Manor of Pleasure: An Erotic Historical Romance

by Debra Sheridan

  According to Lady Garway, Colonel William was very clear this was to be a purely platonic enterprise, hence his invitation that Louisa be properly compensated for valuable services rendered.

  The premise was unusual for a woman of Louisa's rank and social station, but Lady Louisa was a hard worker and she had been well-trained as a nurse's attendant.

  All in all, Lord Garway was happy to see his daughter preoccupied in a pastime that she enjoyed with a gentleman employer whom he liked and respected.

  His mother had another view. She was quick to caution her son and his wife on the dimmer prospects of this situation. "Are you quite sure this is an advisable position for Louisa?" She lowered her voice and continued, "She could very well turn out to be his wife, tied to a half-man for the rest of her life."

  "Mother, Colonel William can hardly be classified as an half-man. He is a hero and nothing less," Lord Garway declared. "In any event, I'm assured that he has no interest in her that way."

  "And so it begins," she replied smugly.

  "Mother, please," he replied quickly. He smiled at her and sipped on his aperitif.

  The Countess pursed her lips and smoothed her skirt.

  The dinner bell sounded. Lady Garway hung back to speak to her husband and allowed the others to precede her into the dining room. She grabbed his arm. "It is no longer a matter for speculation. Rebecca is with Desmond," Lady Garway stated to her husband in hushed tones.

  Lord Garway looked back at her blankly. "Evelyn, really, what did you expect? You created this situation when you imposed an unforgiving moratorium on their affection for one another. Is it any wonder that she's run off to see him?"

  He raised his eyebrows towards her and said nothing further. He proceeded to the dining room and she followed in a huff. Her consternation was thinly disguised.

  After everyone was seated, Abbott handed a note to His Lordship. Lord Garway, surprised, opened the note quickly. With a straight face, he addressed the table: "It appears that Rebecca and Desmond will not be joining us this evening after all. Rebecca accepted his invitation to dine with him at Clayton House tonight. They send their regrets." He placed the note beside his cutlery.

  Lady Garway reached over and grabbed the note from its resting place near her husband. She read it quickly and turned to Mrs. Baines.

  "Did you have any role in this?" she asked her pointedly, her words bound with anger.

  Mrs. Baines turned to face her squarely. "Of course not, Lady Garway. I am as surprised as you are." Mrs. Baines looked away as she paused to consider this development. Desmond had placed her in a very awkward position.

  "Now what do you have to say, John?" Lady Garway stared at him with fire in her eyes. Her husband returned her stare with a forbearance that gave no ground.

  "You know how I feel, Evelyn, and now is not the time to discuss it. Please."

  The Countess chimed in. "Really, I fail to see the strife in this. They are both respectable, mature adults. I quite admire them both." She looked at her son and then to his wife. "Rebecca could not have made a finer match if she had been engaged to a Royal. If anyone deserves the benefit of any doubt, it would be Desmond."

  "Thank you, Madam," Mrs. Baines uttered finally. "We can agree on that score."

  Lady Garway could no longer restrain herself. "Well, then. It will surprise you both to know that Rebecca and Desmond have already crossed that line," she announced sorely. "In this very house."

  Lord Garway shook his head gravely. "Please, Evelyn," he said softly to her.

  Lady Louisa, who had watched the exchange eagerly, set down her wineglass and said brightly, "Mother, be that as it may, Rebecca has done far worse than this. At least on this occasion, she is to be married."

  The other four turned to her, each face bearing the same expression of absolute appall.

  "Thank you, Louisa," Lady Garway said to her harshly. "You have said quite enough."

  The room fell mute until the Countess sensed an obligation upon her to breach the awkward moment.

  "Now, now. Let us all endeavor to maintain a reasonable and proper perspective. Perhaps they have acted precipitously, but they are to be married in less than a fortnight."

  Mrs. Baines took a long draft from her wine glass. There was much that she could say in this situation with the knowledge that Desmond had imparted to her about Rebecca's past.

  But the better part of valor is discretion, she reminded herself. She chose the high road and began bravely, "You might expect that I would be terribly disappointed in Desmond here, but I cannot be. I am, and will always be, immensely proud of him." She looked at Lady Garway. "He survived the death of his beloved father at a very young age." She paused. "I imagine at his death he must have asked himself more than once if he would ever know love, if he would ever have that chance again." She looked at all of them. "So as much as I wish he had exercised more discipline in these circumstances, I, for one, will not pass judgment on them."

