by Allie Borne
The ivory of her skin and the pink of the night gown blended. Her soft grey shawl had fallen off one creamy shoulder, revealing the swell of one pert breast. It was hard to tell where the pink gauze ended and Lindsay’s erect nipple began. He could hardly wait to find out. Crossing the room, Charles immediately removed the woolen shawl. Grabbing her upper arms, Charles looked down the length of her.
Lindsay flushed from his gaze and tried to turn but he held her still.
“God’s teeth, Linnie. You are stunning. I have never seen anything so beautiful in my life. Thank you for agreeing to become my wife.”
Smiling, the tears welled in Lindsay’s eyes as she felt the familiar warmth rising in her. It was the same way she had felt nine years ago, when Charles had first touched her heart.
Sighing, Charles wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her up against him. Earlier in the evening, Charles had removed his royal blue waist coat and now stood in soft, buff breeches and cotton shirt open at the collar. Thus clad, little impeded the sensation of Lindsay’s lush curves against him. Charles could feel her nipples rub against his chest and her thighs press into his.
Placing each hand on her round bottom he pulled her up and onto her toes. From this position, he could plunder her mouth with his tongue and feel the warmth between her thighs. Linnie pressed softly against his hard form and gasped as she felt what she had been ogling yesterday. I was right, she thought. It is the same as a horses, oh, Saints preserve me!
Sensing Lindsay tense, Charles relaxed his vice-like grip and looked down at her. “Is something wrong?”
Blushing, but pale, Lindsay looked at her long time companion and nodded. “I do not think I can do this, Charles. I have figured out what you have in your breeches and I know that this will not work.”
She looked so sweet and innocent with her eyebrows drawn together and her mouth turned down in a cherub’s pink pout. She had no idea what she did to him! Laughing softly, he put his forefinger under her chin and lifted her gaze to his.
“What is it you think I have in my breeches, sweet Linnie?”
“W-well, w-what a horse, a stud horse has between his legs, when he mates.”
“Oh, I see. Well, seeing as I am not near the size of a stud horse, although I am quite flattered, you might be relieved to know that my male member is not near as large either.”
“Oh,” Lindsay replied, unconvinced.
“What do you say we just take things a little slower? You can undress and I can undress and then we can decide if everything will work the way nature intended. Will that be acceptable?”
“Yes, I think that will be alright. But, Charlie?”
“Yes, Linnie?”
“If it does not work, then what?”
“It will work Linnie, trust me.”
“Very well.”
His ardor substantially cooled, Charles led Lindsay to the four post bed. Charles lifted her into the bed and then leapt up beside her. Lying on his side, propped upon his elbow, Charles surveyed his new wife. “Well, Lady Donovan, I do believe you are over dressed for the occasion. Might I help you off with your outer wear?”
“But, Sir, I haven’t any under wear!”
“Yes, well the night is warm and the fire is large, I do believe you will do quite nicely in your natural state.”
“Giggling and rolling out of his grasp, Lindsay voluntarily rose to her knees and pulled up the pink confection. Flinging it over her head with abandon, Lindsay suddenly felt exposed and vulnerable. She had always been a bit too short and curvy for current fashion. Although it had never stopped the men from appreciating her form before; she now worried that she would not please Charles.
She had no reason for concern. Charles was in shock. From her tiny, winged collar bones, to her perfectly curved hips, Charles could not imagine a more pleasing spouse. She smelled of sunshine and lemons. She tasted sweet and was as soft as velvet. Reaching out to touch an errant curl that had cascaded down to encircle her right areola, Charles glanced up at her face and was overcome with emotion.
He loved this woman so much; he was afraid to move for fear of disappointing her on this, her first night with a man. Move, he did, however, for he would not allow her to think that he was displeased with her display. Rising to his knees as well, Charles pulled his shirt from his breeches and threw it to the floor.
“Look what you have done to the comforter!” Lindsay chided as she gaped at the streak of mud his boots had left. Leaping down from the bed, her self-consciousness forgotten, she leaned over his left boot and began tugging it off.
