by Matilda Hart
“I was just coming to say goodbye to the horses.” She stated as she got within earshot of the handsome duke and he looked at her with woe in his eyes.
“Goodbye? You aren’t leaving us, are you?” The expression on his face changed to concern as the thoughts of her leaving flooded his mind.
“I’m afraid so, the country and I just aren’t a good fit, I’m afraid.” She smiled as they walked slowly towards the stall that housed her favorite mare. As she rubbed the beautiful buckskin, she smiled and said, “I’m going to miss you so much, girl.” When she turned her head, Emily noticed that the duke was staring at her lovingly with a look of longing in his eyes.
“What about me? Shall I be missed, as well?” Looking into his cerulean eyes, Emily felt a tugging on her heart that almost made her want to change her mind about leaving. Slightly nodding her head, Emily smiled as she said,
“I might miss you a bit, I suppose.” Taking her by the hand, Trevor pulled her to him and placed his hand on the small of her back as he took the moment to memorize her face.
“Come with me somewhere, I want to show you something.”
After saddling Emily’s mare and a stallion for himself, Trevor and Emily set out on a late night ride so that they could talk before she left for London. He told her of the trepidation he had concerning becoming duke and she told him all about her dreams of living a life in London, far away from the country and anything remotely resembling proper etiquette. She told him that she yearned to have her own life and not have to answer to anyone for anything and that she wished more than anything she wanted to be able to have a life of her own that nobody could take away from her.
“I want to own land and a home of my own one day and if I could do it without a husband, that’s all the better. Marriage is never something that I saw in my future simply because I never thought that a woman could be married and independent at the same time.” Smiling, Trevor looked to her and said,
“You can accomplish anything you want and if you desire to live your own life, any man you choose as your husband will be lucky to tag along for the ride.” She felt as if she could tell him anything and regretted that she’d spent most of her visit trying to deceive him for he seemed to be the only decent person associated with the house of Westminster.
“That’s sweet.” She smiled as she asked, “Where are we going, anyway?” They’d been riding for a while and in the dark she couldn’t really get her bearings so she had to trust that he knew where he was going.
“It is right over this hill, we’re almost there.” He smiled to her in the moonlight and he could see that she was smiling back at him and he’d only wished that he’d had more time with her. It would be a shame for her to go back to London without telling her how he felt but after finding out that she was skeptical about love and marriage, he wondered if he should even let her in on his feelings at all. After a few more moments of riding in silence, he announced their arrival. She could see the shape of what looked to be a small cottage and he walked the horse to the post where he planned to tie his stallion. Emily waited for him to take and tie her rein before she allowed him to help her off her horse.
“What is this place?” She asked as he took her hand, melting another piece of her heart as she felt the touch of his skin.
“This is just a little cottage that I use to escape the demands of my title; my own little safe haven, if you will.” She followed him inside where he found an oil lamp near the entrance and walked inside with her holding his hand tightly.
“It’s so adorable in here,” she said as she took a few steps inside, looking at the paintings on the wall and the creative usage of space.
“I thought you may appreciate a nice, quiet place to let yourself unwind after the grueling night you had.” Appreciating the gesture, Emily placed her hand on his shoulder with a smile and he turned his head to face her and as his eyes caught hers, she felt her knees go weak. She slowly moved towards the pull of his stare as he placed his arm around her waist. Looking into his eyes, she nodded her head and he pulled her closer for a soft kiss. After pulling away from him after the sweet peck, they greedily pulled and caressed each other by the flickering glow of the lamp.
“Yes,” she whispered as she felt his hands on her body, holding her close as he kissed her tender lips. She moaned lightly as he playfully bit her lip and he picked her up, held her close and carried her to the back bedroom. Placing her on the bed, he leaned down and kissed her as she began to unbutton the snaps on her dress but he would have to assist her out of the corset. They each pulled at the other’s clothing until they were finally undressed and when she sat on the bed, he looked at her as best he could with only the faint glow of the lamp shining from the other room. Raising her arms to him, Emily whispered,
“Come to me,” and Trevor happily did as she requested. He joined her on the bed and the two became one in a passionate embrace as he kissed her deeply. Feeling himself growing, he wanted to please her fully so that she would have an amazing memory to remember her by. Kissing his way down her throat, his lips landed on one of her full breast while the other was discovered by his curious hand. She moaned as his warm tongue encircled her nipple and she tossed her head to the side as she felt her body becoming covered in goosebumps. His hands ran down her body and his mouth followed, kissing trails down her stomach then further to the yearning ache between her thighs. She let out a slight squeal when she felt the warmth of his mouth on her most feminine of areas and as his tongue began to explore her in the region where she’d never before been kissed, Emily allowed a low, guttural moan to escape her lips. Trevor inhaled her musky scent and moaned as he felt the immediate need to take her but he wanted to make sure that she was more than satisfied before he even got started. Placing two fingers inside of her, Trevor made Emily moan louder as the sensations coursed through her body. Her hips bucked towards his mouth as her breathing quickened and she placed her hand on the back of his head as she moaned,
“Yes, oh, Trevor.” The sensations he was giving her were driving her wild as he began to moan with more fervor and zest as she became louder and louder. Trevor felt her begin to tighten around his fingers as she began to loudly scream out his name. He licked and massaged her until he felt her pulsations subside then he joined her once again, placing himself between her warm thighs as he held his firm manhood in his hand, guiding it into her as she wrapped her arms around his back, pulling him to her so that she could kiss him deeply as she felt him slide into her. The climax that he’d provided her was like nothing she’d felt before and though it was not her first time, she was sure she didn’t have as much experience as the talented duke.
