Seduced by an Earl

by Rachel E Rice

  He reached for her hands and lifted her to her feet. Elizabeth stood gazing into Edward’s piercing dark eyes. “Edward,” she said pausing and staring at the wild flowers growing near the river. “I will marry you, but you have to promise me that you will never speak of Colum. I will forget him and devote myself to you. Can you make that promise?”

  “I promise you that you will never think of Colum again because I will spend my life making you happy.” Edward sat with Elizabeth under the tree near the rolling waters holding her hand in silence, and then he placed his head on her lap looking up at her beautiful face that excited his manhood. “I will spend my time loving you and making you happy and when we have our children and especially my son, then I will take you to London and you can meet my mother.”

  “Can we take one thing at a time, Edward?”

  “Yes. Yes. First I have to tell your parents that you have agreed to marry me.”

  “Edward I do not know how to act around royalty. I do not have any knowledge of what to eat, or what to wear, or what to say to your kind.”

  “You do not need to concern yourself with such matters, Elizabeth. You will have all the resources you need to become a lady. First, I will marry you, and then I will send you to England for lessons and to meet my mother.” Edward stated.

  “I’m not sure I want to go away.”

  “I want you to be comfortable around Lords and Ladies, which is why I will send you to England and to my mother.” Edward clasped Elizabeth’s face in his hands. “You are so beautiful and innocent, and I will cherish you forever.”

  Elizabeth wanted to believe that Edward would make her a good husband. She could do worse by marrying one of the young men her father had promised her hand to. She enjoyed the notion of becoming a lady. The only thing she could never get use to was having someone wait on her as she sat idle. She smiled thinking of Colum’s reaction. When Edward took her hand and brought her to him, he asked for a kiss. And she leaned in and kissed him. The kiss was pleasing but not the depth of the kiss Colum had seared into her lips.

  Colum’s kiss was erotic and she felt it deep inside, where the nipples on her breast stood hard with her blood pumping and traveling through her body. Thinking of Colum was enough to cause her nights of sexual anxiety.

  She leaned away from Edward and glanced over her shoulder and spied Colum standing near and watching with cold jealous blue eyes that narrowed, and a dark look crossing his handsome face. “Why are you taking advantage of my servants, Edward?”

  “I’m not your servant anymore. I’m going to marry Edward,” Elizabeth murmured.

  The heat returned to Colum’s face and his eyes went blank. He moved quickly in Edward’s direction and Edward pushed Elizabeth to the side and stood. Colum charged Edward with his fist extended, hitting Edward squarely in the mouth. Edward fell on his back on the soft lush grass, which broke his fall and kept him from being injured. Colum had landed a strong punch to his face and split his lip. The blood spilled profusely on the grass.

  Elizabeth felt contempt for him. “Stop! Colum.” She knew then that he loved and desired her, and his jealousy was uncontrollable. Yet he would not go against conventions and marry her. He would marry Mary Francis even though he did not love her. Elizabeth rushed to Edward’s side and tore a piece of white cloth from her frock and dampened it in the stream, wiping his mouth.

  Colum’s eyes ablaze with sadness and longing stood over Edward clenching his fist and breathing heavily. Waiting for Edward to get to his feet to give him another round, Colum’s attention wandered to Elizabeth. Elizabeth exclaimed, “We are going to be married soon.”

  Colum stumbled backward and then silently turned and took two steps in the direction of his castle. He wheeled around and stated, “Please, Elizabeth, do not marry Edward. You will never be happy. There are things you do not know about him.” He looked at Edward, “Tell her Edward. I beg you tell her before you destroy her life.”

  “I don’t know what you are talking about.” Edward smiled looked into Elizabeth’s eyes. “Colum would say anything to prevent you from marrying me. He loves you, but he is too much of a coward to do anything about it. I see a woman that I love, and I do not care what station in life she is. Elizabeth will make any man a wonderful wife, even you Colum. All you have to do is ask her, but you won’t. Will you?” He tilted his head and looked directly into Colum’s eyes daring him to compete for Elizabeth. No response from Colum.

