His movements inside of her were steady and rhythmic. She could feel every inch of him and had the distinct sensation that her entire body was about to explode in rapture. Lord Garret, in kind, seemed equally enraptured, his eyes still boring into hers, his breath rapid, his voice tangled and raw. Katherine delighted in seeing him above her in that way; seeing his chest and arms, the way in which the muscles tensed as he continued to pulse inside of her. Within good time, Katherine felt Lord Garret’s hardness intensify to its zenith and he cried out, his face tangled in unbearable pleasure. That was when Katherine, as well, allowed the full weight of the pleasure inside her explode, sending her entire body into one outrageous tremble.
Lord Garret collapsed on top of her, their sweat mingling. She brought her hand to his cheek and felt as his jaw released its tension. Kathrine tangled her hand through his moist hair.
They lay there for some time in that position, their breath steadily becoming calmer and more measured. It was the greatest experience of pleasure that Katherine had ever known. That was when she realised that, throughout their lovemaking, neither she nor Lord Garret had managed to say a word.
Chapter 16
A feeling came over Lord Roland that he could not deny; he needed to return to Bonhomie at once. The duke didn’t know from whence that petrifying feeling came, but it was as though everything within his being was calling out to him to return.
There was no sense in writing Lord Garret a letter, because not only would his brother perhaps not respond, if he did respond, but his reply would arrive in London at the time that the duke was preparing to leave.
Not only was the urgent need to come home rather mysterious, he also knew that the children were not having as much fun as he had hoped. Business had kept him away from them so the children were forced to spend far too much time with Prudence, which led to no end of frowning. What’s more, it was foggy and grey in London, and the duke longed for the sunshine and warmth of Hedge-Grove Downs.
“We are returning,” Lord Roland said, coming into the breakfast room and watching as Harry and Constance ate their porridge with lackluster enthusiasm. As soon as he said this, their faces perked up.
“Yay!” Harry exclaimed.
“What is wrong?” Constance asked, although there was pleasure upon her face as well.
“I sense that our stay in London has already been fruitful. I’ve tended to business and gotten the townhouse in order. But I think that we all miss Bonhomie.”
“When shall we leave?” Prudence asked, perhaps also eager to get out of foggy London.
“This very morning,” Lord Garret said. “The servants shall pack your bags with haste.”
Although everyone was surprised, Lord Roland could still tell that his family was pleased. It was true that their townhome had been neglected for too long. The staff there was very small, but Lord Roland kept them on in the odd circumstance where he would need to come to town. It was a beautiful home, and stately, as anyone would come to expect from the de Bowes.
Yet still, there was a vacant quality to it that Lord Roland did not care for. His brother was constantly advising him to sell it, but the duke refused. This was due largely to the fact that his late wife and he had shared the home for many years. The townhouse was a happier place to be at that time, but now, there was no more heart in it.
The servants did manage to pack the bags with haste and the next thing he knew, Lord Roland found himself back in the family carriage, returning home. With each passing minute of the carriage ride, the duke saw as the clouds seemed to drift away and they were once again surrounded by fields and light, with a bright rainbow arching over the sky.
No, London was not the place for him; nor was any city for that matter. He marveled at how his brother was always escaping to cities, then returning to Bonhomie seeming to be in a better mood. Perhaps when he went away, the need for Hedge-Grove Downs came upon him as well.
There was still the suspicious, uneasy feeling in the duke’s chest, which he could not rationalise. Had something amiss transpired between Lord Garret and Katherine? Had he become more cross with her? Knowing of Lord Garret’s affections, the duke would not be surprised in the least if his brother decided to punish the poor girl because of it. It seemed like something that Lord Garret was inclined to do.
“The first thing that I shall do is go into the garden,” Constance said.
“That sounds like a fine idea,” the duke replied.
“Do you suppose that Katherine will be surprised to see us?” Constance asked.
“She most certainly will be, for I did not send word that we’d be returning so soon.”
“She is going to be happy, like me!” Harry exclaimed.
“Yes, I think that she will,” the duke replied with a smile.
Lord Roland’s heart sank in his chest when he thought of the disappointment he’d meet on his brother’s face. Lord Garret would be cross with him for returning so early, because it would put an end to his Italian lessons. But the duke considered that the whole notion of his brother learning Italian anyhow was utter rubbish. Best to have the children continue with their studies and put an end to Lord Garret’s caprice.