Feeling him inside her, Emily moaned as he began to rock her hips as she ran her hands down the duke’s back so that they rested near his hips. Grasping at the flesh of his hips, Emily’s breathing quickened as her motions became faster with each stroke. Trevor buried his head in her hair as he kissed her neck, gently sucking her tender flesh as he drove deeper into her. Emily’s legs wrapped around the muscular duke as she heard her own voice echoing in the night as she raked her nails down his back. As their bodies moved in a symphonic blend of wonderful motion, Emily and Trevor completely explored each other completely as their minds and physical selves became one in the quiet cottage.
“Don’t leave me, Emily,” Trevor whispered as he moaned into her ear. Her hand found the back of his head and pulled him in for a kiss. She didn’t answer him, rather kissed him passionately as she rolled her body in time with his. Trevor’s hand found her luscious breasts once again and as he kissed her tender lips, she felt herself melt into him even more. The intensity that was building in her loins was becoming overpowering as she let a low moan escape her lips. Trevor raised up on his hands and thrusted into her deeply as she rocked her hips to him with ecstatic pleasure as she felt herself on the edge of climax.
“Yes, Trevor! Oh, yes!” He felt the powerful pulsations from deep within her and couldn’t contain his o
wn peak, driving into her with fiery passion as he spilled himself into her. Breathing heavily, he fell to the bed beside her, took her into his arms and held her close as the recovered from their midnight romp.
Holding her close, Trevor didn’t want to let her go and for the first time in his life, he almost whispered “I love you” but felt as if he would only drive her away faster if he’d done so. Falling asleep in the cottage was not something that he had planned but when he woke up the next morning, he was saddened to find himself alone.
Chapter Fourteen
Emily knew that it was in bad taste to leave the sleeping duke but she felt it necessary if she wanted to get her things together and head for London as quickly as possible. The following morning, she went to her sister’s room and if she’d have known that she would have found her fast asleep with Lord Dumont, Emily would have knocked on Evangeline’s door. Silently creeping out of the room before her presence could be noted, Emily crept back to her room but as she opened the door to enter, she heard the shrill cry of Lady Marion’s wretched voice. Turning on her heel, she returned from the direction in which she’d just come to find the woman standing in the doorway of her sister’s room and she knew that things at Westminster would soon change forever.
“What is the meaning of this?” Lady Marion fumed as Evangeline and Lord David Dumont were jolted from sleep by the matriarch’s voice. “After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me?” Evangeline covered herself with a sheet as Dumont jumped from bed and slid on his trousers.
“Lady Marion, I can explain.” Evangeline looked to the woman with pleading eyes but was quickly shut down by,
“It’s no wonder Trevor can’t find it in himself to love you. I had him in the bag for you, Evangeline!” The duke’s mother seemed overly upset but Evangeline tried to soothe her by saying,
“Please, Lady Marion, let me explain. I love him and he loves me back but we never meant any disrespect to you or your house.” Evangeline stared at her with tearful eyes as the woman only glared back to her. Emily watched from the door, anticipating that the woman would take a flying dive towards her sister but she kept her composure.
“I told my son that you carried the seed of his brother so that he would marry you and this is the thanks I get?” Shaking her head, Lady Marion leaves the lovers alone with Emily to pick up the pieces.
Evangeline was left shocked by the woman’s confession and suddenly the conversation that Emily and Trevor had on the way home from the ball finally made sense. He’d not wanted to give his heart to her because he was worried about having to take on his brother’s widow and unborn child. She felt the heart in her chest leap as she thought about the bond that they formed the night before in the cottage. She wanted to stay and comfort her sister but when Evangeline screamed,
“Just get out!” Emily did what her sister had requested. Deciding that there was no more reason for her to remain at the estate, Emily returned to her room and began to pack at once. She requested the help of a maid to gather her belongings then got some assistance with getting her things into the carriage.
Saying goodbye to Evangeline is the last thing she did before setting out for home and as she hugged her sister tightly, Emily felt a pang of sadness in her heart as a single tear fell down her cheek.
“Thank you so much for helping me during my time of need, my dear, dear sister.” Evangeline hugged Emily then with a forced smile, looked to her and said, “Well, I guess this is where we say goodbye.” Evangeline tried not to let Emily see her cry as she hid the tears that were streaming down her face before she turned on her heel and returned to her chamber. Knowing that there was nothing left for her, Emily descended the stairs and walked out the front door forever. If she never returned to the estate, that would be too soon for her.
