To Be by Your Side
Page 9
George turned his head and suckled on one of her breasts through the material of chemise, causing the nipple to harden and become erect. With his one free hand, he palmed her other breast, realising that she burned with arousal from this particular ministration.
‘George,’ Evelyn whimpered, ‘I need you so much.’
‘I know, honey.’ His voice now lower and huskier from his own arousal. ‘Rock against my finger, Evie. I want to see you when you come.’
‘Mm, come?’
‘Climax,’ he said shortly.
‘Oh, then I really want to come, too,’ she moaned.
George changed his strokes and slowly added a second finger. Next, he went to suckle the breast he hadn’t given any attention. His Evie was all combustible energy and desire, a magnificent creature that was overlooked for, at first for her failing sight and later adding her age to the list. But dear Lord, he felt at home doing this with Evelyn.
He moaned, his cock rubbing against Evelyn between the material of their garments. The friction was both ecstasy and irritating.
‘Oh...yes, yes, yes... George, yes...’ Evelyn cried out, babbling as she found her climax.
George’s engorged cock was throbbing, the tip leaking profusely.
They stilled and Evelyn took long moments to catch her breath.
‘What about you, George?’ she asked breathlessly. ‘What can I do for you?’ Evelyn sounded rather uncertain. George opened the front of his drawers, yet conversely he wanted nothing more than to soothe her qualms.
‘Here.’ His voice was harsh from the unfulfilled and raw need. ‘Just stroke me with your hand.’ George took one of her hands and guided her so that she wrapped her hand around his cock.
She didn’t think she had felt anything quite as hard before in her life. He was so hard, yet as smooth as Italian marble. George moaned out her name as she continued stroking. Evelyn plied her thumb and index finger to the bulbous head, which was almost spongy. She felt drops of moisture at the tiny hole at the tip. The blatant exploration of a male body during extreme pleasure made her body tingle with pleasure once more.
‘Stroke the shaft,’ George ordered, gritting the words through his teeth. ‘Fuck, I am not going to last long at all.’
Evelyn just hummed happily as she got the idea of what she was doing.
He tipped his head back against the cold wall, squeezing his eyes shut. ‘Fuck, Evie.’ She made strong, sweeping strokes, her hand brushing against the hair that protected his balls and cock. Then the bloody minx squeezed on his shaft gently and he could not help but buck his hips into her fist. ‘Fuck, yes, Evie! God, yes!’
George tried to look at Evelyn. The problem, which really was not a problem, was that she tipped him over the edge so far and so fast. He squeezed his eyes shut, moaning deeply.
He literally roared her name when he pumped his seed into her hand. Evelyn gently stoked him, instinctively knowing to continue the more gentle touch as his hard cock gradually went down. His seed landed in spurts in her hand and on her chemise.
George panted as he began to catch his breath. He moaned softly and pulled her down to kiss more.
‘Fuck,’ he groaned. ‘That was...that was...’
‘Amazing,’ Evelyn sighed.
‘Seems inadequate.’ He sighed, too, unable to form coherent sentences. ‘Christ, Evie, you are so beautiful.’
He ran a finger down the side of her face. She was flushed pink in the afterglow and they both had the slightest sheen of sweat over their skin.
‘I have a handkerchief,’ he told her gently. ‘Let me clean us up.’
‘I don’t want to move.’ She leaned into his shoulder.
‘It won’t be pleasant when my seed dries,’ he told her gently. ‘Let me clean us and then we can cuddle a bit.’
‘Mm, fine,’ she muttered reluctantly.
‘So much passion in such a beautiful body,’ he told her. ‘I feel I should be thanking God or whatever deity.’ George chuckled. ‘And that was just from touching. I have not even made love to you with my cock inside you yet.’
Evelyn didn’t say anything. She seemed just as shaken from the passion but instead of rambling like George, she was quiet in her awe and emotion. Without much protest, she allowed him to clean them both up. Then, just as he promised, George held her close to his chest, kissing her on the top of her head.
