Romance: In Love With A Beast (Paranormal BBW Panther Shifter Romance) (Shapeshifter Mystery Alpha Werebear Romance Short Stories) by Jada Turner Page A

heard abounded in that part of the world. Would he be ploughing a dusky maiden? She thought that perhaps he would.
    Her thoughts drifted back to the romp in the straw and in the room over the Pantiles. She wondered whether it was in the straw or in the room that she conceived Michael. Though she longed to tell Richard that he had a son, she had no way of making contact.
    She took another look at the sky to confirm the change in the weather and then asked Jane to get Michael ready. Diana took Michael’s pram and walked down by the river.
    “What is that bird Michael?” she said pointing. Of course, the boy was far too young to have any vocabulary. “It’s a swan. And that one; it’s a heron,” she said.
    The boy seemed interested as he sat up and looked out across the Kent countryside and river.
    Their walk took up most of the morning as they followed the path along the river. She even managed to catch a glimpse of a kingfisher as it darted like a flash of blue lightning above the gentle flow of the water.
    They passed under the stone bridge dating from the fourteenth century that took the road to Tunbridge Wells across their land. Sir Reginald had tried to have the road diverted, but a petition had been supported in the courts preventing him from achieving his goal. Diana remembered how he flew into a rage when he discovered the verdict.
    Diana and Michael came back along a sunken country lane alive with the smell of wild garlic. She picked a few wild flowers and some garlic.
    As she came into sight of Eylebourne Hall and looked out across the landscape designed by a pupil of Capability Brown, she could see three coaches in the drive, and soldiers.
    She gripped Michael’s pram and hurried to the scene.
    She drew nearer; her worst fears were realised when she could see her visitors more closely. Two Royal Naval officers and a group of red-coated Royal Marines stood in a line on the drive. Squire Craggs, the local magistrate in his grey frock coat that wouldn’t close around his ample middle and a top hat on his head above his mutton chop whiskers and port nose, stood on the house steps.
    Between the Squire and the front door stood Mrs Marshall, the housekeeper cook in her white apron and grey dress holding a rolling pin in her plump hand. Next to her Miller held a pitchfork and Jane carried nothing but a worried expression. They all had their arms folded across their chests and looked like they were barring entry.
    Diana arrived with her heart pounding.
    “What on earth is happening Squire Craggs?”
    “Diana my dear. These gentlemen are from the Royal Navy. It seems your husband has been running slaves from West Africa to the Americas against the law. One of his ships was intercepted off the African coast and I’m afraid there is enough evidence to prove Sir Reginald is involved.”
    “Where is he?” she said ushering Michael to the side and waving to Jane to come and look after him.
    “In Maidstone gaol.”
    “What are you doing here?”
    A naval officer stepped forward. “Lieutenant Phillips, Royal Navy, M’lady.” He doffed his bicorn hat.
    She looked him up and down as he stood before her in his embroidered blue coat with gold epaulettes and white facings over his white breeches, white stockings and buckled black shoes. He stretched a good six feet tall with broad shoulders. His blond hair showed below his powdered wig and his face was not unpleasant. He clearly had breeding and an aristocratic arrogance that came from having wealth.
    And she could also tell what most women can tell when a man speaks to them. He found her attractive. She made a mental note of that in case the situation required her to use her femininity to protect her position and that of her son.
    “I said what is your business here, sir?” Her eyes flirted with him.
    “M’lady, I have the misfortune to be in command of this detachment to find evidence of illegal slave trading. The magistrate has given us permission to search the