“What are you doing?!” laughed Charles, as he repositioned himself on the bed to allow her a better hold on his foot. “Pull at the heel, that is good.”
Lindsay pulled so hard that she went flying backwards and fell awkwardly, on her rump. Legs spread and her waist length hair curled all around her, she looked like a displaced mermaid. Lindsay shrugged as Charles laughed uproariously and began tugging on his right boot. Once his riding boots were placed against the wall, Lindsay pulled down Charles’ stockings.
They both quieted as the moment of truth came to hand.
“Why do you not just show me and we can get it over with,” Lindsay suggested, biting her lower lip as she stood before him at the bedside.
“Why do you not use your mouth for something other than ordering me about, wench,” Charles retorted, playfully, and pulled her to him for a thoroughly rousing kiss. Again, Lindsay felt Charles’ manhood stiffen and press against her softer parts. Again, she pulled away from him, in concern.
Slipping his breeches down his legs and off, Charles sat back on the bed, so that Lindsay could look her fill at the topic of conversation.
“Oh,” said Lindsay, her eyes growing wide. I suppose it is not nearly as big as all that.”
“Thank you. I am pleased to hear it,” Charles responded wryly.
“But, I still do not think this will work. Perhaps I should have married a small boned man?”
Laughing heartily at her unintended pun, Charles wrapped his arm around her middle and deposited her onto her side, in the middle of the bed. “I will not lie to you Linnie, the first time will be a snug fit, but it should not be all too painful. And after that...” he stated, drawing the knuckle of his finger around her tightening pink nipple, “....after the first time, it gets better every time.”
“Then why do my grandparents have separate bedrooms?” Lindsay asked suspiciously, pushing his hand away distractedly.
“Why, because your grandmother can not stand to be in the same room as your grandfather without ripping his breeches off. They could not afford the tailor’s bills, so now he comes to her room in the buff.”
“Charles!” Lindsay tried to rebuke him but dissolved instead into giggles.
Taking advantage of her supine form, Charles bent his head to her chest and capturing her left breast in his mouth.
Gasping Lindsay was at full attention. She wished to push him away and pull him closer, all at once. The torture was exquisite. Trailing kisses from one breast to the next, Charles began to suckle at her right breast. Giving in to the sensation, Lindsay pressed his head to her and sighed, blissfully.
“Charles’ hands were cold as they touched her stomach and Linnie jumped. They soon grew warm as he ran them down her sides and over her thighs. Lindsay could not help but hold her legs more tightly shut as Charles attempted to gain access to her most private place. Rather than force the issue, Charles stroked her sides, running his strong fingers up her arms to softly knead the back and sides of her neck. Sighing and relaxing, Lindsay gave Charles access to her nape. Kissing her and nipping at her neck, Charles was able to move one knee between Lindsay’s thighs. Returning again to plunder her breasts she called out his name and relaxed more deeply into the down bed.
Charles ran the palm of his hand down her stomach and across her curls, to the moist opening at the base of her thighs. His finger explored the folds of her flesh, tracing them over
and over until Lindsay panted for more. Slowly, very slowly, he entered her with one finger. She was very tight. He would have to ready her for him.
Throbbing with the effort of restraint, Charles dipped his head again to suckle her left breast and eased a second finger into her depths. She moaned softly and tightened up around him. “Oh, Linnie,” he sighed, as he realized he could wait no longer.
Spreading her thighs with his knee once more, Charles turned smoothly atop her and placed the head of his shaft at her opening. Working his finger about her once more, he began to ease inside her.
Lindsay was beyond conscious thought as she moaned in ecstasy. He hated to rouse her from this state but it was unfair to frighten her when the pain jabbed through her reverie. “Linnie, Love, take heed,” he whispered into her ear.
She shivered at the sensation but he insisted. “Linnie, look at me, Love.” She turned her glazed eyes towards him and smiled, beguilingly. “I am going to take you now.”
“Yes,” she murmured.
“Oh, Linnie, it will hurt a bit at first, you must trust me and not buck or it will truly hurt, are you listening?”
“Yes, I will not buck.”
