by Tia Siren
''Miss Sharpe has left, she was not what I was looking for in a wife,'' Andrew said frankly.
No, she was fat and ignorant, Julia wanted to say. ''I understand.''
''You are very pretty Julia. You are in fact very beautiful indeed. More beautiful than anyone I have seen since my wife died. Would you allow me to sit next to you?'' When Julia agreed, he sat next to her and took her hand. Julia's heart began to race. What was he doing? Was it her turn now? Of course, if he wanted her she would say yes.
''I want you Julia, you've been driving me wild since you came to the Lodge. I want to take you up to my room and make love to you.''
''Of course, Mr. Andrew if you want me, I will be yours.''
Andrew was expecting more of a fight. She'd agreed far too easily, and he was suddenly deflated. He'd wanted her to struggle and make him work for his conquest. By simply agreeing, she'd taken all the excitement out of it. He would go ahead with it anyway, he thought. She was extremely attractive, and he knew when he saw her naked, he would become excited. And he did. Upstairs with her clothes off Julia looked stunning.
He couldn't take his eyes off her. Her hair flowed over her breasts, hiding them from view. Her thighs were perfectly round and the way her hips cradled her secret place made his penis harder than any woman since his wife. He stepped to her and pushed her hair from her breasts. When he put his hands onto them, she jerked her pelvis forward towards him. She had never seen a male without clothes before, and when Andrew was naked, her eyes wouldn't leave his manhood. She was fascinated by it. He noticed her lick her lips. She was ready he thought. He took her hand and placed it onto his shaft. She looked at him, almost seeking approval. She didn't move her hand at all; she just held him. He showed her by taking her hand and rubbing it up and down, and then he took her other hand, and put it onto his balls. The ease with which she had capitulated had turned him off, but now her innocence was driving him wild. After he'd let her play with him for a while, he noticed that her face was flushed. Carefully, he reached to her and put his hand between her legs. When she opened to him, he could feel that she was ready.
''Lie down,'' he said. ''I'm going to make love to you. I will be gentle with you.'' She knew what he was; she'd seen him with her own eyes lying under that terrible woman, but she trusted him. When he pushed her legs apart and lowered his body to her, she closed her eyes and waited. What she felt next, was unlike anything she'd felt before. As he pushed his penis into her, she felt it parting her, sending tiny waves of pleasure through her. When he pulled back, she thought he was going to pull out of her, and she didn't want that, she pulled his buttocks to her, urging him to push himself all the way back in.
Under him, with his shaft inside her, she looked different. More relaxed, more beautiful. The women he had made love to before had been a desperate bunch. Most had been women so ugly they had been incapable of finding a husband. Most times, he'd only managed to get hard by drinking a lot of wine before the deed. On the odd occasion, one had been pretty enough to excite him, it was her personality that had let her down. He knew Julia's beauty would turn him on for the rest of this life if he wanted her, but he wasn't sure about her personality. She was quiet and shy and having a conversation with her seemed difficult. Perhaps she would mature, but he didn't feel like spending the rest of his life without some kind of mental stimulation.
As his thrusts increased in intensity so did Julia's gasps. She'd started off with a rigid body, her hands flat on the bed. But now she was an active participant. She even had her arms around his neck. Without warning, Julia cried out. It came from nowhere, a huge wave of muscle wrenching pleasure. Her back arched, and he grunted as her womanhood contracted around him. Two seconds more and her first ever orgasm rolled over her. The sight of her shaking beneath him and the tightness of her vagina around his shaft was too much. He'd wanted to last longer, prolong the pleasure, but it was impossible. She excited him far too much. Julia yelped and hugged him to her when she felt his semen flowing into her.
*****
Andrew's father hand given his son three months to leave the house. Oscar and Andrew weren't speaking. Not even Jacqueline's best effort could convince them to sit around the table and talk. ''I've had enough of him and his philandering,'' Oscar had bellowed when she'd approached the subject. Andrew had explained to her that he would never speak to his father again. In the end, Jacqueline had given up and decided to keep out of it.
Five weeks had gone past since Andrew had received his notice to leave, and he was frantically trying to find a place for his family to live. It wasn't easy, nowhere was as child-friendly as the Lodge. Additionally, Andrew was going to be poorer. Mrs. Patterson had cried when Andrew told her that he would have to let her go.
On the third of May, Julia got up and went to teach the children as usual. She was teaching John the names of farm animals when the sight of a sheep made her feel quite ill. She gasped for air and turned the page, but a pig made her feel no better. She ran to the lavatory and emptied the contents of her stomach. This happened every day for a week before Mrs. Patterson noticed.
''You're pregnant,'' she said. ''Have you missed a period?'' Julia nodded and the expression on Mrs. Patterson's face said it all. Julia was beside herself. She hadn't given any thought to becoming pregnant when she'd slept with Andrew. Not for a single second had she stopped to think of the consequences, but now she was fully aware.
