Free Larken by S.G. Rogers

see Brandon, I’ll let him know he’s been missed.”
    Of course, she didn’t mention there was little chance she would see Brandon any time soon. Larken was looking forward to deepening her relationship with Lord Rowe and Lady Clarissa for several reasons. She enjoyed their company and valued their tutelage on the dance floor, most importantly, but once they’d established a rapport, she’d be able to elicit a little more information about her husband. The man was like a wet knot, impossible to unravel. If she teased at it long enough, however, she might just be able to loosen the threads.

    When Larken rode Juniper next, she took the same trail as before. When she approached the lake, she was surprised to find Lightning and Boots grazing underneath a shady tree. Glancing around, she discovered Brandon and Myles on the dock. Her husband was in his shirtsleeves as he showed Myles how to skip pebbles on the surface of the water. A long, slow breath escaped her lips as she admired his well-muscled frame and broad shoulders. How strange she should find herself married to such a magnificent man and yet be unable to revel in it.
    She watched for a little while, waving after Myles grabbed Brandon’s arm and pointed in her direction. Brandon motioned for her to join them, but she shook her head. With no mounting block or groom standing by, she was unsure if she could dismount the mare without falling on her face.
    Evidently, Brandon wouldn’t take no for an answer, because he left Myles dockside and strode toward her.
    “We’re about to take the rowboat onto the lake,” he said. “Come with us.”
    “I’m sorry, but I can’t get down.”
    Brandon stretched his hands up. “Let me help.”
    She unhooked her leg from the pommel and allowed him to lift her to the ground. When his hands lingered around her waist, their warmth sent tingles up and down her spine.
    “You’re terribly strong,” she said.
    “You’re awfully light.”
    He released her, tied Juniper’s reins to the tree, and escorted her to the dock. Myles had already scrambled into the middle of the rowboat, and was smiling at her expectantly.
    “We’re about to have an adventure,” he announced.
    “What fun!” she said. “I haven’t been in a rowboat in ages.”
    Brandon handed her into the boat and when she was seated in the prow, he untied the mooring rope. After he jumped in, he used one of the oars to push away from the dock.
    “Can I help row?” Myles asked.
    “We can have only one rower at a time in this boat, I’m afraid. But you can be my first mate.”
    Once the oars were in the water, Brandon propelled the boat across the lake, seemingly without effort. Larken leaned over to trail her fingers along the glassy surface. To Myles’ amusement, a fish jumping out of the water nearby made her shriek. When the boat reached the center of the lake, Brandon drew the oars in and let the boat come to a rest.
    She gave a contented sigh. “This is lovely.”
    A second fish jumped from the water, and she blanched. Myles chortled with laughter. Brandon nudged the boy with his toe.
    “Would you like to come fishing with me some time?”
    Myles wrinkled his nose. “Only if you bait the hook.”
    Brandon and Myles talked about fishing after that, almost like father and son. As she watched and listened, Larken was perplexed. If her husband was Myles’ sire, why didn’t he claim the boy? He seemed to care little for other people’s opinions, so societal disapproval couldn’t be the reason. The lad was certainly easy to love, and had won Larken’s heart already. She couldn’t help envying their rapport and unstudied manner with one another. How she longed to have a friend like Josie with whom she could be herself! No, if she were to be honest about it, she desired more than friendship. Would anything ever satisfy the sharp hunger inside? At some point, her yearning for love would fade to a dull acceptance, wouldn’t it? Having lived only nineteen