  “I will make her a lady that no one has ever seen,” Edward said holding her hand, raising it to his mouth and kissing her palm as he spied Colum’s jealous blue eyes.

  “Remember Elizabeth, I have warned you about Edward.” Colum’s brow furrowed and he placed his head downward and continued walking away from Elizabeth, his love, his life.

  “Come Elizabeth, I will take you home with me. You should not be here any longer,” Edward said spying Colum ambling toward his castle.

  “I can’t live in your home until I have married you. Take me to my parent’s home so I can explain to my father that I have agreed to an arrangement of marriage,” she said pausing to think about what Colum had said. She finally dismissed his rant.

  “Edward, I need time to gather my belongings.”

  “You will take nothing because you don’t need those things. I will give you every thing you need.”

  Elizabeth shook her head, “No these are my personal mementos and some gifts that my mother gave to me. You see, I can’t leave them.”

  Edward followed Elizabeth back to the great house, where Edward waited patiently in front of the gate in his carriage with his large black steed tied to the rear of the carriage. The carriage was one of the most ornamented carriages he owned. He thought that it would impress Elizabeth.

  Entering the kitchen through the rear of the castle, Elizabeth spied the old cook. “Are you alright child? You look sad my girl.”

  “I am getting married,” she said with trembling voice.

  “Then you should be happy.”

  “It is Sir Edward.”

  The old cook sat hard. “My child, you are too young to make such a decision. There is much talk around about Edward. He is a man that loves women and has no respect for convention, yet he has many secrets.”

  “I plan to marry him because he promised to take care of my family, and I want to show Sir Colum that I am not just a servant.” She confessed that she was in love with Colum. The old cook could see on her face that she was marrying Edward to spite Colum.

  “My girl, I will give you some advice.” The old cook swallowed hard, “Find a man in your station and forget these Earls, they will only cause you heartache and grief.”

  Giving the old cook a hug, Elizabeth hurried through the door and walked through the marble hall and stood at the bottom of the stairs gathering her courage to go to the room and retrieve her jewelry and clothing. She had been happy with her innocence until she met Edward. He took her into a world that she could only dream about. Now her dreams were coming to fruition. Never had she thought that she could marry an Earl, but have two Earls fighting to win her hand was un-heard of because she was low-born girl.

  The thought of Colum hitting Edward out of jealousy brought a satisfied smile to her youthful childish face. The thought of this impossible handsome and gorgeous man made her heart scream for his love. The thought of this incredible high-born man needing her made her weak to him. She knew that she could not be under the same roof as him and, she opened the door to her room, and to her surprise stood Colum holding her scarf to his face and caressing it as if caught up in her scent. Surprised by Elizabeth, Colum dropped the scarf and stood gazing at her. “I came back to retrieve my belongings,” she said with a curious glance.

  Elizabeth nervously passed close to Colum and he reached for her arm. “Don’t go Elizabeth. I don’t want you to go. I will do anything for you,” he begged with a low sexy erotic voice and sad blue eyes.

  “Anything but marry me,” Elizabeth said with g
uarded anger. She gathered her one dress, silver necklace, and a ring she received from an unknown person, and hurriedly threw it into the shabby cloth bag.”

  “Please don’t leave me. If you stay with me, I will not marry, ever.”

  “What? And be your concubine? Never!” Elizabeth said moving away.

  “You love me and now you know that I love you and want you above all others,” Colum said taking hold of Elizabeth and bringing her to him. Holding her in his arms, his searing eyes longed for the smell of her body. He placed her long curly hair to one side of her face and his nose slid behind her ear causing her face to heat and blush. She did not flinch. Her face leaned into his naturally as if in a trance.

  His face moved to her neck and his nose pressed on her right cheek.

  Elizabeth felt his manhood rise through her cotton skirt, and she feared her youthful desires. She drew her body from him because she could not resist him.

