by Lucy Langton
“Of course, Lady Willcox. And in turn I am thankful to my father for rescuing me from the gallows. I never knew that my father was still alive and only had the tale of my mother’s death as any clue to my past. It was he who rescued me and who has taught me of my English heritage. I’m very happy to be residing in England now and plan to make up for all the years I was separated from my father,” James explained, looking at his father with much pride and affection.
“My, what a tale to be told,” Lady Willcox exclaimed. “We all have so much to be thankful for, indeed.”
“I would greatly agree with you, Lady Willcox. So, let us celebrate this night the return of our children to England. That they may live the rest of their lives in happiness,” the Duke declared, standing to his feet as he turned his gaze to the opening doors leading to the dining room. The Duke made his way through the drawing room then, signaling the beginning of the meal. James stood as well, lending his arm to Maria, who took it without hesitation as she allowed him to lead her from the room.
“Is it really you, James?” Maria whispered as she looked up at the familiar face she’d come to love. It was simply hard for her to believe that all of this was happening.
“Yes, my love. It is I,” James responded as he spoke softly to her. “I know this all seems like some sort of dream. But I am really here, and plan to ensure our future together.”
Maria’s heart leapt with love for James as glee swept over her. She worked hard to keep her composure since there were so many eyes upon them. They would surely be the talk of the neighbourhood for some time since they both had just returned from sea. Surely the more intelligent members of their community would be able to put together the pieces of their meeting at the Duke’s dinner party.
Maria spent the entire dinner by James’ side as they talked about what had happened since their last parting. They kept their voices low and made sure to join the conversations around them, but mostly they kept their own company during the course of the meal. Maria would tease James from time to time on his table manners, but James would assure her that he was still learning.
“And what of your family in Tripoli? Surely your nephew will want to hear some news from you,” Maria asked, remembering the small elephant she’d enjoyed holding in her hand after she’d discovered it in James’ chest.
“I have written to my family, explaining all that has happened. It will take some time for them to receive my letter, and to gain their response, but I hope they will come and join me in England. My father has assured me that all would be welcome, so there are some who I hope will make the journey. Here in the country, we hope to be away from society’s prying eyes,” James explained as he took a sip of wine from his glass. His father had taught him to drink slowly, and never too much. So now he was learning to refrain from temptation, even though he loved fine wine.
“I think that is a splendid idea,” Maria said, wondering what other plans James had for his future.
And as though he had been reading her mind, James stood from the table and addressed Maria. “Would you care to join me for a walk through the grounds, Miss Maria?”
Maria was surprised, but received encouraging gestures from her parents, her mother even giving her a shooing motion with her hands. Gregory moved his hands together as though he was clapping for her as she rose from the table, taking James’ hand as he tucked it into his arms. Whispers filled the dining room as they departed out of the door that led to the gardens.
They walked in silence for a while, the sounds of crickets filling the air with their own music. The night’s breeze was cool against their skin. James had felt rather warm in his layers and now felt tempted to shed a few, knowing that he could be comfortable with Maria. But he knew that eventually they’d have to return inside.
When they were a short distance from the house, James stopped and turned to Maria, his eyes shining with love and hope. He didn’t say a word as used his hand to tilt Maria’s face towards his, quick to claim her lips in a manner that he’d dreamed of since the day the pirate ship had been attacked.
Maria moaned against his mouth as passion sparked between them. She wrapped her arms around James, pulling him close as their tongues lashed out against each other, eager to taste and remember what it felt like to be together. Heat was quickly building in Maria’s core, causing her to wish that they were in some place private where she could shed her clothes and allow James to show her the pleasure of lovemaking once more. But just as Maria began to pull on James’ shirt, he pulled back, breaking their kiss as they panted hard.
“My dearest Maria, before I get ahead of myself, I must first ask you something,” James said as he continued to hold her close. Maria settled her hands on his chest, feeling the beating of his heart under her hands as she stared up into his dazzling eyes.
“What is it, my love?” Maria asked, wondering what James would need to say that would prevent them from enjoying each other’s kisses for a time before they would be expected back inside.
“If I gain your father’s approval, will you marry me?” James asked so simply that Maria thought she had misheard him. But as the words fell over her, she smiled brightly as she leaned up on her tippy toes and kissed James soundly.
“Yes, James, yes! I’ll marry you,” she said against her mouth. She kissed him with passion then, only stopping when a thought came through her mind. “But James, we’ll have to marry soon.”
“Whatever you wish, my love. I would marry you tomorrow if it were possible,” James said as he was filled with a joy he never thought he’d feel again once the navy ship had attacked and he’d become a prisoner.
“James, you must understand. Recently I have begun to wonder if I’m with child,” Maria explained, startling James so that he became very still. Maria was afraid that perhaps the thought of becoming a father so soon would scare him off, and she wondered if maybe she should have waited to tell him until after the marriage. Maria was only able to breathe a sigh of relief when she saw him begin to smile in the pale moonlight.
