Portrait of a Scandal

by Danielle Lisle

  “It needs to cool first, my Lady. Once applied, it should heal the wounds in her mouth by the morrow.”

  “That is fast indeed. Your father taught you how to make the paste?”

  “He did, my Lady.”

  “Well, I thank you in advance for tending to her so diligently. I am indeed grateful. If you have any problems, say, ‘Beruhigen sie wenig einen’. It means, ‘Calm, little one’.”

  The footman repeated the phrase, and she only had to replicate it once more before he could say it correctly. He was repeating it quietly under his breath as he and the other footman departed the room.

  “You have taken quite a liking to the young footman,” Thomas said, sounding curious.

  “Indeed, as I have with most of the staff. Tell me, did he apply for the footman’s position in this household first?”

  Thomas paused, his brow dipped in frown before he looked to Parker.

  The man stepped forward. “He inquired about a groom’s position firstly, my Lady. However, the grooms from the previous household stayed when his Lordship purchased the house. He was then taken on as the second footman, and has since moved into the position as first footman.”

  Nellie nodded. “I had expected he would prefer to be a groom rather than a footman.”

  “But a footman earns twice what a groom does,” Thomas pointed out. “He does not seem to dislike his post. In fact, I have always found him rather attentive.”

  “I am sure he is. It is not always money which drives our motivations in life, though it does supply a grand driving force. There is simply no greater reward than doing what we love most.”

  Thomas sat back in his chair and regarded her oddly. “Would you have me move him to a position as a groom, demoting him from his current post?”

  “That is not what I said at all. I simply think since we have the power to do so, we can offer to others what they desire—even if it is not full time, but in part, we can bring them happiness. I believe Geoff receives great pleasure in working with the horses, and already I trust him to tend to such an animal as Karla. A little faith can go a long way to not only ensuring loyal and happy staff, but also a pleasant and well-run household.”

  Still, Thomas regarded her, with slight amusement now. “You speak with so much wisdom for someone so young.”

  “Young? You think me a child?” she all but snapped.

  Her husband’s lips twitched. “Hardly. I find your insight enlightening, that is all. I agree with you. If a member of this house has an interest or desire to assist in other areas, I would be happy to grant them their wish if it is within my power. Parker, keep that in mind should the situation arise.”

  The man bowed. “As his Lordship wishes.”

  Nellie sensed surprise, but approval, from the butler and as he rose from his bow, their eyes met and she knew she had found an ally in this man. He offered her a nod as he stepped back against the wall, attempting to blend in with the tapestries.

  “I received a reply from my saddler.”

  Thomas’ words recaptured Nellie’s attention. “Oh?”

  “Yes, he is to come today and fit Karla for a saddle. He is regarded as the best in London. I assure you, you will be pleased with his work.”

  She smiled at him. “I am sure I will.”

  “He is to arrive this morning. I thought it best that you be on hand, should your mare not take well to him,” Thomas said, with a glint of enjoyment.

  “Indeed, husband. After all, I have a way with the beast.”

  Nellie felt the smile spread across her face as her husband’s eyes darkened.

  * * * *

  Nellie stood back and watched in amusement as Geoff attempted to speak to her horse in German. It appeared from her unobserved vantage that her mare understood his intention, no matter how poor the attempt. Karla leaned into him and eagerly opened her mouth for him to apply the ointment. However, once she had experienced the taste, she all but attempted to demolish the bowl Geoff held.

  “Yes, I know it is tasty, but let me work it into your gums, then I will give you the rest,” Geoff pleaded as he struggled with the eager horse.

  O’Malley attempted to hold the horse still, but Nellie noted it was a trifle difficult since the boy stood as far away from Geoff as he could, his nose wrinkled. “God, that stuff is foul! How can she desire to eat it?”

  “I have not the faintest inkling, but she is not acting any differently to any other horse I have attempted to administer it to in the past.”

  Nellie watched the scene unfold and chuckled to herself as Geoff seemingly finished, surrendering the bowl to the animal with a sigh.