“I missed Renee’s cooking,” Constance said. “I was not nearly as keen on the shopping in London as I thought I’d be.”
“Who wants to shop,” Prudence said sourly, “when you’re up to your neck in rain!”
It was a shame that the weather had been so grim. The duke had hoped to bond with his children, but going out of the home was not nearly as pleasant as he might have hoped. The children had spent their afternoons in the sitting room, looking out the window glumly.
It wasn’t long before the surrounding hillsides began to look familiar and the duke knew that they were getting close. Relief filled him. Although Lord Garret would be angry, it was a small price to pay for the magnificence of returning home.
Finally, pulling up to Bonhomie, the children cheered and Prudence crinkled her nose. The duke sighed to himself and watched as servants began to scurry out of the house, surprised. As soon as the duke was walking up to his front steps, he watched as Nigel stepped out in dismay.
“Your Grace,” he said, terror written on his face.
“It’s all right, Nigel. I did not send word and for that reason, there’s no cause for alarm.”
“Very well,” Nigel said, bowing his head.
Entering the home, the duke could see even more servants scurrying, doing the best that they could within moments to prepare the home. But there was nothing for them to be concerned about, for Bonhomie looked just as beautiful as he had done when he had left it. Walking down the hall, Lord Garret stepped out of the study and froze dead in his tracks.
“Brother,” the duke said, their eyes locking. Lord Garret did not give a verbal reply.
***
“Katherine!” Harry cried out, running down the hall into her arms.
“What on earth?” Katherine asked in surprise.
“Katherine, there was not enough time to give you word of our return,” the duke said. She looked up at him and there was compunction in his eyes.
“It’s quite all right. It’s a pleasant surprise.”
“I know that the children missed you much,” the duke added.
“And I missed them,” Katherine replied.
It was a shock to say the least, but Katherine felt joyous upon seeing the children and the duke. She had missed them, as well. But a far more important reaction that she could not deny was a moment of fear. Not fear that she was going back to her old routine, but fear that she would not return to the brief routine that she had shared with Lord Garret, which seemed like a dream.
The night before was one of the greatest nights of her life. After succumbing to the throes of passion, Katherine lay in Lord Garret’s arms before both of them fell asleep soon thereafter. A warmth emanated from Katherine’s entire body, and from within her soul. She finally felt like a woman; complete in a way that s
he had never experienced before. It was sometime in the middle of the night that Katherine awoke to find herself in Lord Garret’s arms, being carried down the hall and then down the stairs. She was placed upon his bed.
“What’s happening?” She had asked.
“Your bed was not suitable,” Lord Garret replied.
After placing her in the bed, Lord Garret got in beside her and she lay in his arms once more. “You should sleep in today. We can enjoy a late brunch,” Lord Garret had added, kissing her softly on the lips.
Upon waking the next morning, Katherine still felt as though she was in a dream of happiness. Had she not found herself in Lord Garret’s bed, she might have wondered if what had happened between them was a reality of any kind. But she was in Lord Garret’s bed, even though he had already risen; no doubt to begin the morning’s business.
The fact that he had brought her to his room was very telling. Surely, the servants would see her coming from his room. Sofia would come up to Katherine’s room and note that she was not there.
In order to prevent all this, Katherine quickly climbed the stairs to her own room and managed to get there before Sofia delivered her tea. It offered Katherine an immense sense of relief, but still, there was the question of what their interaction would be like that day. Would it be odd and tense? Or would there be a new, natural rapport between them?
As Lord Garret suggested, Katherine lay in her own bed for some time after that, dreaming of the night before and trying to recall every minute detail. When the hour came for Katherine to dress herself and come down the stairs, she took great pains to ensure that she selected the proper dress. Her hair was still eschewed from the night before but Katherine decided to let it remain so, as a reminder of their passion.
That was when, coming down the stairs and eager to see Lord Garret, she saw Harry run to her from down the hall.
“I’m famished!” Constance said. “We took breakfast so early.”
“We were planning on a late brunch,” Katherine said, turning to Lord Garret. He did not look back at her. His eyes were fixed on his brother, his expression steely.
“That sounds like a fine idea,” the duke said.
“I could eat a horse,” Prudence said, taking off her bonnet and walking into the sitting room.
“I will tell Renee to set the table for six,” Katherine said.
“That would be most kind,” the duke added.