  “I have to go, Edward is waiting for me.” Colum leaned close to Elizabeth and kissed her lips. He kissed her harder and she returned the kiss. His tongue coursed through her mouth. And he sucked her tongue and with each suck, and swirl of his tongue, Elizabeth had a feeling she could not explain. It reached deep into her loins. It was that kiss that he gave her that sealed her fate and she understood that she did not want another man. She could not feel love for anyone but Colum.

  Their bodies came closer as if they were one body. Their breathing became hard. The kiss Colum gave Elizabeth seared his lips on hers until he pulled away, “You are so lovely,” he murmured breathless. Her young body called his manhood and his strong body answered. He had to feel the warmth and behold the beauty of her breast. His head slowly moved to her hard nipples, and his hands moved over them, pulling them until she could not bare the tease, then his mouth found her impatient nipples. It was so natural for them. It was something that had to happen because they knew they loved each other and would never feel this way about anyone else again.

  Colum’s lust could not bind him. Colum slipped off his velvet coat and shirt with one hand and held Elizabeth close with the other. He did not want to break the rhythm of his kiss. His hard bare chest pressed tight against her, and he slowly lifted her skirt and touched her soft young legs. She did not flinch. It was the man she loved. He was the first man she ever kissed.

  He moved her body near the bed. He leaned her against the bed. She easily fell on her back with her eyes shut. She hoped it would not go further, yet she could not find her breath to speak because she wanted him to claim her body, claim her soul, and fill her with his youthful, hard manhood.

  Colum lay over her admiring her beauty then his hands unthreaded her blouse, where her ample young breast sat high. He saw that her nipples were warm and stood at a height he had never seen. It was as though they welcomed his touch. He lowered his mouth on to the left breast and sucked it hard as she opened her eyes and watched him with amorous delight.

  The right breast filled his mouth with unbelievable sexual bliss. He propped his hard arms above her body and admiring her beauty he said, “You are so pretty and satisfying,” and he was filled with need and longing for only Elizabeth.

  “I can never let you go. I want you so much.” He paused, “I love you more than I could ever know.” He gave her a kiss and she fell into a dream, the dream of being Colum’s wife. She became seduced by his hungry kiss and his smoldering body. She thought that he would never let her marry Edward. She knew now that he loved her.

  Colum saw Elizabeth’s welcoming stare and adoring smile. At that moment they did not think of anything or anyone. Colum forgot Mary Francis and Elizabeth forgot Edward waiting for her in his carriage poised to take her to a life she could never hope for with Colum. Yet she could not think or feel anything for anyone but Colum and she was willing to risk it all to lie in Colum’s arms and pretend that she was his wife.

  He knew that when he made love to Elizabeth that she would never marry Edward and he could have her forever. His was a selfish thought and his youth, breeding, and money allowed him to believe that he could have everything he desired and he desired and loved Elizabeth.

  Colum raised her skirt and helped her removed her clothing. When she was bare under her skirt he kissed her legs and became seduced by her natural smell. He had never kissed anyone in this manner, even though he was taught that this was the way of the French, and they were known for their lovemaking. He wanted to capture her body and love so she could never want another or leave him.

  He inched closer to her sex and placed his tongue around her clit and she gave a low moan. He teased her with his tongue until she shouted, “Oh Colum, take me.”

  He placed his finger to open her virginal passage and felt her maidenhead. Taking his hand away and moving up to kiss her, he placed his hard, warm, penis on it and eased his way into her inch by inch. Elizabeth quietly moaned from the pain of his hard wide tip which entered her first until all of Colum had reached into her body.

  The heat of Colum’s body lying on her, the strength of his manhood piercing her, the sweetness of his erection plowing into her small vessel was too much for Elizabeth to resist.

  The pleasure and pain of Colum overcame Elizabeth and she grabbed his arms as he gave his body into her, meeting her movement. As Colum reached the height of his pleasure he said into her ear. “You belong to me my love. No one can ever take you away from me.”