  “It all went well, then?” she asked, and approached.

  O’Malley straightened and moved closer to Karla. He patted the horse’s neck and offered Nellie a smile, likely trying to cover the fact he had been disgusted moments ago. She was sure he would have been rather embarrassed to learn of his audience.

  “Indeed,” Geoff said as he wiped his brow and retrieved the wooden bowl now it was licked clean.

  Karla turned her attention to Nellie as she spoke to her in German. She was not under any illusions that the horse could understand her—she simply thought the remembered tongue would make the horse feel more at ease. Still, the animal seemed a lot more content than she had yesterday.

  She turned to the groom. “How has she settled in, then?”

  “Well, m’Lady,” O’Malley offered, puffing out his chest as if he had just returned home a conquering hero.

  “I am glad to hear it,” she said, but the sound of hooves caught her attention.

  A hooded gig came down the lane to the stables with a lone man driving the one-horse carriage at a trot. Nellie took Karla’s rope and nodded to O’Malley, who ran forward to hold the carriage-horse while the man dismounted. The man took one look at her and froze, seeming staggered. What? Do the ladies of London never leave their homes?

  “Lady Sterling?” he asked warily.

  “Indeed. Am I correct in assuming you are my husband’s saddler?”

  He nodded and dismounted quickly. “Indeed. I am Mr Graves. Forgive me if I am late.”

  “My husband did not give me an expected time of your arrival. However, he did expect you in the morning, so you are hardly late,” she said with a smile. “We have just been tending to my new mare for an ailment. Your timing is perfect, in fact.”

  The man, once settled into his task of measuring Karla, seemed rather talkative. Soon they were in a friendly debate over breeds of horses and which were the finest.

  “Mr Graves, I do agree that the Thoroughbred and Arab breeds are supreme when it comes to speed, but they will not get you far if endurance is required. Sometimes the strongest farm horse can be a better steed in the right situation,” she offered.

  He laughed openly. “Indeed, that is sure the truth, but it seems a wee bit hypocritical coming from a lady such as yourself, with a well bred Warmblood such as this steed here is.”

  She laughed. “Indeed, a hypocrite is a fair assessment of me, sir.”

  “That seems harsh, wife.”

  Nellie looked around to catch Thomas’ amused face as he walked towards them.

  “Morning, my Lord,” Mr Graves offered with a tilt of his hat before he went back to measuring Karla.

  “I understand why you like Mr Graves here, husband. He is a charming fellow,” Nellie said, offering the man in question a smile.

  He preened at the praise. “That is a kind thing to say, your Ladyship.”

  She waved his comments away and smiled at Thomas as he came beside her, offering her mare a pat for her good behaviour. Karla had stood still the whole time, with the exception of flicking her ears or tail when a fly became annoying.

  “All right, I think I have everything I need,” the middle-aged man said with warm regard.

  * * * *

  “I have an outing planned for us tonight,” Thomas said, as they made their way towards the parlour for tea, after the
saddler had left and the staff had gone back to their tasks.

  “Oh?”

  “Indeed. It is a casual affair. We will depart after dinner.”

  She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him. “And I am not to know where we are to travel, my Lord?”

  He chuckled. “It is a surprise, my dear, so one does generally not learn of the location until after they arrive.”

  Nellie’s lips twitched of their own accord. He had bought her a horse she adored, provided her with night-times filled with sinful pleasure, and yet he had more surprises in store for her? Life was grand indeed.

  Chapter Ten

  Thomas was acting rather enigmatically, and Nellie did not know whether to be amused or irritated by it. He had dismissed all the staff for the evening, then they had departed the townhouse steps and climbed into a waiting hired carriage. Nellie thought it all rather odd, but he had offered her a reassuring smile and gently squeezed her fingers before she had had a chance to question him.

  She decided to simply await the revelation of his secretive plans for their evening, but she could not push down the bubble of excitement as it built inside her. Where were they going?

