His fingers moved faster as they rubbed against my wetness, and my hips moved in time with his touch. I pressed myself wantonly against his palm as an unfamiliar pressure built inside of me. I became frantic with a need ... a need to feel him fill me ... to end the sweet torment.
My breathing grew as rapid as his, but when I was finally able to unfasten his trousers, freeing his swollen manhood and taking it into my hand, a fierce growl rumbled from his chest.
He went rigid and stilled his fingers, and I knew he was struggling for control. Not wanting him to find it, I stroked his erection. The Contessa’s instructions raced through my mind, and I drew my lips down from his nipple and allowed my tongue to leave a wet trail down to his navel. I delighted in the exploration of his taut, muscular body. But when my wet tongue ran up the length of his erect shaft, his breath caught in his throat.
I slowly drew the tip of his hardness into my warm, wet mouth, sucking slowly as my hand continued to massage the length of him.
“Good God, woman,” he whispered.
His body trembled as I continued to run my tongue slowly over the head. Letting the tip of my tongue slip over the opening, I flirted with the first salty taste of his essence that appeared in a tiny shimmering drop. A fierce growl erupted from him as he grabbed me and lifted, forcing me to release his throbbing shaft, he pinned me against the door and brought his lips to mine. With one hand under my bum, he lifted me and held me to him. I drew my legs up around his waist and prepared to receive his manhood.
“Edmund, please,” I whispered, trembling with need as I clung to his shoulders.
With his other hand, he guided his hard shaft toward me and rubbed up against my slick wetness. When he deliberately ran it across my throbbing pearl, I nearly exploded.
“Catherine, my love. I fear I cannot stop,” he whispered into his kiss.
“Edmund, I do not want you to stop.”
“Are you certain?”
I moved my hips, causing my soft wet womanhood to glide over the tip of his hardness.
He growled through gritted teeth and guided his shaft into me.
I clung to his shoulders, drunk with the sensation of my nipples rubbing against his hard, naked chest, his tongue dancing with mine, his warm hand upon my bottom, the thickness of his hard manhood easing into me.
After a brief stab of pain, I drove my hips forward to meet his. I reveled in the sensation of the length of him filling me. He moved slowly, and I met his every thrust. I thought I would burst in a flood of release when his fingers found my tender and throbbing bud.
Nothing existed for me at that moment ... nothing but Edmund and the fire burning between us. His pace quickened as did the pressure of his fingers against my swollen pearl. Panting for breath, my heart thundering, my body shaking, he drove himself deep in one final thrust and I felt his release explode deep inside of me, pushing me over the edge. I could hold back no longer. I came crashing down into the pool of my own release. And I cried out when that release came. Waves of sheer ecstasy washed over me, and I was drowning in a flood of pleasure I never wanted to be rescued from.
He clutched me to him. “Catherine, I ...”
I gazed up at him through hooded eyes, lazy with the afterglow of being ravished.
“Yes, Edmund?”
“I ... I didn’t want the first time between us to be like this. I wanted it to be perfect.”
“It was perfect.”
“I promise you, the next time it shall be. I want to taste every inch of your glorious body. Catherine, I-”
“Lieutenant Drake?” a man’s voice called from somewhere down the hallway, followed by the faint sound of a knock, and footsteps drawing closer to the door indicated his approach.
My heart thundered as I shoved urgently against Edmund’s chest, while struggling to straighten the bodice of my gown. What would happen if we got caught?
“Lieutenant Drake?” the voice sounded closer.
I lowered my legs from around him and lowered my hem into place with trembling fingers. “Edmund, hurry, someone is looking for you, and we must not be discovered like this,” I whispered.
Edmund adjusted his clothes and I ran fingers through my hair.
“Shh,” he whispered. “Allow him to pass the room and when we are certain he has gone, we shall slip out and return to the ballroom.”
He crushed me against him, and I buried my face into his shirt and held my breath.
“Lieutenant Drake?”