In the evening, Julia lay on her bed and thought about her situation. She scolded herself for having been so lethargic since her parents died. Now she was going to be a mother. She had to change her attitude and accept some responsibility for her actions. What would Andrew say? What would he do? Probably send her away with some money, she thought. But she didn't want to go away from him. He was a lovely man, and she loved him, despite his flaws. She promised herself she would fight for him, make him see her for what she was, a confident young woman with his best interests at heart.
That evening Andrew asked her to have dinner with him alone. It was the perfect opportunity to tell him, but she didn't. She would wait.
''Have you found anywhere to live yet?'' she asked him.
Surprised that she'd started the conversation, he thought for a moment. ''No I haven't, but I'm working on it.''
''And what do the children think about having to move?''
''They are upset, of course.''
''Yes they are. Each of them has told me that they are upset. They love this place. Why don't you apologize to your father? Smooth things over with him.''
She'd never spoken to him like this. Not once had she even asked him a question, let alone made a suggestion. ''It's too late for that.''
''But it's so silly.''
When he looked at her, there was a maturity about her that he hadn't noticed before. Something was different about her. She was beautiful but in this mood she was unbelievably attractive. ''I agree. It is silly. I should be able to have who I want to stay, and when I want.''
''Andrew, you may think it rude of me to comment, but according to some of the people around you, you are lost.''
''Lost, lost where?''
''Between finding a replacement for Georgina and bedding any woman who is willing.'' Her heart was beating faster, but now she was going to give her opinion, come what may. ''It's not good for the children, your father is right. You woke me up the other evening. That awful woman was screaming so loudly.'' She glanced at him to make sure he wasn't boiling with anger. ''Then you were outside in the very early morning arguing with her. Really, Andrew, you are lost. One thing I want to say before you have your turn, though, I think your father is being mean, sending you away from here. He seems to have little understanding of how you feel and of what it's doing to the children.''
Andrew didn't say anything; he was impressed that she'd spoken to him in this way. Just what he needed. His thoughts turned to Georgina and how she would have spoken to him if she'd been in Julia's place. In just the same way, he concluded.
*****
Rose Patterson lived in a small house three doors down from her mother. It wasn't a long walk from the Lodge, and Julia had found the way easily. She'd told Mrs. Patterson that she'd met her daughter and that she would like to visit her. Mrs. Patterson had explained how to get there, and Julia had paid careful attention.
''And?'' Mrs. Patterson had said before Julia left on her walk.
''And what, Mrs. Patterson?''
''Have you told him yet?''
''No, but I will very soon.''
Rose's house was small and looked as if it had been wedged between two large houses as an afterthought. It had a thatched roof and smoke rising gently from the chimney. Julia knocked and waited.
''Rose, sorry to bother you. Do you remember me, we met on a walk the other day?''
''Ah, yes,'' Roses' eyes lit up. ''I do. Come in please.''
Inside it was cluttered buy clean. There were only two rooms downstairs. The kitchen was straight ahead and the sitting room off to the right.
''Please sit down. Tea?''
The walk had made Julia thirsty; she nodded. ''Thank you, that would be lovely.''
Rose brought a try with a plain white teapot and two cups. ''So Miss what can I do for you?''
''It's a delicate matter. I need you help.''
Rose liked it when she could help people. She was by nature a giver. Unfortunately, she'd never been asked by a man to give herself, but she remained hopeful. ''Anything, just ask.''
''You have a dog do you not?''
''Yes, Charlie. He's out in the garden at the moment.''
''I need you to look after some dogs. You must not tell anybody, and nobody must see you with them. Just for few days. I'll bring them to you.''
''Do you have dogs then?'' Rose wanted to know.
''No, they aren't my dogs. Don't ask me anymore because I cannot tell you. All I can tell you is that by looking after them, you will be helping a good many people out of a miserable situation.''
''Of course. Just bring them to me when you are ready.''
''But please remember, tell nobody and don't let anybody see you with them. Especially your mother.''
Rose nodded, enjoying the mystery.
*****
Julia had paid very careful attention over the previous two weeks. She'd watched from her bedroom window each evening as Oscar put his two Spaniels, Dragoon, and Oliver into their kennel. She'd seen where he left the leads, and where he'd hung the key to the lock that fastened the wire mesh door. In the middle of the night, she crept out of the house and across the lawn. The dogs were more interested in the meat she was carrying than barking at her. She unlocked the door and put the key back. She took the leads and tied the dogs to them. Closing the door behind her, she set off to Rose's house. Luckily it was a moonlit night, and Julia was able to see well. Rose was surprised to see Julia in the middle of the night but took the dogs into her house and promised she would keep quiet about it.
*****
''Andrew,'' Oscar shouted at the top of his voice. ''Andrew.'' Andrew fastened his dressing gown and answered the door. ''Have you seen the dogs,'' Oscar said his face flushed with anxiety.
''No, I haven't. Father, it's only six thirty.''
''But I always take them for a walk at this time. They aren't in their kennel.''
''Well maybe you didn't shut the door properly.''
''Of course, I did. I lock it every evening without fail. Oh, where can they be?''
''I have no idea. I'm sure they'll return when they're hungry.
