Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 05/22/22 ~ As Long As You’re Mine ~ “You Fell Asleep?”

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

Today’s post is continuing snippets from one of my WIPs. It’s an historical romance I completed almost 10 years ago, queried and got rejected numerous times, and put away when I started writing the Widows’ Club series. I’m now dusting it off and revising it and thought I’d give you all first peek at it. If some of you have been around since the days of 6 Sentence Sunday, you might remember it:  As Long As You’re Mine. It’s set in the late Victorian era, which was fun to research. Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

The dim interior of the room, lit only by the cool moonlight spilling around the drapes at the single window, made Amanda pause as her eyes adjusted to the lack of light. She then crept to the foot of a massive four-poster bed that jutted into the center of the room. For a moment, she simply stood there, looking down at the shadowy lump under the coverlet. A gentle snore rumbled from the still figure.

“You fell asleep?” she murmured into the darkness. She would’ve thought the man would be wide-awake and eager to take her into his arms, into his bed. Disgusted by Raif’s lack of interest, she turned to go. It was one thing to want a man she could hold at arm’s length, but not one so weak-willed he had no spine, or enthusiasm, whatsoever.

In the silence, the ticking clock sounded a single note–quarter past two. Halfway to the door Amanda paused.

And a little more for good measure…

Perhaps Raif had waited in bed for her for hours. She’d lost sight of him after the company had broken up for the night around midnight. After waiting so long he might even have believed she’d decided against the plan at the last minute. That was fair. She was certainly committed to the scheme, but she had to admit she’d had doubts not long ago. Not only about this night but about Raif himself.

She sighed. It would be wonderful to marry a man who knew her, who understood her and would love her. A man she could love in return. But that was the fairytale her father had spun and a far cry from the reality of his own marriage. She shook off the thought. After tonight, Raif would at least understand the depth of her determination if nothing else.

She moved to the far side of the bed, careful not to make a noise. Another glance toward the closed door and her heart sped up at faint words audible in the hallway. Had her father come that quickly? She needed time to get into bed with Raif, time to wake him up so he could at least look like they had been in the throes of passion. She had to be thoroughly compromised for this to work, although she supposed just being in the room like this would assure her ruination. But she wanted to make certain.

She untied her robe and let it fall to the floor. Not giving herself a moment to doubt, she pulled the frilled nightgown over her head to join the robe at her feet. Gooseflesh raced across her body, but not from the cool air. A rush of foreboding made her shiver then she shook her head. If her father wanted her married, so be it. But on her terms.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There are some fantastic snippets to be read.