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

“Do you want to leave Wroxham because of what Ewan said about your father?”


“That’s part of it,” he conceded. “He has the power to make things very difficult for us. He could even have charges brought against you. If we’re not here, if we…went west, for instance, he wouldn’t be able to separate us.” His gaze ducked. “I realize that I’ll then be affirming his belief I’ve run away, but I don’t know how else to be with you, to be free of fear. And if that makes me a coward, so be it.”


Jefferson knew that Micah’s fear of his father was real, and justified. He also did not disagree that it would be a relief to be beyond his grasp, and beyond the grasp of everybody who would pry them apart. But that didn’t mean Jefferson wanted to leave his home.


“Your father is only part of it? What is the other part of it?”


Seconds ticked by. The conflict warred across Micah’s fine features, and Jefferson tucked his hand more securely into his while he waited for him to respond.


Chapter 82