The voice sounded just outside of the room, and there was a soft knock on the door I prayed would stay closed. I feared whoever was on the other side of that door had heard me cry out and would now surely hear my thundering heart. But the footsteps moved away from the door and echoed on down the hall. We stood there in silence, my legs trembling. Finally Edmund drew slightly away from me.
“Catherine, I’m going to open the door to be sure the hallway is clear. If it is, allow me to go out. You follow after a few moments have passed. Do you understand?” he whispered.
“Yes,” I answered, swallowing hard. The thought of the danger of being caught in this compromising position made my pulse race and I clung to him.
“Edmund, do something for me,” I whispered.
“Anything, my love.”
“Kiss me.”
His lips took mine, but unlike the passion that had ripped though us mere moments ago, his kiss was gentle and held the tenderness of a promise. Our lips parted and before I knew what had happened, Edmund had slipped out the door and disappeared into the hallway.
Chapter 33
The remainder of the evening was a blur. All I could think about was Edmund and the fierce desire he had ignited in me. The strains of music became a vague memory to me now sitting beside him in his coach. Light snow continued to fall, and its chill had permeated the coach. Despite the fact that he had wrapped me tightly in my cloak, a shiver ran over me and, much to my surprise, he pulled me onto his lap.
“Edmund!” I gasped.
“You are cold, my love. Allow me to warm you,” he whispered, cradling me in his arms.
I snuggled into his embrace and rested my head against his shoulder, welcoming the warmth that radiated from him. His soft kiss played upon my hair. Did he just call me his love? My heart fluttered at his words. I lifted my face to his, and his soft lips found mine. His kiss was gentle, and he placed his hand beside my jaw. I could let him kiss me like this for the remainder of my days.
He drew his lips from mine and holding my face now between his hands, he stared deeply into my eyes.
My heart nearly burst with love for him, and despite what had happened between us, I could not tell him of it, for in a matter of weeks, I would be married to the Duke. As the coach pulled up before the elegant house I temporarily called home, I was overcome with a sadness so profound I could not find my voice.
Lifting me from the coach, he held me against him for a long moment.
“Edmund, why do you not you set me down?” I whispered.
“Milady, there is snow here. Allow me to carry you to the door so you do not spoil your gown.”
He did not wait for me to answer but turned and made his way to the house. James opened the door and light flooded our path as we neared the entrance.
“Good evening, Milord, Milady,” James uttered.
“Good evening, James. It is a pleasure to see you,” Edmund said.
“When we received word you would be in London, I wondered if we would be seeing you here at Hartington House.”
I looked from James to Edmund. “You two know each other?”
“Yes, James and I go way back. He’s been like a father to me, and we have quite a history here at Hartington House, don’t we, James?” Edmund replied, but offered no further information.
He set me down in the foyer and after removing my cloak handed it to the butler.
“How do you find your accommodations here, Milady?” Edmund asked.
“My rooms are beautif
ul.”
“I am happy to hear that. I understand the Marquis had them designed specifically with you in mind.”
“Surely you are mistaken, Lieutenant, as I have yet to meet him.”
“Nay, Milady, of this I am certain.”
“Do you know the Marquis of Hartington, Lieutenant?”
“Extremely well, Milady.”
“Perhaps one day you could introduce me to him.”
“Perhaps.”
“It’s dreadfully cold, Lieutenant, would you care to come in for some tea, or perhaps a sip of brandy before you leave?” I asked, fearful I would not see him again and hoping to prolong our time together.
“Thank you, Milady, but I should be on my way before the weather worsens.”
“I understand. Thank you, Lieutenant, for escorting me and seeing me home safely in the Duke’s stead.”
“It has truly been my pleasure, Milady. I shall see you again before you wed the Duke.”
His words cut through me. He had made love to me, yet he still expected me to marry the Duke.
“Perhaps.” My heart ached so at his words that my voice rose barely above a whisper.
“I would very much like to finish the spirited contest we began this evening?”
“I do not know if that would be possible, Lieutenant.”
