Much later, around midnight, Lucie still had not slept. Whether it was the strange bed or the thoughts that were still with her, or the slight soreness after her introduction to sex, she could not tell. She lay listening to the scouring of the wind and the groans of the house as it reacted to the buffeting and weathered the increasing gale and tried to relax.
All at once, she heard a loud, unusual, scraping noise, and shortly after, another coming from inside the house and quite close. From long familiarity, she knew all the creaks along the corridor, and the bedroom she was in was only four doors away from her own. Was Rowten making a tour of the house to make sure all was well? How odd. That was not his usual practice. She seemed to remember he had done it earlier and was in the hall locking up before retiring as she passed on her way to bed and they wished each other goodnight.
So who was it creeping by so stealthily? Sliding out of bed, she put on her wrap and went to the door. Edging it open carefully, she peeped through the crack and was just in time to see a figure disappear into the master bedroom at the top end of the corridor. She only caught a glimpse but knew it was not Richard suddenly returned from London. Nor was it Edgar, his valet, a slightly built man who, in fact, was away visiting his family.
None of the male staff would intrude up here, she thought, unless ordered to do so, and the stairs to the servant’s bedrooms were the other side of the house. So who would dare, apart from an intruder? And if it was, what should she do? Pushing the door almost closed, she listened and heard the master bedroom door shut. There was silence for a moment until another door opened. This time, when she took a hasty look, it was her own room.
Almost at once, she heard an angry curse, and shutting her door tight, slid a bolt across and put a chair under the door handle. Once she felt secure, she dashed across the room and kept pulling on the bell to call any servant on duty. They might not catch the man, but at least they would make sure the house and grounds were searched.
Much later, Rowten was utterly distraught. How something like this could happen on his watch was beyond overwhelming. In charge, specifically commanded to take care of her ladyship, and what happens? An unknown villain comes waltzing into the house. Why? Certainly to do something evil to either the Earl or his wife, for nothing was missing so he wasn’t a thief. He had got in the house easily as the watchman on duty was found unconscious from a cutting blow to his head. Entering the lobby door after that was simple as shown by the broken glass pane, especially with the storm’s rage covering any noise he may have made. Once the alarm was raised, the man had fled down the back stairs and away into the park as not one, but two, footmen came running up the main staircase to see what was wrong with her ladyship.
Lucie was still tugging on the on the bell pull until they banged on her door and shouted for her to open. She was a resourceful and competent lady. More than he could say for himself at this moment. All he could be thankful for after he had listened to her account was that Mary’s accident with the water jug had saved Lucie from whatever purpose the intruder had intended.
After some thought, he recalled the visit from Lord Edmund Tasker. The last thing he’d heard was that the man had gone to London, which was hardly the other side of the moon. Had he come back? When it was daylight, he would send someone to investigate to see if he had returned. Meanwhile, he organised a truckle bed for Mary to rest on in Lucie’s temporary bedroom so that Lucie could sleep in peace with company for the few hours left of the night. Setting guards at the vulnerable doors was the next step, and making sure the keepers were alerted followed before he, too, retired to bed, though not to sleep.
Tomorrow, or probably the day after, would come the reckoning with the Earl. He did not think he could hope for a chance to keep his job when the Earl returned. He would be justifiably furious with everyone, particularly him. He sighed, feeling his years. Maybe he was too old and it was time for him to retire, but it would be an ignominious ending, for there was no way could he pretend anything but failure. He could see no way out that would sidestep the inevitable shameful dismissal.