  Pressing his face to her breast, he kissed her neck and she laid forgetting Edward and everything that she believed in because she had given her body to Colum.

  He moved across her body delicately and gave such care to her and she felt that this was the best feeling she ever experienced. It was the first time any man had made love to her and she was in heaven. Elizabeth could not imagine that the act of lovemaking could have been as enjoyable and fulfilling. Colum lay on Elizabeth’s chest and looked up at her. “Stay with me.”

  “Do you want me for your wife?” She said innocently.

  “I can’t Elizabeth,” Colum said with his head bowed.

  Elizabeth peered at Colum with disdain. The jarring thoughts of what had happened caused her to look down at her clothing. Her blouse hung off her shoulders, she straightened her skirt, and tried to pull it to her feet but it only reached her ankles. “You have made a fool of me, Colum, and you have taken something very precious that I wanted to save for my husband. I am so ashamed, and I will never forgive you.”

  Colum reached for Elizabeth and she stepped away from him and ran for the door. Colum reached for his breeches and shirt. There on the sheets, he saw the signs that he was the first man to breach her body. He knew now that he had to have Elizabeth no matter what.

  Feeling ashamed and lost he chased after her. She made it down the stairs and through the door, with Edward waiting patiently for her. Colum stood inside the open door with his white silk shirt calling Elizabeth, “Don’t leave me. Elizabeth. Please do not leave me.”

  Chapter 6

  “What did he do to you Elizabeth?”

  “He did nothing to me Edward. When can we marry?” She said hiding her tears.

  “I can make arrangements for our marriage then you can leave for London, but we don’t have time to inform your parents.”

  Elizabeth turned and looked at Edward, “Send my parents word by a servant that I have accepted your proposal for marriage, and that you are sending me to London.” Edward took her hand and kissed it gently.

  “I think that I shall have the bishop marry us tomorrow. Is that acceptable to you?” Edward held her hand tightly and Elizabeth stared into the forest as Colum’s castle fell from view. She just shook her head and a tear fell from her eyes and dropped down her cheeks and into her mouth. Elizabeth raised her hands to her face.

  Edward seeing Elizabeth’s tears, reached for a handkerchief tucked in his sleeve and dotted her eyes and mouth. “Elizabeth, I will make you happy.” Edward’s words were empty and he knew it. He had been looking for a childlike woman to b
ear children and carry on his name. That was his main consideration. He knew that Colum would seduce and fall in love with Elizabeth and he welcomed it for his own purpose.

  It was her innocence and her beauty that attracted him and he knew what would attract all men to her. The carriage pulled up to the gate and his guardsmen waved them in. The door of the estate opened wide and his servants rushed to the carriage. Edward and Elizabeth stepped out of the carriage; she knew she would no longer be a bed maid or kitchen servant. She would be the lady of Edward’s manor and she would be the wife of a rich Earl. She saw the castle for the first time, with its rich and elaborate furnishings and lush green gardens, and a chill crossed her body. Her hands shook.

  She placed her hand in Edward’s hand, he felt the shudder. He held it tight and her hand calmed.

  The competition between his best friend Colum and himself for Elizabeth’s love was different for Colum. Colum was indeed infatuated with Elizabeth and this was the first time he had been in love. However, Edward did not have that feeling of love. He was driven by another desire. He needed to keep his fortune to continue his life style, and that meant marriage and a son.

  The servants in Edward’s castle had seen all. Some saw the first Earl and Edward when he was a child. He had been a beautiful baby but he was spoiled by his mother because he was an only child. As he grew into a man, his father went to war against England, and then insisted that the only way Edward would become a man was for him to go to war as well.

  Edward reluctantly signed up on the condition that he would be an officer. After a short duty he arrived home wounded. No one was allowed to see his wounds, but they saw his unhappiness, especially when his father died. His mother could not cope with the lost of the first Earl and she left for England leaving her son to manage without her or a sense of family.