As Lord Roland continued down the hall and the children dispersed, Katherine and Lord Garret were left standing there. He finally turned to her, despair in his eyes.
“It will be all right,” Katherine assured him, but she, too, felt as though her heart was breaking.
“I had a feeling this would happen,” Lord Garret said, reaching over and taking Katherine’s hand in his own. He squeezed it tightly.
“I . . . should go and make arrangements for the brunch,” Katherine added, not knowing what else to say. She wanted to collapse into Lord Garret’s arms. She wished to escape with him, back up to his room where they could share in each other’s bodies once more.
As Katherine tried to walk away, Lord Garret continued to hold her hand and would not let her go. It seemed audacious, considering that a servant could pass at any moment.
“Go,” he finally said softly, releasing her hand and continuing to stand in the hall.
Katherine walked away, feeling her heart pounding in her chest. Was that the way it was to be now? Every time that they departed, it would feel like a little death? In Katherine’s estimation, it seemed as though there was no turning back. She was utterly, hopelessly in love. And now that she had tasted the intimacy of the flesh, all that she craved was more.
Once Renee was informed and the brunch was hastily enlarged, the family sat down to the table and Katherine found that Lord Garret was, yet again, seated all the way at the opposite side of the table. She missed having him by her side. It was a marvelous spread of food and the children seemed quite pleased. Katherine thought that, even though the situation had changed, there was perhaps hope that Lord Garret and she could come together.
“The townhome is in remarkable shape,” the duke said, cutting into his eggs.
“It’s good timing,” Lord Garret replied.
“Why is that?” The duke asked.
“Because I leave for London this evening.”
Katherine felt her heart sink in her chest. Was Lord Garret truly leaving so soon? Had his brother’s early return upset him? She wished to speak to him but it seemed like Lord Garret was determined to leave that very night. Was there a chance that Katherine could pull him aside in order to share a few words? Katherine felt a flush come to her cheek as she thought of the very real possibility that, after having made love for the first time the night before, she and Lord Garret would not share that intimacy again for some time. She felt bereft.
“Katherine, you’re not enjoying your brunch?” The duke asked, looking over and noting that she hadn’t even touched her plate. Katherine sat in stunned silence for a moment before replying.
“I . . . I’m surprised that I haven’t an appetite,” she finally said. Lord Garret looked towards her with confusion on his face.
“You need the nourishment,” Lord Garret said, and the flush returned to her cheeks once more. Was he suggesting that she needed the nourishment due to their exertion from the evening before? It seemed so.
“Yes, you’re right,” Katherine said, taking a bit of egg onto her fork and bringing it to her mouth. It tasted of rubber. Why had all of her senses at once become eschewed?
“What kind of business are you tending to in town?” The duke asked, and Katherine looked over at Lord Garret, awaiting an honest reply.
“Financial matters. That’s all.”
The response was not authentic enough for Katherine to believe that it was the truth. So, he was truly going away due to anger?
“I, for one, am delighted to be away from such matters,” the duke said. “And back at Bonhomie.”
“Of course, you are. You never cared for business matters,” Lord Garret replied bitingly.
They were quarreling again and it brought Katherine a great deal of grief. It seemed that so long as Lord Garret and Lord Roland didn’t see eye-to-eye, it would push Lord Garret away. Katherine didn’t desire that in the least. In fact, it truly broke her heart.
“Perhaps it can wait,” Katherine suggested, and felt all eyes turn towards her. “The weather is changing and soon the leaves in the garden will be so beautiful.”
You silly ninny. Do you truly believe that Lord Garret cares for such things?
“Are you suggesting that I avoid business matters to see the leaves change?” Lord Garret asked, and for the first time that morning, there was a smile upon his face. Katherine faltered with her answer.
“No, I’m merely saying . . . maybe a week from now would be a better time?” She felt like an utter fool, but Katherine was desperate. She wanted Lord Garret to be near her. The warmth and sadness in his eyes suggested that he felt the same.
“I fear that it cannot be prevented,” Lord Garret said solemnly.
“We can’t keep him from going anywhere that he wishes to go,” the duke went on, eating his breakfast heartily. “Lord Garret has a will of steel.”
“I wish that I could have some sway over his will,” Katherine said, and felt all eyes turn towards her again. Yes, she was going too far, but the situation seemed desperate. She was now a woman in the full throes of love and she couldn’t stop herself.
Risky Rules of a Passionate Governess Page 18
