Ghost Whispers
Katherine Lyons
Prologue
Christmas Day, 1803, Cotswolds
She hadn’t meantfor it to go so far. Neither had he, if the guilty look on his face was anything to judge by. But they were sixteen and in love. Her father was the vicar, so she knew from him that these things happened. Not necessarily to his oldest daughter, but then again, it was too late to regret it now.
Especially since she didn’t regret a thing.
“Giselle,” he said. She loved his voice when it was raspy with emotion. “That was…”
“Wonderful?”
“God, yes. But…did I hurt you?”
She shook her head. “Not even a little.”
“So… you liked it?”
“I loved it. Best Christmas present ever.” She pressed her mouth to his. “And I love you.”
He was grinning when they finally separated. “We’re going to get married,” he said firmly. Then he flushed. “I mean, will you marry me?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” She was only sixteen, but she was sure her parents would approve. Many girls got married at sixteen. And Jonathan was a catch by any measure. Smart, handsome, honest, and true. Fairy tales had been written about PrinceCharming, and though he wasn’t a prince, he would be a viscount someday.
Yes, her parents would approve of him. But they wouldn’t approve the match if she neglected to mention one small thing. It was tiny, really, but it was a secret. And her husband needed to know it before they wed.
After all, she had to be honest and true, too.
“Jonathan,” she began. “Before we wed, I have… There’s something you need to know—”
He stopped her words with a kiss. She returned it with enthusiasm, but she couldn’t let him distract her.
“Jonathan—”
“Your blood is as blue as mine.”
Not quite. He would be a viscount when his father passed. Her great grandmother had been the eldest daughter of an earl. But the intervening generations had been younger sons, so she was simply Miss Giselle Wellard, daughter of the vicar.
“It’s not about that,” she said. “It’s about me. Something you must know.”
“You’re perfect,” he said with the absolute confidence of someone whose worldview had never been challenged.
She kissed him back and felt his interest rise again. Hers too, but she held him off. “Jonathan, you have to hear me.”
“All right,” he said as he sat back. Indeed, with matching sighs, they both pulled on their clothing. It took a few moments and then even longer as they interrupted the motions with more kisses. But in the end, they were appropriately attired.
And they were running out of time. She had to get back to the vicarage to help with her younger siblings. Her twin Gwenivere was there, but she’d never had much patience when the younger ones started squabbling.
“You know,” Jonathan said as he took hold of her left hand. “My ring will look beautiful here.”
It would. “Jonathan—”
“Damn, is that the bells ringing? It’s tea time. My mother will have a fit if I come in with hay in my hair.”
“Your hair is perfect.” She took a deep breath. Might as well get it all out at once. “Jonathan, I see ghosts.”
