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

Micah stumbled to his knees. In his arms, Jefferson stirred, but didn’t wake.


An unexpected blast of cold air cooled the beads of sweat on his brow, and Micah glanced up to see the door open. The crowd still mingled outside; it was Ewan filling the frame, Ewan racing around the perimeter, Ewan crouching at his side and bolstering his strength by lending his strong arms.


Micah followed his lead back to the entrance, wincing at the sound of more rafters falling. He sucked in fresh air as soon as it hit his lungs, grateful for the way it sliced through the smoke. He was even more grateful for the way Ewan shoved the villagers out of his path, clearing the way for him to get Jefferson away from the inferno.


“Send the doctor,” he barked at Mrs. Ruark as he passed her. He didn’t slow, or curb his sharp tone. In his mind, they no longer deserved any politeness. If something happened to Jefferson at this point, it would all be on their heads.21


Chapter 81