“Not only will it be possible, Milady, but were I you, I would count on it.”
The sting of color flushed my cheeks.
“And now, sadly, I must depart. But I shall not be far. I shall call upon you tomorrow, if that would be all right.”
I stood in the foyer of the grand mansion momentarily stunned. “Yes, certainly, Lieutenant.”
“James,” Edmund said and nodded toward the butler.
“Good evening, Milord.”
“Good evening, Milady,” Edmund said to me.
“Lieutenant,” I replied.
Then, much to my surprised and despite the fact that the butler stood watching, he leaned closer and kissed me.
I pressed my fingers to my lips while he swept out of the front door and into the night.
“Miss, how was the celebration? Was that Captain Drake?” Mary came bounding down the stairs and rushed to my side.
“The celebration was joyful and yes, that was Captain Drake.”
“I was o’ the mind ye would be delivered home by the Duke.”
“As was I, Mary, but the Duke grew overly tired and wished to retire early. He left Captain Drake to escort me home. You will never believe what I have discovered, Mary. The Captain was never a pirate.”
“No! Well, that explains his gentlemanly ways an’ the aristocratic air wot he gots about him.”
“He is actually a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and posed as a pirate in a ruse to capture Blackbeard.”
“Ye don’t say.”
“You do not seem surprised.”
“Nay, Miss. Tobias confided in me.”
“Tobias knew this?”
“Aye, me Lady.”
“And he told you?”
“Aye, Miss.”
“Yet you saw fit to keep that information from me?”
“Aye, there were no point in tellin’ ye since we was already here.”
“I see. What else has Tobias told you about Lieutenant Drake that you are keeping from me?”
“Miss, wot makes ye think I be keepin’ things from ye? Now come, ye must be cold. There be a warm fire in yer room, and I be bringin’ ye some hot cocoa. We don’t be wantin’ ye to catch your death now, do we?”
Mary was so like a mother to me, and I smiled as I followed her up the stairs.
As promised, the fire was burning in the huge hearth, and the room was toasty warm. Mary placed the cup of hot cocoa on the bedside table and helped me out of my gown to ready me for bed. She held up my bloodied and soiled undergarments. “Me Lady, I don’t mean to be oversteppin’ me place, but be there somethin’ ye be wantin’ to tell me?”
Fire burned in my cheeks, and lowering my gaze, I burst into tears.
“Now, now, Miss. No need to get yerself all in tears.” She crossed the short distance between us and wrapped me in a hug.
“Oh, Mary, I have made such a mess of things,” I sobbed.
“He’s done it, then. He’s stolen yer virtue.”
“Oh, no. It wasn’t like that at all.”
“No? How was it then? Did ye attack him ‘n force him to take that wot don’t rightly belong to him?”
I sobbed heavily now.
“Oh, Mary. What have I done? How can I present myself to the Duke as an untouched maiden now, when it’s a lie?”
“Oh, now, Miss, perhaps the old Duke won’t have his wits about him enough to notice.”
“He would notice, Mary. Look at the soiled mess of the garment in your hand. How would the lack thereof possibly go unnoticed? Besides, there isn’t going to be a wedding.”
“Wot ye be sayin’, Miss?”
“Everything I am belongs to Edmund; my mind, heart, body, even my soul. Tomorrow I shall tell the Duke the wedding is off.”
“Oh, now, Miss, wot of yer father? Ain’t he countin’ on the marriage wot to cure his, er, financial situation?”
“Yes.” I sighed.
“Then ye best think on this, me Lady. Ye best keep mum on the matter. Marriage to the Duke won’t be so bad an’ by the look o’ the ol’ goat, probably won’t be long before ye be a widow. Then mayhap ye can be o’ the mind to marry for love. Don’t ye be frettin’ on it none. There be ways to cover yer indiscretions. No one need be the wiser.”