  "Well said, Mrs. Baines," Lord Garway spoke out clearly. "I could not agree more." He glanced at everyone in turn.

  The Countess appeared suitably moved by Mrs. Baines's words. "Hear, hear," she said softly. “I do have some news that will please everyone here. It seems Sir Isaac Evans is gone. He was in England one day; no trace of him the next. And no one who knows anything is speaking of it. The speaking instead was left to the ignorant and the ill informed. So, of course, the rumors are running unrestrained and being believed most willingly and without reserve.”

  “You don't say! What such rumors?” Lady Louisa interrupted the old lady.

  “The most believed rumor is that Sir Isaac suddenly enlisted in the regiment in the north. But there were other whispers that he was sent to America to fight in the brewing war, another placing him at the losing end of a duel, and even a rumor that said he was off to marry a rich widow of forty four in New Zealand. But he is gone, and many a shopkeeper came forth to claim that he owed them this and that amount, and how he had trifled with some of their daughters.” The Countess released a deep sigh before continuing. “His reputation is done for. I don't see him being a worry to this household any longer.”

  An eerie quietness befell the room once again. As for Lady Garway, she stared down at her plate in silence.

  Lord Garway rang for Abbott. His appetite had returned.

  At Clayton House, Desmond and Rebecca were entangled on his bed, both fully clothed. Desmond's hand was under her skirt, bracing her leg around his right hip as he kissed her. He stopped to look at her and moved his hand to her face. He held her cheek gently.

  "Rebecca, I don't want this day to end. How I wish you could stay with me tonight," he said to her softly. "I am so utterly consumed by my love for you." His lips were shiny and wet from her kisses.

  Rebecca's eyes burned with desire for him. "We don't have much time, darling," she reminded him. She sat up and removed her shoes. Next, she stood up, reached under her skirt, and pulled down her petticoat gingerly. She reached for Desmond then and pulled him up from the bed. As he stood in front of her, she began to undo his pants. While they kissed, she reached into his briefs and pulled him out. She began to stroke him gently.

  He moaned. "Oh, Rebecca," he whispered. His knees went weak, forcing him to sit. She climbed on top of him, with her skirt lifted. He was ready and so was she. She lowered herself onto him until he filled her up. She gasped softly and began to rock her hips slowly.

  "Oh, Desmond, I love you. I love this with you," she said softly.

  Desmond was panting now. He lay back and stared at her as she moved to a steady, sultry rhythm. He reached under her skirt and felt the muscles of her thighs move as they worked on him.

  Rebecca held his gaze and leaned forward, placing her hands on his chest. They each shifted their hips, bringing Desmond deeper inside of her.

  "I'm very close now," she whispered to him, breathing quickly. She maintained her rhythm, relishing the fullness of him.

  Suddenly, she reach
ed for it, that final searing quiver that would undo her. Rebecca drew her breath in sharply twice and then again.

  He watched her as she came and he felt her tremble. In an instant, his arousal reached its peak. He closed his eyes and thrust upward with the surge. All of his muscles gave way under the force of his rapture.

  He groaned. He felt her lips on his and he opened his mouth for her. Their tongues met while Rebecca continued to sway on him until they were both spent.

  Perhaps a minute had passed when Desmond stopped their kiss to look at her. He caught her gaze.

  "Promise me that you will never leave me, Rebecca," he asked her quietly. "Promise me."

  Rebecca raised herself on her arms and looked down at him. "My dear Desmond," she replied. "How could I leave you? I could not go on living without our love for each other."

  He looked at her intently. "Still, you must promise me."

  His eyes were a steely blue-gray, and they shone back at her like mirrors. Rebecca sensed a heavy darkness in him and she felt his need keenly.

  "I promise you, Desmond, I shall never leave you… never." She lay against him and held him tightly. She raised her head and looked at him again. "I will never ever leave you," she repeated softly, as she stroked his hair.

  Desmond sighed. She kissed him tenderly on the lips.

  Desmond's spell left just as quickly as it came. "As far as desserts go, that was by far the sweetest and the most delectable that I've ever had," he said to her, smiling.

  Rebecca laughed as she raised herself off the bed. "We must hurry, Desmond. Who knows what awaits us at the manor."

  The day's activities had left her with a pleasant burn between her legs. She lifted her petticoat off the floor. All was forgotten. All was changed. All was now utter happiness.

  THE END