Blushing at Both Ends
Page 24
Grinning, Charles turned to confront Isabel’s furious glare. ‘Disappointed, my sweet?’ he enquired.
‘You tricked me, you – you mountebank!’
‘True, so I did. But since it seemed you were loath to accept a ‘‘pasty-faced tongue-tied youth of no distinction whatever’’, or indeed an ‘‘excellent businessman’’, for your husband, I thought you might find a pirate chieftain more to your taste. For you must admit, my sweet, that our nuptials were anything but dull – as, I hope you’ll agree, was our wedding night.’
To her annoyance, Isabel found herself blushing.
‘I see you concur, my love. Well then, I trust you’ll believe me that I intend our life together to continue as it’s begun. No less romantic, no less exciting, no less filled with love and adventure. But, if you doubt me, sweet Isabel, then your freedom is yours to take this instant.’
He smiled winningly at her. But there was a note of unease in his voice that made her realise he genuinely feared to lose her, and it was that hint of uncertainty that won the day for him. Besides, he was without question devilishly handsome. Still, she could not resist the chance of coquetry. So she kept him on tenterhooks for several moments before saying, ‘Very well, then, I agree – but on three conditions.’
‘And they are?’
‘First, that henceforth you will always be known as Charles.’
‘Agreed.’
‘Second, that I shall be far less a businessman’s wife than a pirate’s bride.’
‘Agreed.’
‘And third that, as pirate or businessman alike, you faithfully keep the promise you made me.’
‘Which promise was that?’
The sound of approaching agitated voices could be heard. She leant forwards and whispered in his ear.
He laughed delightedly. ‘Agreed, with all my heart!’ he cried, and embraced her warmly just as his mother and father and a gaggle of excited servants poured into the hall.
A second wedding followed hard on these events – a rather more formal affair, with a genuine bishop officiating – followed in turn by a long and happy marriage. Not least of the sources of their happiness was that Charles Trevelyan faithfully observed the promise made by the pirate to his bride: that Lady Isabel, that lovely and exceedingly spoilt young woman, should henceforth be soundly spanked at least once a day. And, whenever possible, more often than that.
Acknowledgements
Some of these stories originally appeared in Janus, Februs, Privilege Club, Stand Corrected and on the Shadow Lane website.
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In real life, make sure you practise safe, sane and consensual sex.
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