  They finally came to a halt and Thomas opened the door, descended from the carriage, then turned back to her, holding out his hand to assist her. As she exited the carriage, more confusion met her. They had arrived at what looked to be the service entrance to a large London home.

  Nellie looked up at the stone structure and frowned. “Thomas?”

  He smiled and leant forward, kissing her firmly on the lips. “Trust me, my dear. Your happiness is all I seek.”

  Her frown deepened. What an odd thing to say. But before she had had time to question him, he ushered her into the home. He clearly knew the property well, opening doors and ascending stairs until he led her into a room. The house had been in total darkness—the only light illuminating the way was the single candle Thomas had lit as they had entered. He placed it on a small table and as she looked around the dim room, her eyes landed on a strange looking chair in its centre, yet she could hardly see it. There were no windows and they had climbed a fair amount of stairs to reach this room. Were they in an attic?

  Thomas moved in front of her then, standing between her and the chair, his hand not releasing hers.

  “Where are we, Thomas?” she asked, no longer able to remain silent.

  “Our location is not important,” he answered cryptically. “What is worth knowing is that you are about to experience what you most desired last night.”

  Last night? All she could recall of last night was the mind-blowing orgasm she had experienced under Thomas’ hands. Never had she thought pleasure such as that existed.

  “Am I?”

  “Indeed.”

  Regardless of the lack of light, Thomas watched her with sharp eyes, as if gauging her reaction. Nellie was not sure what he sought or what it was she desired until he pulled her towards him gently. She stepped forward willingly as the hand which held her slipped around her back and rested on the curve of her bottom.

  She sighed, her eyes feeling heavy as she leaned into him and pressed her lips to his mouth. Never had she craved anything as much as she craved his touch. Thomas met her lazy kiss with a more demanding one, quickly building excitement within her. She took a deep breath, winding her arms around his shoulders, loving the feel of his strong, solid body as she drew in his scent. How she relished touching him.

  Nellie aligned her body with his, her lips curving against his smile as she rubbed against his stiff cock. He wanted her and she felt like a princess at the knowledge. He tightened his hand on her rear and slid his other hand around to join it. She stretched her fingers into his hair, moulding them against his scalp as she felt the ribbons of her dress loosen. He massaged her rear gently as she eagerly mapped his mouth with her tongue. She adored the taste of him, yet tonight his flavour was mixed with a more potent blend of brew. Whisky?

  Her dress finally began to sag and she pushed away from Thomas to allow it to fall, but as she did so, she moved into a solid wall behind her. Nellie froze. They were in the middle of the room, she was sure of it, and she snapped her eyes open to confirm this. Thomas watched her, his eyes fixed on her for a moment before he pulled her back to him, his hands still on her rear.

  More fingers suddenly brushed the back of her shoulder and Nellie didn’t know what to do. Thomas did not make a move to kiss her again. Instead, he continued to watch her as she felt the other set of hands shift to the ribbons of her corset, quickly undoing it. Thomas removed his grasp on her for long enough to allow the garment to fall down her body before he resumed his hold on her rear.

  Another was in the room with them! Confirmation shone in Thomas’ eyes, and she had no idea what to do. Should she run from the room? Cover herself and chastise her husband for not discussing the situation with her first? She was debating this when he spoke.

  “Two cocks in you at once. It was what you craved last night. Was it not?”

  Nellie’s mind abandoned its rapid torrent of questions and came to a startling halt. She had said that. She recalled that while she had been on the edge of slumber, those words had indeed toppled from her lips.

  The unknown third person in the room pulled her shift over her head, and Nellie stood exposed and naked. Thomas wanted this? Wanted to share her? A pang of disappointment welled up inside her. She should have known this day would come, but only days into their marriage? It came with the realisation that she loved Thomas. Loved him with her whole heart.

  Firm hands shaped her ribs before they rose to cup her breasts. Thomas took a step back and it suddenly dawned on her that it was not Thomas who now touched her, but another man.

