Montgomery Family 03 - Turned Around By Love

by Vikki Vaught

  She would seduce him tonight, not that Jonathan would need much inducement, but being bold would help her get the courage she needed to finally make love with him. When the water began to cool, she stood up, and Sarah poured fresh water over her to rinse the soap away. Then Kathryn wrapped herself in a big, fluffy white towel.

  Going to her dressing room, she picked out a rich purple dinner gown that she hadn’t worn before. Sarah fixed her hair in a flattering arrangement, and once Kathryn was dressed, she looked over her reflection in the cheval mirror and knew she looked her best. The gown accentuated her generous bosom, and the silk fabric draped her tall slender body to perfection.

  Oh yes, Jonathan wouldn’t be able to keep his eyes off her this evening.

  With a bright smile on her face, Kathryn headed down to dinner.

  When Kathryn arrived downstairs, Jonathan wasn’t in the drawing room, and she noticed that the storm hadn’t abated. Disappointment flooded her face as she walked over and sat beside Helen on the sofa. “Are Jonathan and Matthew still not back yet? Surely they will arrive soon. I hate to think of him being out in this weather when he’s already been fighting off a slight cold for the last couple of days.”

  “I doubt they’ll return until this storm is over. As I said earlier, Matthew will have made arrangements to stay out at the Miller’s place. They’ll have an uncomfortable night. I hadn’t noticed that he had a cold. This weather won’t be good for him to be out in, but I’m sure he’ll be fine. Of course, it’s only eight o’clock, and the storm could still blow over in time for them to return tonight. You certainly look spectacular tonight. You must have big plans for Jonathan. I know he’ll be pleased.”

  “I must admit I’m nervous, but also excited. I’m going to seduce my husband tonight when he returns. I refuse to believe that this awful storm won’t end. I just wish it would hurry and get over with before I lose my nerve.” Just as she said this, Elaine walked in and joined them, and then shortly after that, so did Gregory.

  Kathryn tried to relax as she watched Gregory and Elaine talk. After her conversation with Elaine, she realized that she had probably been biased against him, based on what Helen had said about him. She had to admit, he had behaved like a perfect gentleman, other than those few impertinent comments he’d made when he first arrived. Elaine had made a very good point when she pointed out that three years did make a big difference at that age.

  The dinner was superb, but Kathryn was getting so concerned about the storm that she could barely eat a thing. After dinner, they went to the drawing room, and Gregory joined them right away, suggesting that they all play some cards. Kathryn tried to concentrate, but she was just too nervous about Jonathan being out in the storm. She played dismally, and she and Helen ended up losing quite badly to Elaine and Gregory.

  At ten o’clock, she excused herself and went to her room, after she made sure Elaine went to hers. She knew Jonathan was counting on her to watch out for Elaine and make sure she didn’t have any opportunity to be alone with Gregory. He had been polite, and very respectful, while they played cards, so he must have listened to Jonathan’s request to leave Elaine alone.

  Being restless while she waited for Jonathan to return, she quickly undressed and dismissed Sarah. Not wanting to give up entirely that the storm would end and Jonathan would return soon, she dressed in her most alluring night rail. Pacing the sitting room, she planned in her mind what she would do when Jonathan finally returned. She just hoped he wouldn’t be too tired.

  At midnight, Jonathan had still not returned, and the storm continued to rage outside, so she finally accepted that he wouldn’t be back until morning. Kathryn hung her head in disappointment and went to her empty bed. She just prayed Helen was right, and Jonathan was safe. After tossing and turning, she eventually nodded off to sleep.

  The next morning, Matthew and Jonathan were finally able to make it home at eight o’clock. Refusing any breakfast, Jonathan went up to his room and ordered a hot bath because he felt chilled to the bone. It had been a miserable night. He and Matthew had slept in the Miller’s barn, and it had been freezing. As he soaked in the tub, he began to cough, and his throat felt scratchy. By the time he got out of the tub, he knew he was sick. He certainly hoped this wasn’t something catching. He would hate to give it to Kathryn, or anyone else for that matter.

  Turning to Hatton, Jonathan haltingly said, “Hatton, I need to lie down and take a short nap.” Clearing his throat so his voice wasn’t so scratchy, he added, “Please return in time for me to dress for luncheon. I’m sure I’ll feel better after I sleep for a few hours.”

