Page 17 of A Lady by Chance

“It is.” He traced a finger down her cheek. “The moment I entered the yew grove, some wild and ancient magic came over the place. When I looked up and saw you, then caught you, held you in my arms—”

She threw her arms around him and pressed her cheek against his chest, and Patrick could do nothing but thank God for sending Stirling when he had.

“I felt it, too,” she said into his coat. “Then, when my sisters helped me dress for the wedding, I felt almost ill. I did not want to marry someone else—not without having a chance to meet you, to know your name.” She tilted her head up and met his gaze. “I told my sisters of you and they insisted you were, well, you.”

“They did, eh?” He flashed a smile. “How did they know? We’d never met.”

“Sir Stirling described you.”

“The scoundrel.” Patrick shook his head. “I should have known.”

“He is a scoundrel,” she readily agreed. “Knowing you were my betrothed did give me an advantage.” A surge of happiness welled inside her. “Leastways for the nuptials. Naturally, I had no idea who you were when you happened upon me.”

“You knew I was haunted.”

“Are you really?” She stepped from his arms and glanced about. “Does your green lady follow you everywhere?”

“I hope not.” He stepped closer.

A prickling sensation swept through her. “I wouldn’t want her watching us, I mean seeing us when…”

“When we make love?” he murmured.

She nodded.

“I have never heard of her doing anything so scandalous. I doubt she will appear for a very long while.”

Jessica shivered. “How can you know? I have seen her twice now.”

“What? Have you glimpsed her here?”

She shook her head. “No, not here.”

“You saw her somewhere other than the yew grove?” he demanded.

Jessica glanced at the rear window, where rain began to patter against the glass. “I didn’t realize the connection until now. But it must have been her, for I have never seen a ghost before and it’s strange to have seen two different ghosts in a week. I cannot be certain, of course, for I did not see her as clearly as when she was with you. I only saw a shimmering mist in the shape of a woman. It happened in Gledstone’s library. I stood on a ladder, looking for a book on the care of geese—”

“Geese?” He arched a brow.

“Barnacle geese. They are quite rare, you know. I saw some in the river and they looked scrawny, so I wanted to—”

“Rescue them?” His eyes twinkled.

“Well, yes.” She still wanted to help them. “I meant to take them some food—once I discovered what they’d eat. But just as I found the volume I’d sought, this odd mist caught my eye. When it started to whirl into a woman’s shape, I was startled and slipped off the ladder.”

“Ahhh…” Her new husband stepped closer and slid his arms around her. “That is how you bruised your face?”

“I hit my head on the desk when I fell.”

“You make it a habit of falling?”

“Not usually.” She bit back a smile. “Well, maybe now and then. But anyway…” She had a hard time thinking with his arms about her, his face so close to hers. “I do think the shimmery mist could have been your green lady.”

“I am sure it was.” He dropped a kiss to her brow. “I am also more sure than ever that you and I were meant to meet in the yew grove. That you are the only bride I could possibly have married.”

“You are being gallant. You cannot know that at all.”

“Ah, but I can.”