In tears, Emily sat in the lonely carriage as she began her journey home and though she hadn’t said goodbye to Trevor, she kept him in her heart. She couldn’t look into his face then tell him goodbye after knowing that she had such intense feelings for him because his place was at the estate as duke and her place was back in London. Emily knew that things would never work between the two of them but she didn’t have the courage to tell him so. Turning to get one last glance, she sighed when she saw no signs that he’d come to see her off, so she sat back in her seat and wiped her tears. Feeling completely foolish at her emotions, she reminded herself that she wasn’t after love but the tugging in her heart reminded her that she’d found it.
The sound of the horse hooves gave her something to listen to as they made their way down the dusty, English road and she sat silently as she allowed tears of heartache to soak her cheeks. She knew that she would miss Trevor desperately but there was no place for her in the country and as soon as she returned to London, Emily could begin to heal her broken heart. Sobbing in silence, Emily felt the carriage stop abruptly as she heard the horses neigh. Bending over to look out the window, Emily Lockhart let out a small yell as the door swung open for her initial fear was that the carriage had been overtaken by bandits. When she saw Trevor’s face, her heart pounded in her chest as tears of happiness replaced the ones that had been delivered from a place of sadness. He must have ridden harder than he’d ever done before in order to catch her before she was lost and there was no way he was going to let her go now that he’d realized that his life made no sense without her in it.
“I cannot let you go, Emily, no matter how hard I tried, there was no way that I could let you go to London without telling you this.” He reached for her hand and as he assisted Emily from the carriage, he took her by the hand and looked her into the eye. “Ever since the first time I saw you, I’ve been unable to breathe and I know that I’ve been giving you mixed signals but that time is over. I felt bound by my duty not only as duke but brother, as well, but there is nothing I want more in this life than you.” Emily couldn’t contain the tears that fell down her face as she smiled to him, holding Trevor’s hand tightly as she replied,
“My heart belongs to you as well but there are so many other components that have to be factored in and I just don’t think that I can do this.” Placing his forefinger to her lips, he smiled as he stared into her soul as he said,
“I gave it up, all of it. Lady Marion will now be in charge of Westminster and as of this day, I am simply Trevor Grant, just a man in love with the most beautiful woman in the world. Please, tell me that you have these same feelings in return.” Emily cast herself into his arms in a passionate kiss as they collided into each other with the deepest of emotions.
“You would do that for me? Trevor, I can’t ask that of you,” she said when they pulled apart from their loving embrace.
“There is nothing for me at that place if you’re gone. I can’t live the rest of my days knowing that you have my heart and not being able to be with you. Please, tell me that you feel the same thing or I’m going to look pretty foolish.” Smiling, Emily looked into Trevor’s eyes as she said,
“Yes, of course I love you, Trevor.” As his hand held hers tightly, he smiled as he said,
“Let’s get a house in London and live the free life that you’ve been talking so much about, stay up until dawn and sleep all day if we want to. Say that you’ll be mine and I’ll promise to love you until the end of my days.” Emily couldn’t contain her emotions as she once again threw herself into his arms, kissing him deeply as he held her close to his firm body.
“That sounds absolutely heavenly and there’s nothing else I’d rather do with my life than spend every day of it with you.” Trevor’s heart swelled as he held his love tightly in his arms, not wanting to let her go but anxious to get their life together started.
“I don’t want to let you go but I can’t wait to get back to the city and get this dress off of you.” With a flirtatious smile, Emily suggested that Trevor, former Duke of Westminster and winner of her heart, tie his horse to the cart and join her in the carriage as they made their way back to the city. Raising his eyebrow
s to her, Trevor stated that she was a little minx but he loved the way her mind worked as she rigged his reins to the back of the coach. Emily and Trevor climbed into the carriage then he slapped the side to alert the driver that they were ready to leave and as the two travelled farther from Westminster, the closer they got to their new lives and years of happiness that awaited
THE END
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The Romantic Marquess
Introduction
Annabelle Tracy dreams of a white knight coming to sweep her off her feet with his passionate love, and carrying her off to his castle where he will shower her with love forever. But she is a poor girl. Her father is a hunter, her mother a seamstress, and she but a lowly village girl, assisting her mother in the family business. A chance meeting down by the river leads to her ravishment at the hands of the son of the Duke of Blanchester, the dashing Daniel Banner, Marquess of Aberling, with whom she falls in love. He also declares his love, but confesses that he cannot marry her as he is promised to another. She refuses to be his mistress, but when she discovers that she is with child by him, she is forced to seek his aid. She adamantly refuses to let him back into her heart, though she insists that he bear his responsibility as the father of their child, and Daniel must redeem himself completely in her eyes. Will he choose Anna this time above his duty, or will she once again have her dreams hopelessly dashed?