  When Hatton came to waken Jonathan for luncheon, he was sleeping so soundly that he was hard to wake up. When Hatton finally got him awake, he was so ill that Hatton barely got the chamber pot to the bed in time for Jonathan to cast up his accounts. He fell back against his pillow and croaked, “Please…I need…some water.” Hatton brought him the water, but he was so weak, he could barely drink it.

  God, he felt awful!

  Jonathan could barely swallow, his throat felt so swollen, and he felt sure he had a fever. Once he finished the water, he tried to say, “I’m…too ill…can’t go downstairs…tell my wife…” then he passed out.

  Hatton rushed downstairs to get Lady Kathryn and tell her about Jonathan’s condition. He found her in the dining room. “My lady, Lord Sutherland is very ill. I think you need to send for the doctor. He has a fever, and he’s passed out.”

  Kathryn looked startled. “Hatton, what’s wrong with him?”

  Hatton, with worry in his voice, said, “I think he has a putrid throat because he was having a hard time talking. I need to get back to him, but please send for the doctor.”

  With a worried look on her face, she said, “I’m coming with you. I’ll ask Wells to send for the doctor right away.”

  Seeing Wells in the hall, she said, “Wells, my husband is extremely ill. Will you please send for a doctor immediately?”

  “Of course, my lady. I’ll send him up straightaway when he arrives,” Wells replied. “Please, let me know if you need anything else.”

  Kathryn rushed upstairs to Jonathan’s side. When she went over to his bed, he looked terrible. He had dark circles under his eyes, and his face was flushed. He was struggling to breathe as he coughed. At least he was awake again.

  “Kathryn…you…shouldn’t…be in here,” Jonathan croaked, “I don’t want you…to catch this.”

  He tried to sit up, but then he started coughing violently and sank back against his pillows. Kathryn felt his forehead. “Jonathan, you’re burning up with fever. Hatton, get me some cloths and cold water.”

  Jonathan was grateful for her help, but very concerned that she would get sick, so he tried again to send her away, but she refused to go. He was just too weak to argue, so he let her bathe his face. Her gentle touch was quite soothing.

  The doctor arrived, examined Jonathan, and said, “My lady, he has lung fever. Make sure he takes this medicine every four hours. It should help his cough. You need to bathe him in cold water to try to bring his fever down. Oh, and get him to drink plenty of liquids so he doesn’t become dehydrated. I’ll return tomorrow morning to check on him.”

  As Kathryn escorted the doctor from the room, she said, “Thank you, Doctor, for coming so quickly. I’ll make sure that he takes this medicine.”

  Jonathan felt so frustrated because everyone was talking about him, but not to him. And even though he tried to talk, nothing came out. He had completely lost his voice. Finally, he gave up, leaned back against his pillows, and closed his eyes.

  Jonathan’s fever was raging. Kathryn and Hatton bathed him with cool water and gave him the medicine, but it didn’t seem to help. Kathryn refused to leave his side. She sent Hatton to bed, and he told her he would return in four hours to relieve her. Kathryn sat vigil through the night, continuing to bathe Jonathan in cool water. His temperature kept rising. One minute he would be burning up trying to toss his covers of
f, and then the next, he would be shivering. This went on all through the night.

  Hatton came in at eight o’clock to relieve her. She left his side just long enough to freshen up, and then she was back again. Helen tried to get her to take a break, but she still refused to leave Jonathan’s side.

  Dr. Moore came at eleven o’clock and examined Jonathan. “Just keep bathing him with cool water. Has he kept the medicine down?”

  “No, every time I give it to him he throws it back up. He’s keeping a little water down, but that’s all. I’m so worried about him. How long do you think he’ll be like this?”

  Dr. Moore answered, “There’s no way to tell. However, the longer his fever stays high, the greater the chance he may not make it. At this point, it is in God’s hands. Keep trying to get him to take the medicine. It is vital that he take it. I’ll return tomorrow morning.”

  Once the doctor left, Kathryn sent Hatton to get more towels, and she laid her head down on her arms and wept. Helen came into the room and placed her hand on Kathryn’s shoulder. “Oh Kathryn, you have to rest. You’re going to make yourself sick if you don’t get some sleep.”