After she left the room, I slipped into bed and snuggled down under the warm comforter, memories of swirling waltzes and passionate encounters stirring in my mind. I glanced at the cup of hot cocoa, but left it untouched as I drifted off to sleep. My dreams that night were a continuation of my encounter with Edmund in the darkened room at the ball.
When I woke in the morning, the room was still warm. Sighing deeply, I reached for the cup of cocoa, but it was gone.
I sat up in the bed and looked around the room. A fire burned softly in the hearth and the cup of cocoa sat upon the table next to the armchair before the fire. The chair, however, no longer faced the fire, but rather faced the bed. Pushing the covers aside, I rose from the bed and made my way sleepily toward the chair.
I wondered how my cocoa got over here, and when I looked in the cup I found it to be empty. Well, I hope the ghost who visited my room last night enjoyed my cocoa.
Mary bustled into the room then and she seemed in a hurry.
“Good morning, Mary.” I stretched and yawned.
“Miss, ye must hurry an’ get dressed.” She stood beside the dressing table wringing her hands.
“What is it, Mary? What has happened?” My first thought was that somehow the Duke had discovered what had happened between Edmund and me.
“It be the Duke, Miss.”
Were my worst fears about to be realized?
“Has he arrived already? It’s a bit early for him to be calling.” I tried to sound as if my heart were not thundering in my throat.
“Nay, Miss, he ain’t come callin’, and I would venture to guess he ain’t never goin’ to.”
“Good Lord, Mary, has he discovered ...?" I couldn’t even bring myself to utter the words. Had our reckless behavior endangered our lives?
She took a tentative step toward me, and the color drained from her cheeks as she stood there still wringing her hands.
“For heaven’s sake, Mary. What has happened?” A cold dread rushed over me, and the hair on my neck rose. I lowered my voice. “Is it Edmund?”
“Miss, it be awful. The Duke, well, he be no longer with us.”
“What? What do you mean ‘he no longer is with us’?”
“I mean ... the ol’ Duke ... well, he died last night, in his sleep they say.”
I stood there in disbelief. I had no feelings of love for the old man, but still I was overcome by the thought that the man who ha
d shown me kindness, and that I’d been about to marry, had died.
“I’m so sorry, Miss.”
“Oh, Mary. This is dreadful.”
“Aye, Miss. Wot’ll ever become of us now?”
Chapter 34
At the funeral, Lieutenant Drake took charge and acted as if he were some relation. Everyone who shook his hand and spoke to him in soft whispers seemed sincere in their condolences. A few came over to me, but I knew the gossips were whispering behind gloved hands.
After the funeral services, I was taken back to Hartington House in a coach with the Duke’s crest upon its doors. I was numb and really did not know how I should be feeling, but despite this, I knew I had to make arrangements for our departure.
“Mary,” I called from my room.
“Aye, Miss,” she answered, popping her head in at the door.
“Mary, please ask Tobias to get our trunks brought up here so that we can pack.”
“Pack, Miss?”
“Yes. We have been here on the good will of Duke Simmons and his son, pending the wedding, but now that the Duke has passed on, well, surely we would be expected to return to the island.”
“Oh, Miss, I ain’t heard no talk o’ that.”
“Regardless, Mary. We are already considered to have been only after the Duke’s money, and I shan’t allow those tongues to wag any further. We have been here on Duke Simmons’ charity and that of the Marquis long enough.”
“I think ye be mistaken, Miss.”
“Mary, please. This is not the time to question me. Kindly ask Tobias to fetch the trunks.
“Aye, Miss.” She turned and scurried out the door.
“Oh, and Mary?”
“Aye?” She popped her head back into the room.
“Did you enjoy my cocoa last night?” I tilted my head toward the empty cup, which still sat upon the table before the fire.
“Beggin’ yer pardon, Miss, but it ain’t me wot drunk yer cocoa.”
“Is it some specter then that visits in the dark of night, turns the chair to face my bed, watches me sleep, and then drinks my cocoa?”
“I don’t be knowin’ nothin’ ‘bout no specter, Miss.”
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