* * * *
It was past midnight when the coach drew to a halt at the front door of Ashbury Mead, much to the relief of its occupants and Hicks the coachman. He was congratulated by the earl when Richard stepped wearily out of the carriage. “Well done, Hicks. I didn’t think we’d make it all the way home tonight. You must have a fondness to sleep in your own bed, I’ll wager. Just as well that storm blew over and you had moonlight. Anyway, well done! I couldn’t be more pleased. Turn in as soon as you can.” He turned to the other occupant climbing out of the coach as two footmen appeared, shrugging into their jackets. “Welcome to Ashbury Mead, Rigby. Go with Irving.” He beckoned one of the footmen over. “Take Mr Rigby to his room, and make sure he has food and anything else he may require.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow some time, Rigby. When you rise, have breakfast then explore. I’m for bed now and a late rise. Ah, Rowten, you should have stayed in bed. Irving and Drew are seeing to everything, and I’m about to retire.” He stared at the butler, noting the downcast expression which was so unlike the welcome he usually got. His instincts flared instantly.
“What’s wrong?” His voice was anxious. “Lady Lucie?”
“She is safe abed, milord. Can we speak privately? ’T’will just be a moment.”
“Yes, in the study.” Mounting the steps, Richard went straight to his study and, not bothering to sit, turned to face the door as Rowten followed him in.
“Well?”
“We had an intruder get into the house yesterday midnight. He clobbered Franklin, who was on duty—damn near killed him with the cut to his head, but he is recovering now. The varmint broke through the lobby door and went upstairs to your suite...”
Richard’s face whitened. “Where was her ladyship? In her bedroom?”
“The intruder must have thought so, for he was investigating other bedrooms, and he looked there too, and she heard him swear. As luck would have it, due to a spillage of water on her bed, Lady Lucie was in a bedroom down the corridor. Fortunately, she was awake and heard the man. She reacted magnificently by locking her door and ringing the bell continuously. The footmen were up there in a flash. But whoever it was escaped down the back staircase and off into the park. We were too concerned about Lady Lucie to give chase until it was too late. After that dire happening, we have naturally made certain no one can get into the house. The other bit of news is that I shall tender my resignation forthwith.”
“Resignation!” Richard’s bellow and scowl was, to say the least, highly intimidating.
Fearing the menacing look and its consequences, Rowten tried to hold himself together.
“I-I’ve let you down, sir. I should have taken better precautions, and I’m sure you will w-wish me gone. Don’t blame anyone else. It is entirely my fault.”
There was silence for long moments as Richard studied his butler’s face and allowed his alarmed temper to subside before saying quietly, “It has been a long, tiresome day, and London is one of the noisiest cities I’ve ever had the misfortune to visit. So much so, I’ve returned deafened with the noise. Can barely hear a word or understand what you say. I suggest we talk things over tomorrow after I have seen my wife and rested from the journey. I presume she has still not gone back to her own bedroom and you will point out which room she is in? Good!” He noted Rowten’s startled nod at his unexpected words.
“I shall retire and leave you to your usual duties, Rowten. It is such a relief to leave things in your capable hands.” Nodding at the butler, he walked out into the hall. “Which room is it?” he called out.
Still dumbstruck, Rowten pulled himself together to answer. “The Rose Room, milord.” Noting how his lordship clearly heard his words, he heaved a sigh of thankfulness as he realised he was not about to be dismissed and he could go on serving a man he was happy to devote his entire loyalty to. Once again, he thought of his duchess and her insightful plans, wonderi
ng if she had second sight or was so clever she could read the future.
Whatever the reason, there was no doubt that Richard Martell was the right man for Ashbury Mead, and he was honoured to serve him.
Richard had learned how to walk silently like an Indian after his sojourn in Canada where he had been taught by men gifted in that art, so his appearance in the Rose Room was only seen by Mary as he woke her with a light touch on her shoulder and a hiss of warning, his finger across her mouth to keep silent. Though startled, she at once recognised him, rose from the truckle bed, and went to the door. “I’ll go to my bed, sir, now you are here,” she whispered as quietly.
He smiled and nodded, lifted a hand to salute her, and closing the door, slid the lock. Time was on his side, and he intended to make good use of it.
* * * *
Removing his clothes, he went to the bed and, lifting the bedclothes gently, slid under the covers. She stirred, and he lay still, scarcely breathing. He did not want her to waken just yet. He heard a sigh and she turned away from him to face the other side of the bed and, seconds later, was deep in sleep again. He grinned in amusement…just how he wanted her.