  Kathryn looked up with tears rolling down her cheeks. “I can’t. Don’t you…understand? Just when I’m finally feeling brave enough to let him make love to me, this happens. I don’t…want to lose him. He’s so ill, and his fever keeps climbing. I don’t know what to do!”

  Helen hugged her. “You’re not going to lose him. We’ll keep bathing him in cool water. In fact, I’ll have a tub filled with cold water, and you can bathe him there. Maybe if he’s immersed in cold water, it will help to bring down his fever.”

  Once they had the tub filled with cold water, Hatton managed to get him in it. Jonathan was shivering, but she kept pouring cold water over him until the water turned tepid. Hatton put Jonathan back in bed. They finally got him to take some of the medicine, and it stayed down. He did seem a little cooler after the cold water bath, but after a couple of hours, his temperature was climbing again.

  For two days, they continued to give him the cold water baths, and his temperature would go down, but then it would start to rise again. Jonathan was delirious and kept shouting for them to leave his leg alone. He called for Roderick over and over again. It was tearing Kathryn’s heart apart to hear him. She knew he was trapped in his nightmare, and she couldn’t help him.

  On the third day of Jonathan’s illness, after the doctor finished his examination, he shook his head. “I’m afraid that if his fever doesn’t break soon, he’ll die. I’m surprised he’s lasted this long. I think the cold water baths may be the only thing that’s keeping him alive. Keep giving them to him, and get the medicine down him. I’ll return in the morning.”

  Hatton left Kathryn as the clock struck three to go to his bed. Kathryn wouldn’t leave Jonathan’s side. After Hatton left, she crawled up on the bed beside Jonathan, and whispered, “Please come back to me. I don’t want to lose you. Oh, my darling, if you’ll just get better, you can make love to me any time you want. Just please come back to me!” Kathryn was so tired she couldn’t stay awake any longer, and she fell asleep.

  When Kathryn woke, just as dawn was breaking, she looked over at Jonathan and noticed he was breathing easier. She felt his head and it was cool. His fever had finally broken. Her heart filled with love and hope, since she knew he was going to be all right now. She lay beside him, watching him sleep peacefully as she allowed herself to slip back into a more restful slumber.

  Kathryn felt a hand on her back as she came awake. She looked up into Jonathan’s brilliant blue eyes as he asked, “Why are you lying here in your clothes?”

  “Oh, my love, you’ve come back to me! You’ve been so ill. I was afraid you wouldn’t make it. Thank God your fever broke in the night.”

  “Sweetheart, I would never leave you. How long have I been ill?”

  “Six days,” Kathryn told him. “You had lung fever, and yesterday the doctor told me you might not make it. All I could think about was that I might never be able to make love to you, just when I’d decided that nothing was going to keep me from it. I’ve been so scared.”

  Jonathan huskily said, “Darling, just give me a couple of days to get my strength back, and you can show me how determined you are. Nothing could make me happier. Do you think I could have something to eat? I’m starving.”

  “Oh yes, let me ring for something right way.” Jonathan ate some chicken broth and then fell asleep. Hatton came in to relieve her. “He woke up, and he’s even eaten some chicken broth. He’s going to be all right.”

  “That’s wonderful, my lady,” Hatton said with relief in his voice. “Why don’t you let me sit with him while you get some sleep? He’ll probably sleep most of the day.”

  Since Kathryn was exhausted, she agreed. “I’ll sleep for a few hours, but when he wakes, send for me immediately.”

  Kathryn slept solidly for six hours, and when she woke up, she hurried through her ablutions and returned to Jonathan’s side. He was just waking up and immediately wanted food. The doctor had been in to see him and had told Hatton he could eat soft foods. If he tolerated the soft foods, then he could try something more solid. Jonathan ate an entire bowl of porridge, then fell asleep again.

  Each day Jonathan grew stronger, and on the third day, he dressed and spent the day downstairs. Kathryn read to him in the morning, and in the afternoon, he played the pianoforte for her. Jonathan joined the family for dinner and appeared completely recovered. Kathryn wondered if he would be ready to make love soon. She hoped he was, because now that she’d made up her mind, she wanted to do it before she lost her nerve.