‘I wish we could stay like this forever,’ Evelyn finally said softly.
‘Indeed, as do I,’ he admitted softly. ‘But life and reality beckon. We promised your cousin we would not be long.’
‘I know,’ she replied, ‘though it does not stop me from wishing.’
‘We can contrive to be together for the rest of this week,’ he whispered. ‘After that, perhaps I shall ask your brother permission to write to you.’
‘As long as you know it is Katie or James that read my letters to me.’ She giggled, a strange sound, she thought idly. ‘I would not want to be too specific about intimacies.’
George hummed softly. ‘Of course not. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt your reputation, honey.’ He smiled against her hair. ‘However, we can discuss where we would be while everyone is out of London. We could meet up more.’
‘I go to Bath for the small Season in six weeks,’ she told him. ‘Do you go to Bath?’
‘Not every year,’ he replied, ‘but I do believe that this year I have some motivation to go.’
Chapter 9
Over the coming nine days of the house party, George was able to steal more than a few moments with Evelyn. He had sent his secretary to the village soon after he and Evelyn returned from the ruins to procure the contraceptives. The time in the Saxon tower had come with clarity as well as pleasure. On the walk back to the main house, George knew more than anything else that he wanted Evelyn to be his wife and for her to bear his children. However, he was determined to do everything properly.
The picnic shortly after their return also worked to clarify his intentions as he watched Evelyn play with the little girl she had adopted. The girl was utterly adorable, smart as a whip, and it was clear that the girl, Ruby, and Evelyn loved each other. It was a breathtaking scene which again had him wondering about what a child from he and Evelyn would look like.
That night, free to mull over things, he decided that he would speak to Dalton at the end of the house party. He would ask permission to write Evelyn, to approach her in Bath. Finally, he concluded, he would tell Dalton of his intention to ask Evelyn to be his wife. Since the thought occurred to him earlier in the day it was relentlessly popping up and he knew he had made his mind up.
George had not been able to see Evelyn alone until two days after their time in the tower.
Granted, the day before he had briefly seen Evelyn with her daughter and he had said hello to the gorgeous little mite. It probably did not help, a revelation only known between himself, his ex-wife and Evelyn—and possibly whoever his ex-wife told or got aid from—that he could have been a father already. His ex-duchess had killed three potential children on purpose. One of them would have been approximately the same age as Ruby if it had been given a chance. George still found this fact difficult to comprehend and thought that he was rather silly that he sometimes grieved. Although, of course, Evelyn did not think he was silly at all in doing this.
The day he got to see Evelyn was the day of a planned scavenger hunt. Evelyn did not go, though urged her cousin to accompany her brother in her stead. A few others also opted out, but for the most part most of the guests joined in. He had found Evelyn playing the piano. They stole away to an unused hunter’s cabin near a wooded area, where they made love. It had been one of the single most pleasurable and life-altering experiences of George’s life. He had not wanted to leave her body after spending his load, but the sheath was not entirely comfortable. Evelyn had straddled his hips and rode his cock hard. She had declared that it was her favourite position and George really could not argue with her. If nothing else, it would
be most un-gentlemanly to argue with a lady.
On the third day all they had was a stolen moment. He had sat down and Evelyn faced him, much like when they had been in the tower.
The fourth and fifth days he had not been able to see Evelyn without her companion or daughter or brother.
The sixth day had been most intriguing and had sent him another moment of clarity. The day had started off most pleasurably. He and Evelyn had once again been able to find enough time alone to be together again, this time in his guest chamber after much of the guests had gone on an organised hunt. The same passion, awe, and wonderment were still there. This time, he had made love to her with them both on their knees and entering her from behind. Evelyn also claimed to love this new position, too, particularly because of the way that he touched her while he moved inside her.
The intriguing part had come in the late evening. The ladies were doing whatever it was they did before retiring. He, of course, was with the gentlemen, drinking a nip of port and having the odd conversation. George was approached by Matthew Ashton, who was attending with his wife and one of his cousin Lauren’s brothers-in-law. When Ashton asked to speak in private they moved outside, away from the other men.