Slowly and stealthily, he closed the gap between them until he was almost touching and waited till he felt her ease back towards his warmth and snuggle her bottom between his thighs. What an incredible feeling it was to be so close to her body and know she was his. A wife he never wanted to lose. Tired beyond measure, desperately needing to rest, and cocooned in warmth with her tight against his body, he shut his eyes and was soon asleep.
Several hours later, he roused instantly as he felt her stir, pause, and become rigid as her hand moved warily back to touch his bare thigh. He heard a gasp as she drew in a huge breath to scream, but before she did, his arm came round her waist and he said, “Hush, Lucie, it’s me, Richard. No need to be frightened. I came home earlier than I expected.”
“Oh, thank goodness. For a minute I thought...” She turned round quickly to be met with his kiss and felt his hands roam over her and begin to pull her nightgown up. When she was able to take a breath, she whispered, “You shouldn’t be here. Mary’s in the room—”
“Mary’s back in her bed, and you shouldn’t be here, you should be in my bed. It is bigger. Still, just as well, I believe, you were here. Rowten told me we had a prowler.”
“He got away, so we don’t know who he was. Rowten was so upset. I doubt he’ll ever rest after this. He blames himself for being too complacent.”
“Don’t worry, he’ll get over it. Now, let’s have off with this thing you call a gown. I need to feel you properly, feel your soft skin, kiss you all over...” He lifted it, stopped talking to place his parted lips against the tip of her bared breast, and licked the nipple with the rasp of his tongue before drawing it into the heat of his mouth to suckle it strongly, sending her into raptures of sensation
Closing her eyes to absorb and enjoy every bit of pleasure from being in Richard’s arms again, she slipped her own hand up to his neck and, entwining her fingers in his thick hair, heard him groan his enjoyment as he went to her other breast. He moved back to her mouth to kiss her with intense passion. While one hand curled round her shoulders and lifted her up against him, the other began smoothing over her body and down her back, lovingly massaging her rounded bottom before gliding round to her front and into the soft curls between her thighs. She gasped as his long fingers found her opening and glided into the silky wetness inside.
“It won’t hurt this time, darling, but I must still prepare you to accept me. You are so tight, and while that is enchantment to me, I must make sure you enjoy it too.”
Stroking his bare chest gently and tweaking his flattened nipples, her whispered reply—“Do what you want to me”—sent a red-hot surge of blood through his veins, and his erection expanded even more strongly against her belly. Greatly daring, she moved a hand down to take hold of it and was surprised how silky-smooth yet how rigid it was. Rubbing her thumb over the top produced a quivering shudder, and she chuckled as she said softly, “What’s sauce for the gander...or have I got that wrong?”
He laughed joyously. “Both ways are appropriate, my lovely. Don’t stop whatever you do.” He grasped her hand and showed her how to pleasure him, and she proved an able pupil.
It was a revelation to recognize that Lucie was both the most innocent and sensually exciting woman he had ever known. The innocence, the honesty of her comments, excited him more than any woman ever had or could. Fate had really come up to the mark this time, and he had the glory of possessing a woman he would love forever.
Soon, with passions escalating, he turned her on her back and moved over her. Without hesitation, she parted her legs and opened to him. When he entered her, he felt her flinch and immediately stopped. “Lucie,” he said, “am I hurting you?”
“No, well…yes, but I’m only a little tender, so don’t stop, oh please, don’t stop.”
It was slower, gentler than before, not so strange or unknown this time. She was able to feel the hardness, the firm rhythm of his movements, and the ache of heat that built up, layer on layer, until she burst into a kaleidoscope of sensation and he felt her muscles contract around him. At once, he plunged ever deeper, and in enchanted accord, she felt her orgasm continue until he released himself in a whirl of glory. In unison, they hit the heights of pleasure together. When he got his breath back, he moved and pulled her to his side. “My God, Lucie that was incredible. You were born knowing how to make love.”
