Page 32 of Dare to Tempt an Earl This Spring (Wedding Fever #1)

T homas held the reins of his sturdy horse as a gentle spring breeze brushed his face, carrying whispers of the past. The mare neighed softly, trotting in a slow circle around him, the rope serving as the radius of her orbit. Thomas realized he’d been at the center not only of this circle but also of his family’s legacy. He’d been the pivot point, nearly risking his family’s estate, their horses, their legacy—everything the name Linsey stood for. And though Paisley got what he deserved, now that the ice had thawed, so had Thomas’s heart. His fears had dried up like the mud left behind by winter’s harshest days. The worst was over.

The icy grip of winter had long given way to the sun’s warm touch, casting a golden glow over the meadow. It was a scene of rebirth: primroses revealed their golden hearts, daisies shone with innocence, and birds chirped cheerful wake-up songs. Like bejeweled dames at a grand ball, bluebells chimed in the wind while magenta corncockles dotted the lush English countryside. Thomas inhaled the crisp air and felt the familiar, grounding love he had for Fort Balmore and Elysian Fields. Now that he’d secured their future through the cherished horse breeds, he felt he’d finally earned his place in the portrait gallery of his ancestors. The house of Linsey would continue to grow and prosper because he’d ensured it. He, Thomas, the Earl of Linsey, had grown up to an extent he never believed was required.

And his heart had grown, too—it was ready to burst with love for Ashley.

The vibrant green grass brushed her knees as she approached him from the stables. The meadow had shaken off its winter slumber, and the morning dew sparkled brighter than the chandeliers at Almack’s on the first day he’d seen her. Only a few months had passed, yet it felt like a lifetime.

His heart fluttered like the butterflies that flitted from bloom to bloom, drawn to the sweetness and array of colors surrounding her. As Ashley drew closer, she cast him that bone-melting smile. He yearned to be near his beautiful countess, his heart echoing the rhythm of the butterflies.

Suddenly, a yellow butterfly, as bright as Ashley’s hair at their first dance, waltzed into his view. It danced in the wind before landing lightly on a purple flower, its vibrant colors standing out in contrast. Thomas knew life was fleeting and resolved to make the most of it. His love for Ashley was as certain as the dance of butterflies from blossom to blossom—brilliant, boundless, and steadfast. Watching the butterfly ascend, he felt their love, too, had taken flight, soaring to the heights of the infinite sky. Time had only deepened his affection, transforming it into a love as enduring and rich as the countryside stretching before him. And he hoped that, despite all he’d done wrong, their future as Earl and Countess of Linsey would be as bountiful as their estate.

Ashley ran toward him, and they kissed.

He pulled her into his arms, the world melting away around them, and kissed her with all the aching tenderness of a man who had found his salvation and refused to look back. It was a kiss that spoke of promises, of futures unknown yet certain, and of a love fierce and unyielding.

“I never thought I’d do more than tempt you this spring,” Ashley said, her voice teasing though her eyes shimmered with sincerity.

Thomas laughed softly, his hand brushing against her cheek.

“Tempt me? You’ve undone me entirely, Ashley. One smile from you, one glance, and no force in this world could pull me from your side. You are my spring, my summer, every season I never knew I needed. I didn’t just fall for you—I surrendered completely.”

Ashley’s breath caught, her fingers resting lightly on his chest.

“Thomas…” she began, but the rest of her words were lost as he gently took her face in his hands and kissed her again, pouring a lifetime of love into that one perfect moment. “I think I’ve caught wedding fever,” Ashley confessed, her cheeks flushing as she leaned closer to Thomas. “Every time I dream of us, it’s you waiting at the end of the aisle, looking at me like I’m your whole world.”

Thomas’s smile tugged at the corners of his lips, his fingers lacing with hers. “You are my whole world, Ashley. Every plan, every hope, it all begins and ends with you.” He paused, his voice dropping to a tender whisper. “If I had my way, we’d already be married. I don’t want to wait another moment to—”

“Then don’t wait,” Ashley whispered as she pressed her lips onto his.

*

The series continues with Sera’s story in How to Lose a Prince This Summer . Find out how the next girl catches the wedding fever despite all odds and finds her happily ever after with a beloved character, Prince Alex, whom we know and love from Sara Adrien’s A Touch of Charm .