At ten o'clock the police arrived at Thorpe Hall. Oscar had called them and asked them to investigate the theft of his dogs. But the constable and sergeant having looked at the kennel concluded that Oscar had simply forgotten to lock the door.
Oscar put up 'LOST' notices in all the villages around the area, on every lamppost and church notice board. He also told everyone he saw to let him know if they saw a stray Spaniel. He went their favorite walk five times a day hoping to catch a glimpse of them.
''Miss Julia, I am at my whits end. I have no idea where they can be,'' he said when he met her walking across the lawn. 'It's heartbreaking.''
After five days, Julia couldn't bear to see Oscar in such a state, and she decided to put him out of his misery. She went to Rose's and took the dogs. On the way home, she let them off the lead. They ran around sniffing and chasing rabbits but stayed with her. As she approached Thorpe Hall, Oscar was in the garden about to set off on one of his search missions. When he saw Julia arrive with the two dogs, he ran toward them. Happy to see their master after five days in a shed, they danced around him and jumped up at him. When Julia looked at him, he had tears of joy in his eyes.
''Thank you, Julia. Thank you so much,'' he gushed. ''Where on earth were they?''
''I have no idea, they seemed to find me when I went for a walk this afternoon. It's most strange, but they're back now.''
''Well please come to dinner this evening, I want to thank you.''
*****
Andrew asked Helen to sit with him again that evening but she told him she was going to Oscar's for dinner. Andrew was quite put out but realized it would have been difficult for her to say no under the circumstances.
Oscar and Femke welcomed Julia to their home as a hero. Femke was sixty-four, tall and elegantly dressed in an evening gown. Julia had also dressed for the occasion. ''You look very beautiful,'' Oscar said, his wife agreed. He gave her a glass of champagne and made a toast, ''to Julia and the dogs.''
''Do you mind if I ask you a question?'' Julia asked Oscar at dinner.
''No, please do.''
''How did you feel when you discovered that the dogs had escaped.''
''Terrible, it was one of the worst moments in my life.''
''And what did you do to find them?''
''Too many things to mention, really. I went to every village, put up notices, spoke of it to anyone I met and walked several times each day shouting their names.''
''And how did you feel when you saw them again?''
''It was a magnificent moment. Apart from the day, I married Femke, the best day of my life.''
''Please excuse me for being blunt now.'' Oscar and his wife looked at each other. ''Before your dogs disappeared, you didn't know what it was like to lose something so precious to you that it hurts. No hurt is the wrong word, kills you is better. How painful it can be. And in your case we are only talking about dogs. Think how your son feels? He has lost a wife that was a thousand times more precious to him than any dog could ever be.'' Femke looked at Oscar and nodded in recognition of what Julia was saying. ''I implore you, please think of that, and try to understand Andrew's behavior over the last few months, was born out of nothing other than a real longing to have back what he lost, namely his beloved wife.''
*****
Andrew came back into the house with a grin on his face. ''Father has apologized to me, unreservedly. He told me he had no idea how hard it's been for me, and that he can now understand why I have been so lost.'' He looked at Julia, who was grinning and smiled. ''It was you wasn't it? It was you who made him see it.''
''Of course not. Your father came to that conclusion himself.''
''I don't believe you. Julia, I......''
''No, Andrew, me first. I have something important to tell you. I'm pregnant.''
Andrew wasn't upset or shocked; he was delighted. ''I was hoping that's what you were going to say.'' He took her into his arms. ''Julia please stay here, with me and the children and our child. I have fallen in love with you.''
''I would like that very much. I'm in love with you too.''
As they kissed, the children ran into the room.
****
THE END
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The Devil and the Duke – A Regency Romance
Lady Catherine Dalton turned the small slip of paper over in her delicate hands for the hundredth time since she had received the note. She had recognized the writing right away, the slanting letters looking as they had been written hastily. But she knew Dominick never wrote quickly, his handwriting was simply woefully poor.
Catherine sat in her room, having just gotten dressed for her short journey. She was wearing a gown of blue with white baubles sewn into the skirt, which shimmered when they caught the light every time she took a step. The neck was low, enough to expose the top of her rounded breasts, shoved upwards by an uncomfortable corset that had been strapped to her by Bethany, the servant who she had known since she was just a baby, nineteen years ago.
She just managed to sit on the edge of her four-poster bed and pull on her shoes, ankle length boots of a sort, with small heels upon them. She stood then, and looked down, using her palms to smooth out the skirt of her dress.
“You look great,” a voice said from her doorway. Catherine looked up to see Rebecca, her oldest sister standing there. She had her arms folded across her chest.
“Thank you,” Catherine said in a voice she had hoped was pleasant.
“Where are you going? It’s almost dark,” Rebecca said.
And indeed, it was. Behind Catherine lay a window, and she turned her head to peer out of it. The sky was a brilliant orange, painted that way by a sun which was practically falling from the sky, aiming to hide itself behind the horizon. There were clouds, but they were nothing more than silvery wisps in the sky, few and far between.