He felt her smile against his chest as she said, “I have a good teacher.”
He thought she meant him. Instead, she was reflecting on a certain set of books. They slept and woke to another session of joy before sleeping again until mid-morning.
Chapter Ten
Lucie was first to wake. Peering at the clock, she pushed away the sheet and began to ease out of bed. A hand grasped her arm and a voice growled, “Where do you think you are going, my love?”
“Richard, let me go! We can’t stay in bed any longer, the servants will comment...”
“If they do, sweetheart, they know we are married. But perhaps you are hungry? I must confess that I am. I cannot remember when I last ate. We’ll have breakfast sent here.”
“You can if you wish. I am dressing and going downstairs. That’s if, you’ll grant me leave, my lord?” She stared at his hand still holding her arm until he released it.
“Oh, hoity toity, madam! Is that the way of it? I bow to your direction. Lead the way, my dear. We shall have breakfast downstairs after all.” He grinned at her in silent amusement as she gave a frown and humphed at his foolery and dressed quickly. He was equally quick, and together, they descended the stairs and went into the small dining room where a footman, already warned by an upstairs maid, was waiting with hot coffee and tea ready to hand. He bowed. “Breakfast will be here soon as, milord, milady.”
“Excellent!” he said, pleased the staff were ready and willing.
Breakfast was a quiet affair, overseen by Rowten who looked slightly better than he had the previous evening though his face still wore the same solemn look. Richard shared the day’s papers with Lucie, and on the whole stayed quiet, only now and again exchanging an item of news with her. For her part, she enjoyed the comfortable companionship and lack of pressure, thinking they had come a long way since their first meeting.
Towards the end of their meal, a knock on the door heralded Richard’s secretary. He looked most embarrassed at interrupting them dining. “So sorry, milord, I did not realise you were downstairs. I came to find Mr Rowten...”
Richard smiled and waved a hand. “He’s here, go ahead.”
“Well…actually, it was you I wanted...”
“Luckily, I’m here as well. Go ahead and tell me what you want.” Richard leaned back in his chair, thinking he was being a devilish swine to tease the poor man so. His wife evidently thought the same as she promptly cast him a surreptitious warning look beneath her lashes.
He acknowledged it with a slight nod then went on. “First, may I introduce our new addition to the staff, darling? Mr Arnold Rigby has come to help us. I say us, Rigby, as I told you in the coach you will be helping Lady Martell as well with the accounts of the estate. My lady, meet Arnold Rigby. Mr Rigby, her ladyship.”
“I trust you were comfortable last night, Mr Rigby,” Lucie said kindly, taking pity on the poor man who seemed out of his depth. “Your journey from London was arduous, no doubt? My husband is not a lover of coach travel, I recollect, though it was likely less tiring than riding and undoubtedly better for you.”
Now how the devil does she know that, I wonder?
“Milord, bearing in mind my duties, I just wondered if I was to accustom myself to your study or if there was an estate office you wish me to use or anything in particular you wished me to do now.”
“Go ahead, the files are in order. There is an estate office for the land which the farm warden uses to note the expenditure and gains of all the cultivation and every item bought and the kinds of produce sold. The house finance ledgers are run from here in the study. They cover all aspects of the house and its staff as well as the rest of the people who work outside. The wages for everyone are recorded, and a constant check is made with payments made for those and moneys used for the estate. I shall see you there in...let’s say, half an hour…to bring you up to date.” He turned to Lucie. “If you can spare me time, darling, I wish to talk with you. Thank you, Rowten. We shall remain here for a while. Another pot of coffee would be acceptable in a moment, but that will be all for now.”
* * * *
The room cleared, which left Richard and Lucie gazing at one another. He was silent for a moment, gauging the uncertainty in her eyes, but he knew she was an intelligent person who would soon weigh any orders or ruling she was given to see if they suited her purpose. She was strong-willed and would rebel against every dictate if she did not think it right, hence her reaction in the bedroom before they left to come down for breakfast
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