Miss Amelia Lands a Duke (The Caversham Chronicles)
Page 11
“You feel so good, my darling,” he whispered into the hair at her temple. The simple act caused her to shiver. Sitting up, she guided his thick shaft into her wet recess and sighed when he was fully seated within. His hands reached up for her again and he drew her down where he worshiped her breasts. Her body reacted by tensing and clenching around him. Then he pushed upward and began moving, the act driving them toward mutual completion. Amelia felt her walls tighten around him, grasping him, as though her body knew she never wanted to be parted from this man.
He set a rhythm for them, and she rode until she felt that now-familiar pressure building within her. She needed the sexual release he alone could give her, and wanted the seed that would hopefully give them a child.
Cav growled and rolled her over onto her back, driving into her, pushing her further, taking her higher than he had before. She grabbed his buttocks and when she could take no more, she arched into him, her entire body tight, ready to burst if he only….
She cried out his name as she climaxed, bursting into thousands of tiny shards of color and light, her fevered body milking Cav of his seed.
Amelia fought to control her breathing as her lover did the same. A tear fell from the corner of her eye, and she had no explanation for it.
It was a joyful tear, she thought, filled with the promise of hope and an infinite number of tomorrows.
“I love you, Amelia,” he whispered into the damp curls at her temple.
“And I love you, Marcus.” She sighed as she snuggled into his side with his arm loose around her, sleepy now that she’d had two climaxes within the past hour. “Forever, I will love you.”
EPILOGUE
9 November, 1812
To His Grace, the Duke of Caversham
Caversham House
London
We have him located on the HMS Southampton. In August, the ship lost a mast and ran aground during a hurricane off the coast of Mississippi. After repairs she is back in service in the Atlantic off the coast of Florida and Georgia.
I spoke with the lad myself whilst ashore in Nassau. He is not willing to come home because he says the men need him. He is the only sawbones on the ship of two-hundred and seventy men.
What do you direct now?
Flynn
* * *
11 November, 1812
Mr. Harold Manners-Sutton
HMS Southampton
Nassau, Bahamas
My Dearest Harry,
I hope this letter finds you well. The days since your abduction have been difficult ones for me. Papa died from grief not a week after you disappeared. He is resting now next to Mama in the parish cemetery. I went to live with Aunt Katherine and accompanied her to London for the season as soon as she was out of mourning for Lord Rawdon. She then brought us to a house party in Wessex, where I met a gentleman and we have since wed.
He is a kind man and very powerful. He’s had his agents searching for you since I told him our story. I understand that you have grown to love your new position on the ship and the responsibilities you have tending to the wounded and sick, but please be careful. My fondest wish now is to see you return from this war alive so that you can meet your new niece or nephew after he or she is born.
I do believe that, had he lived, Papa would be very proud of you, Harry. I know that both Mama and Papa are smiling down upon us from heaven, as is evidenced by both our good fortunes, you practicing medicine and me, wife to a wonderful man.
I pray we see you soon.
Love,
Your sister,
Amelia
Duchess of Caversham
* * *
27 January, 1813
Her Grace, Amelia Caroline Elizabeth Halden
The Duchess of Caversham
Caversham House
London
A duchess, Amelia? How did you manage that? I supposed he has an enormous library for you to tend to or you would never have married him!
In all seriousness, Sister, while I might have been angry and fought the abduction at the hands of the press gang, Charlie, Wally, Jerry, and myself are all together on the HMS Shannon now. I am gaining invaluable medical experience performing surgery. While not an actual doctor, I do believe I am doing what I am meant to do as I am saving lives. When I return home, I wish to finish the remaining hours of my education and become an actual physician.
Papa’s passing comes as a sad surprise. I will forever miss him. But in his raising of us, he instilled in me the characteristics that have served me well thus far on this ship. Patience and compassion are what I need most often when I’m frustrated over how to best treat a man who’s had an injury.
Pray for me to continue to have plenty of both because we sail again into battle after resupplying our stores.
Those Americans are a tenacious lot.
Love,
Your brother,
“Sawbones” Harry
THE END
AUTHOR’S NOTE
≈≈≈
Putting our work “out there” makes most artists feel vulnerable in some way. But, for a few of us, there is nothing in the world we would rather be doing than creating stories that touch the heart, no matter the fear of scrutiny. I hope you enjoyed reading about Marcus and Amelia as much as I enjoyed writing their story. If you did, please leave a rating or review at the vendor where you purchased this book. Because I truly believe all constructive criticism helps writers better themselves at this craft we love so much.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sandy Raven has a husband who spoils her rotten, and kids that are just a hair’s breadth away from perfect. She’s addicted to House Hunter’s International and has never missed an episode, though she acknowledges that she could never live in most of those countries because the houses are just too small. She is also addicted to Starbucks’ Chai Latte, and never passes up an opportunity to have one.
Sandy grew up on the Texas Gulf Coast with sand between her toes and perpetually frizzy hair. Which is why she now lives in the middle-of-nowhere Virginia, in a place with minimal to moderate humidity (for perfect, non-frizzy curls,) rolling hills and farmed forests. The only downside to that is the temperamental satellite internet and the closest Starbucks being a thirty minute drive away.
Home is a renovated old farm house she shares with her hero husband, in the foothills of Blue Ridge Mountains, where she’s owned by more cats, dogs and horses than she cares to admit to. She’s a long-time member of RWA, and is a member of VRW and the Beau Monde. Second to writing is her love for her horses. She practices natural horsemanship, and loves to ride her barefoot Tennessee Walkers on the trails and in the woods around her home.
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Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Epilogue
Author’s Note
About the Author