“Thank you.” He delayed no longer. With his hand holding her open so as to avoid any unnecessary tearing; Charles forced his way past her maiden head in one swift, deep thrust.
“Ow!” she cried out, pulled from her stupor and unhappy about it.
“Relax, Love, relax.”
“You hurt me,” she hiccuped, her voice wavering.
“I am sorry, Love. It is the way it is done. Just hold still now and it will start to feel good again, I promise.”
Already, Linnie could feel the throbbing in her middle transitioning from one of pain to one of longing and anticipation. She was aware of the way his thickly muscled arms and thighs tensed about her in restraint. Lindsay could not help but wriggle a bit beneath Charles, feeling out the new sensation. The motion helped to ease the pain, so she lifted her hips a bit more.
“Ohhhh, that feels good, Linnie, I will not be able to be gentle if you do not stop.”
She stopped immediately. Adventurous she might wish to be but she was a coward at heart. Charles chuckled as he slowly pulled out and back into to her. She felt herself relax and soften up for him again. She felt herself grow wet at the tender way he moved within and around her. Tightening up and relaxing around his shaft, she could not help but begin to rock her hips to the rhythm he created. Wrapping his hands around her bottom, Charles guided her movements until they moved as one, faster and faster to a desperately needed climax. She rocked into him, panting and sobbing his name. Beyond all restraint, Charles pounded into her untried flesh, spilling his seed deep within her.
Like a cad, he collapsed upon her, breathing heavily. Returning to his senses several moments later, Charles rolled to one side and brought Lindsay with him.
“I am so sorry, My Love. Did I hurt you too terribly much?”
Smiling tremulously, she said, “Not so much.”
“I promise it is only like that the first time. After you heal, lovemaking will be much less of an ordeal. Will you trust me enough to try it again?”
“Yes, but Charlie?”
“Hmmm?”
“Can I be on top next time? For a fit man, you weigh a bloody ton.”
“Oh, Linnie, you will be the death of me yet!”
~ ~ ~
Sunlight trickled through the dappled glass and across Lindsay’s pale temple, tickling at her eyelids until they fluttered and opened. Stretching and rolling over in the bed, Lindsay grinned widely. Sitting up, Lindsay felt sore, but excited. Married life should prove to be much more entertaining than she had imagined. No wonder so many women took afternoon naps, how else might they get any rest?
Sleepy eyed, Lindsay felt that she might like to lay abed until noon. But Charles had already risen, dressed and gone down to breakfast. She realized, suddenly, that in all of the commotion over getting wed, Lindsay had not thought anything of the home to which she was heading. She knew that Braxton Hall had extensive grounds, for she had heard Charles telling Aiden of his plans for the property. What she did not know was the state of the manor house and she was eager to find out.
Quickly dressing in her serviceable brown travel suit, Lindsay pinned her hair to the nape of her neck and headed downstairs. Joining Charles in the private dining room she took her place to the right of the head chair.
Startled from his wool gathering, Charles turned to look down at his young wife. He was pleased that she had disregarded convention to sit next to him, rather than at the end of the table. In fact, he was pleased that he had married an unconventional wife, all around. Lindsay had bucked tradition in the bedroom last night, as well. His body grew warm just thinking about it.
Smiling down at her pixie face, he noted her subdued attire and nodded approvingly. “We must leave soon. I dare not risk Sir Richard’s guests overcoming us here, as they will all be departing today. I worry that we will be unable to hire a carriage in such a small town, however, and it is much too dangerous to attempt the back roads on horseback. I will see what the stable master has available while you ready your things.”
Lindsay cringed at the thought of riding Doc with such an ache between her thighs. No, a carriage was much more the thing. Lindsay ate a light breakfast of toast and tea and headed back up to her room to pack. She was unaccustomed to packing her own bags and had to rely on her observations of how Whitney had managed it. Would she have a personal maid at Braxton Hall? Would she have much of a staff at all? She began to wonder a bit, concerned about the lifestyle into which she may have married.
