dancing with him at her mother’s soiree. She took a chance by going into town and meeting him as well as coming to London to meet him.

           
Lillian had to take the chance to go back and see him. Her heart had longed for him for so long.

           
She put the car in reverse and turned it around and sped off down the street toward
Johnathan’s
house.

Chapter 13

           
Johnathan
had barely made it up the steps when he heard the car pulling up behind him. He turned and looked curiously before he recognized who the visitor was.

           
Their eyes met and
Johnathan
paused in his tracks.

           
“Lillian?”

           
Lillian put the car in park and turned off the engine.

           
“Yes,
Johnathan
. I-I hope you don’t mind me stopping by. It’s just that-,” Lillian couldn’t find the words to sum up her feelings. She was never the type to be at a loss for words.

           
Johnathan
descended the stairs. “I can’t believe you are here. And you drove yourself all of the way to town? I hope it wasn’t just to see me.”

           
Lillian’s heart practically stopped at the comment. She began to turn around and head back to the car. Was this a wrong idea?

           
“I’m so sorry to have barged in on you. Please forgive me. It’s not very lady like anyway for me to call on a man.”

           
“Lillian, wait! It was a joke. I was just kidding.”

           
He raced down the steps toward her, catching her just as she made it to the car. He put his hand on her shoulder and it was as if electricity ran between them. They each felt the shock.

           
“I didn’t realize that you were joking. I didn’t know what you would think about me just showing up like this.”

           
Lillian looked him in his emerald green eyes. He smiled and his dimples drove her crazy.

           
“
Johnathan
. It feels like an eternity being without you.”

           
“I do understand what you mean, my darling Lily. Won’t you come in?”

           
Lillian paused for a moment.

           
“Lillian, please. Come in. You’ve come this far.”

           
She agreed and followed him back up the steps to the front door. He opened the door, letting her enter in the home first and him directly behind her.

           
Once inside,
Johnathan
couldn’t contain himself. He pressed Lillian’s body against the wall behind the closed front door and ravished her with kisses. His hands had a mind of their own and he made sure to let them roam where they pleased.

           
Lillian did not complain as
Johnathan
raised her skirt higher and higher. Suddenly it was bunched at her waist, and she could feel the hardness of his manhood pressed against her inner thigh.

           
She was breathless and unable to control herself.
Johnathan
picked her up by her waist, and Lillian automatically wrapped her legs around his waist.
Johnathan
expertly balanced her body with one hand and used the other to unbuckle his trousers until the fell to the floor.

           
Within seconds he entered her. When she felt his love inside of her warmth, she knew that all was right. Cuddling her arms around his neck, she opened her legs as wide as she could and allowed
Johnathan
access into her body and soul as deep as he wanted.

           
Right there in the living room,
Johnathan
made love to Lillian and was gentle and careful with her as if she was a prized jewel.

           
With every stroke, she moaned louder and louder as he went deeper and deeper into her sweetness.
Johnathan
looked into her eyes and kissed his lover as they became one. Lillian’s body was on fire and she proceeded to disrobe both of them completely. She was no longer ashamed of her body and she wanted nothing more than to feel every inch of
Johnathan’s
skin against hers.

           
He was careful with her as he brought her to climax. He knew that it was a gentle thing that he should bring her through. She gripped his shoulders as he felt her muscles contract around him and then a rush of warm wetness came forth, letting him know that it was time for his release.

           
Then they lay there together, on a plush rug that was at the hearth of the fireplace.
Johnathan
moved her wild, mousy blonde hair from her eyes.

           
“I could quite possibly be falling in love with you Lady Lily.”

           
“Lucky man you are,” she teased.

           
“Lucky man I am indeed.”