  The man’s lips brushed the back of her neck before gliding up to the back of her ear, his tongue slipping out to map her delicate flesh. Was it wrong that she tilted her head to allow him better access? Was it wrong that her eyelids became heavy as he plucked her nipples and pulled her back against him? His body was hot, as was the heavy erection that came to rest in the crack of her arse. He was naked! A moan slipped from her lips.

  Movement in front of her caught Nellie’s attention and she forced her eyes to Thomas as he removed his clothing, his eyes still firm on her face. Did he enjoy watching someone else touch her? Did she mean that little to him that he held no concern about letting another man touch her, in a way she had only ever planned to offer her husband? Yet, she was not stopping this man. Why not?

  One of the anonymous man’s hands left her breast and she heard herself whimper in protest. Did she hold no shame? But as he moved down her body and his fingers wove through the tight curls of her sex, Nellie let her head fall back onto this man’s shoulder and she closed her eyes, not wanting to know to whom Thomas had offered her. The man slipped his fingers between her cunt lips and slid into her damp channel. Heat had built without her even knowing it, and at that knowledge, her already stiff nipples tightened further. He slid his fingers along her slickness, placing a small amount of pressure on her clit. She whimpered and pushed her arse back against him, rocking her hips.

  “Come to me, wife.”

  Nellie forced herself to look at Thomas, who now sat in the strange-looking chair, his feet resting wide upon the floor. It had no armrests, but planks of wood running diagonally, at a slight diagonal angle towards the floor, with notches carved into the wood.

  The man behind her moved forward, urging her towards Thomas before the body heat behind her withdrew. Thomas did not give her time to mourn the loss. He reached out and took her hand, pulling her to him.

  “Place your feet on the wood on either side of the chair and sit on my lap, facing me.”

  Nellie did as she had been told. She had come this far and it seemed a shame to turn back now. She loved Thomas, and if this was what he wanted of her, she would do it…just this once. It was not as though she had not enjoyed it so far. She rose up, placing her feet into the notches on both sides and sat o
n his naked thighs. Thomas pulled her forward, so her chest rested on his and his hard cock was stiff between them.

  He took possession of her mouth in the most carnal way. The kiss was full of power and possession but if that was the case, why was he sharing her? But Nellie no longer wanted to question her husband—instead she renounced herself to the pleasure around her and kissed him back fiercely. Threading her hands around his neck, Nellie poured everything she held within herself into him. She loved him. It hurt that he could never truly love her in return—he wouldn’t if he knew her true character, her shame…

  Suddenly Thomas lifted her and slammed her body back down, impaling her on his hard cock. All the breath within her left her body in a rush. Her back arched and a moan, so deep it rumbled in her chest, bubbled up and escaped her lips. It felt so long since he had last filled her completely.

  “Hurt her, and I will kill you,” Thomas growled.

  Thomas claimed her lips once more. Nellie rocked against him, loving the feel of Thomas inside her, only to groan in protest as his hands stayed her hips, then moved to her rear and spread her cheeks wide. A moment later, the other man ran his wet finger along the length of her crack and she whimpered into Thomas’ mouth, but he didn’t stop kissing her. The second man then dipped his finger inside her arse. Pleasure built inside Nellie, tiny shudders in her core milking Thomas’ cock. The finger left her only to return moments later, covered in more moisture, delving deeper into her arse. She pushed back against it and the man behind her bit gently into her neck. She wanted his cock in her. How wanton she was! She clenched around his finger and Thomas’ cock. Both men groaned, Thomas in her mouth and the other man against her neck. Then the second man moved away, withdrawing his finger.

  Within moments, she felt the blunt head of his cock against her arse and she couldn’t help but tense.

  “Gently…” Thomas growled, tightening his hands on her flesh.

  Nellie moaned as the man slipped the head of his cock inside her arse. He groaned behind her as he slowly rocked forward, then withdrew before a splash of wetness hit her arse. Oil?