Lindsay’s rearing had prepared her to lead a fully staffed manor house. She would not know how to do manual tasks herself, anymore than she would be knowledgeable about running an elite London household. Her experiences were limited and, she realized, she feared her own inadequacies would be illuminated beneath Charles’ shrewd, oft critical, gaze. She feared this much more than the possibility of hard work ahead.
Finishing with her packing, she turned to Charles’ things. It took no time at all to place his few items in the saddlebag. Tidying up the room, Lindsay felt proud of her accomplishment. She felt useful and practical.
Charles entered the room, saw that all was in order, nodded and beckoned her out. “Your grandfather anticipated our predicament and sent his coach to escort us to Braxton Hall. Are you ready?”
Lindsay nodded and handed Charles’ saddlebag to him. Taking both bags, Charles followed Lindsay down the stairs and into the courtyard. Doc and Diamond were tethered to the carriage. The day was gray and overcast and Lindsay was glad to climb into the familiar coach. Folded neatly in the center of the forward-facing seat was her favorite blanket and pillow, topped with a note from her sister.
Dearest Linnie,
I was so happy to hear of your wedding Charles. The two of you suit perfectly! I will be dreadfully bored in this house without you. Do you think I could come for a visit, after your honeymoon?
All of my Love,
Leah
Post Script: I have sent Betty along, as I hear you have lost your lady’s maid. This way, you can have time to find and train your own before you send Betty back. But, please, dear sister, do not take overlong! Silvia is a sweet girl but she just is not as thorough as Betty at cleaning my riding habit!
Poking her head out of the coach, Lindsay asked Charles, “Where is Betty?”
Coming around from saddling his mount, Charles responded, “I sent her back with Thomas.”
“Whatever for?”
“I can take care of my own wife,” Charles snipped. “We are married, now, and I do not want hand outs from your family.” Then, more softly, he cajoled, “You shall have a lady’s maid. When we reach Braxton Hall, I will arrange it.”
Getting out of the coach in a true fury, Lindsay marched her five foot two inch self up to Charles’ towering form and glared. Whispering severely, she chastised
him. “I am not a possession you horde or do with as you wish. I see no point in denying me a maid. It was to be a temporary situation, to help me get my bearings and not feel so alone. You are heartless, pompous, and inconsiderate!” Lindsay stunted her tirade as Charles’ whisky eyes flashed, then grew cloudy. She knew him well enough to know that, like any summer storm, he erupted infrequently but forcefully, when the winds blew too hot or cold for his typically even demeanor.
Still full of self-righteous indignation, Lindsay turned on the heel of her tiny boot, stalked back to the coach, climbed up and threw herself across the plush bench seat. Without saying a word, Charles opened the carriage door, set down a basket of food for their journey, snapped the door smartly shut, and mounted his steed. Signaling to Henry, they headed out.
The truth of the matter was that Charles was loath for anyone to see the state of Braxton Hall. Betty, he knew, could serve as a spy for the Beaumont clan. Upon her return, she would fill the family and staff in on gossip about the ‘dreadful’ way in which Charles kept his new wife. He would rather hire a local girl, who would be loyal to the Donovan household. It had not occurred to Charles that Lindsay might feel isolated and alone. She had him didn’t she?
Where they were and with whom else should not matter. It certainly did not matter to him. Where Linnie was, was home to him. She might not feel the same, Charles realized, shaken. After last night, he had felt so certain of where he stood. Now? This cloudy, stormy day seemed to obscure the truth of Lindsay’s feelings.
Ruminating, Charles realized, she had not said she loved him last night. Yet, to be fair, he had not shared his feelings for her, either. It, ironically, had not seemed the right time. They were both so vulnerable and moved, physically and emotionally, that he had not dared throw his deepest feelings out for her to critique.
They would have one month together, and though he knew it was selfish, especially with the comfort of his cousin John riding beside him, he wanted her to himself. He wanted her to belong to the Donovan home. Betty showing up had panicked him. He expected to welcome her family after he was certain of Lindsay and after his home was worthy of display. It seemed his actions had only served to push her away. Rethinking his plan, Charles turned back to Brighton, telling Harry to proceed, and that he would catch up.
