Student of letters, Micah Yardley wants one thing: to meet the poet Jefferson Dering. After hearing his idol speak at Harvard, Micah travels to Jefferson’s home in nearby Wroxham, entertaining visions of discussing poetry over dinner and drinks. What he experiences exceeds anything he ever anticipated.<br><br>Jefferson finds Micah mesmerizing and passionate, everything he has ever wanted. But after getting caught in a compromising position with another young man a decade earlier, he exiled himself from Boston and from affairs of the heart. Jefferson represses his longing for Micah, but his tumultuous emotions cannot be contained.<br><br>Micah denies the truth of his desire for Jefferson. Jefferson refuses to act on his passion for Micah. But all it takes is a single kiss in Wroxham's haunted church to change the course of their lives ... and ignite the flame that could fulfill a generations-old promise.

A Hidden Beauty

“Don’t apologize, Joseph. Don’t…just…wait. The doctor is coming.”


“Nobody’s coming. Nobody’s coming to help me. Nobody can help me.”


“Don’t say that. The doctor will help you.” Simon wipes his face and his hand is red. Dark red. Purple.


“Don’t make me leave. Don’t let me go. Please.”


“I’m not going to let you go. You never have to go.”


Copper drips down the back of his throat. His chest wretches. Simon’s face is swimming out of focus, the red dots blurring, running into lines.


“Please help me. I don’t want to…I don’t want to leave you.”


It reeks of purple. Flowers. Everywhere.


Someone spoke to him. Not Simon. Not Joseph. But Jefferson couldn’t make out what he was saying. It was like being called from above the clouds, the words echoing like hollow trees in a dead wood, and even though his heart sang at the owner’s voice, he was torn. He simply wanted to rest. There was no more strength to fight. He was even willing to face the damnation he’d already earned.


Chapter 65