‘What is it, Ashton?’ George asked, confused as to what they would have to say to each other.
‘I noticed that you are giving attention to Lady Evelyn,’ Ashton said. ‘She is a good lady of a good family—and a friend of my family,’ he explained. ‘I do not wish to see her ruined by you.’
‘What makes you think I would ruin the lady? That is not my intention. Besides, this is a conversation I much prefer to be having with Lord Dalton.’ George really didn’t have the patience. He much preferred to go to bed, stroking himself, thinking about what he and Evelyn had done in the same bed just that morning.
‘Nothing, Windermere,’ Ashton told him. ‘I am merely a friend and wish to look out for Lady Evelyn. She is a wonderful lady.’
It was on the tip of George’s tongue to ask why he did not marry Evelyn instead.
That was when he experienced his moment of clarity.
He was damn sure that the lover who had thoroughly broke her heart and rejected her after deeming her too improper for marriage was Matthew Ashton. Of course, though, he needed to confirm this before punching the man’s teeth in.
On the seventh day, George thought he quite ruined the romantic feel of things while he and Evelyn joined the house party’s adventure to the ruins. Rushmore and Dalton laughed, recalling how Evelyn as a child had demanded to play knights and kings with Dalton and Rushmore and his three brothers as a child. As the story went, Evelyn was always made the damsel whom the knight had to save from the evil king or even an evil dragon. The imagery made George smile.
George and Evelyn were wandering around the ruins, the sun was shining, and they were far enough away from others it felt like they were alone. However, when he had a chance alone, he had told Evelyn about his conversation with Matthew Ashton the night before and his suspicions.
‘Matthew Ashton was the one to break your heart, wasn’t he?’
Evelyn drew in a sharp breath. She shook her head rapidly, as though she was trying to forget her past. She could not possibly allow George to know more of her foolishness.
‘Evelyn, I know the repercussion more than anyone if this was to become public knowledge,’ he appealed. Evelyn knew as much as George she placed a great deal of trust in him. ‘You have trusted me with so much.’
Evelyn opened her mouth but no words came out.
‘Please,’ George asked gently.
She worried on her bottom lip. ‘No one else knows, George.’
‘You can trust me.’ George placed his hand on hers as though he was trying to comfort her.
‘You cannot tell anyone,’ she replied. ‘It was right before his engagement to his wife was announced.’ She shook her head. ‘I prefer to forget it, too. I think with him, I was in love with the notion of love. I may have been twenty and six, but I didn’t know anything. Perhaps I was just lonely.’
George sighed heavily. ‘Very well, but do note that I wish to punch the smirk off the idiot’s face. I knew there was a reason he has always irritated me.’
She giggled then. The imagery he conjured in her mind was just too absurd for words. ‘And I will tell you again what I told you long ago—you best get in line behind James and my Uncle Thomas.’
‘And they don’t know his identity?’
‘Do you think that my brother would willingly talk to him if he knew?’
George frowned. ‘Good point.’ Grimacing, he said, ‘As tactless and callous as this sounds, though, I like it that he didn’t know what a gem you are, because now I have a chance.’
‘I would not say callous. Perhaps tactless.’ Evelyn laughed. ‘Maybe more insensitive when it comes to your rather masculine feelings.’
‘You almost make it sound like a good thing.’ George chuckled. Then added solemnly, ‘But I promise. I will not tell anyone.’
‘If the idiot acts like that, though,’ Evelyn said, ‘people might well find out and it does not even matter. It was years ago.’
‘You cannot believe that, Evelyn,’ he reasoned with her. ‘What lady would think that way? Especially if the lady is one as pure as you.’
‘What else can I say?’ she asked him. ‘What more can I do? I have done my part to prevent scandal. James has done his part to protect me.’ She was well and truly frustrated now. It looked as though she was ready to weep. ‘He—Matthew—is the one that seems ready to ruin everything.’