  After entering their sitting room, Jonathan turned to Kathryn. “I’ll join you in thirty minutes.” Then he walked into his room. Kathryn watched the door close, and her belly was all aflutter with anticipation. She went to her room where Sarah had her bath ready. She filled it with her lavender bathing salts and used her lavender-scented soap. She didn’t linger, because she wanted to be ready and waiting when Jonathan came to her.

  At dinner, Kathryn noticed that Jonathan had had a gleam in his eyes, so she knew he was healthy enough to make love. She felt as if she would die of excitement. Her heart was thundering, and her pulse was jumping. She dressed in the apricot night rail that Helen had given her to wear tonight. It was so sheer, it was almost transparent. The sides were open with little bows tied strategically to keep it on. Sarah had left her hair loose, and it cascaded around her shoulders and down her back. She nervously stood by the bed while she waited for him to arrive. As the door opened, she realized she was trembling, but she was determined to make love tonight.

  When Jonathan gazed at her, he had a ferocious expression in his eyes that caused a fierce rush of pleasure to run through her veins. He boldly met Kathryn’s gaze. “Your beauty leaves me breathless.” His face was intent and flushed with desire as he slowly moved across the room. When he was standing next to her, he asked, “Are you sure you’re ready for this? Because if you’re not, tell me now before I lose control of my senses. Please, tell me you’re ready.”

  She smiled at him. “I want to become your wife in all ways. Please make love to me.”

  Jonathan picked her up and laid her on the bed, then untied his robe and dropped it on the floor. Kathryn’s eye grew large when she saw how aroused he was. He climbed into bed beside her. “As lovely as you look in this gown, I think we can take it off, don’t you?”

  He pulled the bows, and the gown fell open. Staring at her luscious breasts with hunger in his eyes, he slowly pulled the gown completely off and tossed it to the floor. Jonathan ran his hands across her breasts, and her nipples tightened with desire. Leaning over, he took one of the little dusky pink buds in his mouth, using tongue and teeth to arouse her further. He lifted his head and kissed her hot, deep, and long as his hand traveled down her belly toward her fiery red curls.

  Kathryn’s heart was pounding and her pulse was fluttering as his hand gently par
ted her thighs. “Open for me, my love.” She relaxed her muscles, and her thighs fell apart. As he deepened his kiss, his fingers parted the slick pink folds that covered her sex, then he brushed the tip of his finger across her core, and she quivered with wild delight. Jonathan kissed his way down her body until he lay between her thighs. He breathed deeply to capture the luscious, titillating scent of her arousal, and then he lightly licked her feminine core. A sudden rush of heat ran through Kathryn’s body.

  As Jonathan circled her love bud with his tongue, he slipped a finger inside her sweet passage and began to stroke in and out, faster and faster, as his tongue licked her secret spot. She felt a tightening deep in her belly, and then she burst into flames of passion as she went soaring higher than she’d ever soared before. A satisfied growl emerged from deep in his throat as he drank of her body’s juices.

  Jonathan kissed his way back up her body and then rolled to his back. “Straddle my hips with your pretty thighs. When you’re ready, guide my shaft inside. You have complete control.”

  Kathryn’s eyes opened wide, but she nodded her head as she moved into position. Trembling, she hesitated a moment before rubbing her love juices on his shaft. Slowly, she lowered herself over him until he was deeply buried inside her body. She looked at him in astonishment. “It doesn’t hurt! It feels amazing.”

  “That’s just the beginning.” As he lifted her by her waist, he lowered her as he thrust upward inside her incredibly tight channel. He groaned and trembled as he moved faster and wilder, showing a loss of his control. Her muscles began to contract as need built higher and higher. She went over the edge into bliss, vaguely aware of his groaning release as his warm seed filled her for the first time.

  Slowly and softly, she returned to reality as she lay on top of him. Once his breathing returned to normal, he said, “That was the most earth-shattering experience of my life.”

  “It was beyond my wildest expectations. I never knew it could be so overpoweringly exquisite.” As she lay there, she listened to the steady beat of his heart, and it gave her a sense of fulfillment she never expected. “Jonathan, I never expected to fall in love like this. When you lay there close to death, I knew my life would never be complete again if I lost you.”