‘If he knows what is good for him.’ George sighed. ‘And I am certain he knows. Then Matthew would keep things firmly in the past, just as you have.’ He tried to reassure her. ‘He, too, has a lot to lose.’
‘But he will not lose like I will,’ Evelyn reasoned.
‘Yes, well, we can hope that this was a mere moment of madness.’ George shook his head, unable to find anything else to say that would help her.
‘He does seem rather prone to moments of madness.’ She exhaled slowly. ‘And now it seems we have come full circle. I have to think this way or else there is despair.’
‘There is always hope.’
She let out a rather unladylike snort.
George sighed. ‘What can I say? The man must be the village idiot.’
Evelyn laughed again, the frustration from moments ago slowly evaporating.
The eighth day was rather and disappointingly uneventful. Except for that fact that evening George approached Dalton to speak once more about Evelyn. The Earl of Dalton didn’t seem at all surprised for the most part and suggested that they speak in Rushmore’s study.
‘I take it you wish to speak about Evelyn?’ Dalton asked. ‘You and my sister have spent a significant amount of time together, both here and in London.’
‘And I would very much like it to continue, Dalton,’ he decided to say directly to the man. ‘To be perfectly honest, I have great regard and feeling for your sister. I would like to very much gain permission to write to her after we leave here tomorrow.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Lady Evelyn also spoke of going to Bath and I would very much like to call on her there.’
‘Really?’ Dalton asked, cocking his eyebrow. ‘And why would I allow this?’
‘Evelyn has the same regard for me,’ George replied, ‘and I would very much like your blessings to ask her to be my wife.’
Dalton grunted. ‘Well, I cannot say that I am wholly surprised. Yet I wonder, my sister cannot see—’
‘Evelyn told me that she can and new eye lenses are being developed,’ he said, ‘and even if they were not, I don’t believe I want to be with your sister for her eyes, as beautiful as they are.’
This time the Earl snorted in what George thought was amusement. He was beginning to squirm and Evelyn’s brother seemed to enjoy it. It was clear that the two were brother and sister.
‘And do I need to add that my sister is almost thirty?’
‘Ah, the mutual feeling and regard.’
‘Indeed.’ George nodded.
‘And this would be...?’
George eyed the Earl of Dalton. ‘If you are fishing to find out if I love your sister, do you not think that is something I should tell her first before admitting it to her brother?’
Dalton thought for a moment. ‘That is a good answer. I like that.’ He chuckled then.
‘The two of you are very much alike.’
Dalton grinned at that. ‘Thank you,’ he drawled. He cleared his throat. ‘And Ruby? I’ve seen that you have been around my niece. She is dear to all of us. You realise that if you wed my sister you would have to be father to Ruby, too.’
‘She is a wonderful child, a credit to both you and Evelyn,’ George replied honestly. ‘I have no qualms whatsoever being a father to her.’
Dalton thought for a long moment, then nodded. ‘Very well, whatever Evelyn decides—to be your wife or not—I will support her. I cannot complain. You are a good man and you appear to be good to both Evelyn and Ruby. As long as she is happy, I will be happy.’
‘Thank you.’ George nodded. ‘You are a good brother, Dalton.’
‘So trying to get on my good side, Windermere,’ Dalton warned, chuckling. ‘At any rate, I think it best you call me James now.’
‘And I am George.’
‘Remember, George,’ James said as they went to leave the study. ‘I support my sister, whatever decision she makes about her future. I ask that if she says no, that you respect her decision.’
‘Of course, James.’
He only saw Evelyn briefly on the ninth day before the Mayhew entourage left the Rushmore estate. He left his cousin’s estate after lunch. He was one of the final guests to leave. Matthew Ashton sent a couple of glowering looks his way but George ignored them.
He was happy. He had his girl. He didn’t care what his cousin’s idiotic brother-in-law said or did. He had no idea if the man was happy or unhappy in his marriage, but either way it didn’t matter because he knew that Evelyn no longer held feelings for her old lover.