“You’re going to have a baby?” James wondered softly, pure happiness flooding his body as he thought of becoming of father, of telling his father that soon he’d be a grandparent.
“Yes, James. I’m going to give birth to your son or daughter in a few months,” Maria confirmed. James let out a shout of happiness then as he picked Maria up in her arms and spun her about. Clapping sounded from the terrace, causing James and Maria to become very still.
“I assume that there is good news to be shared,” Gregory said as he joined them on the lawn.
“Indeed, brother. Lord Lucas has asked me to marry him, and I have agreed till Father can give his blessing,” Maria explained as she stepped back from James, creating space between them so they would be proper once more.
“I have no doubt that Father will give his full blessing,” Gregory said as he shook James’ hand. “I think I shall be calling you brother before too long, Lord Lucas.”
“Please, call me James,” he replied.
“Very well, then you must call me Gregory,” her brother agreed.
Maria had never felt so happy in her life as she returned to the party with her fiancé on her arm. News of the engagement quickly spread through the party, especially once Lord Willcox had given his blessing and Lady Willcox exclaimed her glee. The Duke joined in with their joy, saying to Maria that he was glad to see that his son was happy. She was so full of joy that it was hard to part from James when the night came to an end and her family was preparing to leave.
“I’ll come to visit with you tomorrow and we shall discuss wedding plans,” James whispered in her ear as he led her out to the waiting carriage. “We shall arrange a date quickly so that I might have you in my bed once more.”
Maria blushed as she giggled behind her hand. “Perhaps I will have to sneak into your room before then,” she replied, making sure to keep her voice low.
“Hmm, I’m afraid that will be difficult since our rooms a
re quite far away now,” James reasoned.
“There is no distance that will ever keep us apart now, James. I will make sure of that,” Maria declared. James leaned down and placed a small kiss on her cheek, trying to be proper in front of her parents.
“Till tomorrow, my love,” James said as he helped her up into the carriage. “Goodnight, everyone.” He bowed then as he stepped back from the carriage.
“Goodnight, Lord Lucas,” Lady Willcox called from the carriage as it started down the lane. James had to admit that his future mother-in-law was a character, but he’d come to enjoy the company of all of Maria’s family.
As James turned then to head back into the house, his new home, he sent up a prayer of thanks for the way his life had turned out in the end.
Epilogue
Maria took several deep breaths as she began to hear the organ playing the Wedding March. She hung tightly to her father’s arm, praying she wouldn’t trip on her gown on the way down the aisle.
“I can’t believe today I am giving you away when I feel I just got you back,” Lord Willcox said to his daughter before he led her into the church and to the alter where Lord Lucas, the future Duke of Kemberly, awaited.
“Father, fear not. I will only be down the lane, not all the way in Town. We could dine together each night if we wanted to. I’m sure Mother will be by almost every day to pay us a visit. But you must protect Gregory from Miss Julia as I will not be there to do so anymore,” Maria said cheerfully, trying to reassure her father.
“It all feels rather soon, is all I’m saying,” Lord Willcox said as he worked hard to gain his composure. He knew his wife was already in tears and didn’t want to add to the strong emotions they were both feeling. He was pleased that his daughter was marrying for love, and someone who seemed to be a genuine good fit for his daughter. He also couldn’t ignore the fact that his daughter would never want for anything as one day she’d be a duchess.
“That is easy to understand, Father. We simply did not want to wait because soon it would be too cold for a wedding and spring always takes too long to come,” Maria said as she looked up at her father. “Now come, Lord Willcox. You must watch your daughter be married today.”
Lord Willcox smiled at his daughter as she showed once again just how fierce she could be. He simply nodded as he led her then, the church filled with music and people who had come to see the Duke’s mysterious son be married to a young lady he’d only just met. Or so they thought.
Maria walked down the walkway between the pews with her father, her eyes locking with James’ the moment they stepped into the church. The walkway had been decorated with rose peddles strewn across the way, bouquets tied to the ends of every pew, and garland hung from the rafters, giving the church a holiday feel. Maria took deep breaths as her father led her at a slow pace, Maria’s white, satin gown flowing behind her as the train of her dress trailed behind her. Pearls had been sewn into the gown, making Maria sparkle as she walked. Her hair had been pinned up on top of her head with several more pearls to decorate it.
Maria felt a spark pass through her as her father placed her hand inside of James’. He kissed her cheek before her went to sit down with her mother, and Maria was left to stare up into the eyes of the man she’d come to love so much during the most traumatic time in her life. No matter what they had experienced in the past, it had all led to this moment.
Maria would always remember the clothes James wore aboard the pirate’s ship, and the days when he only wore trousers. Now he was dressed in a brand-new suit, completely dressed in black besides his muslin shirt. His hair had been styled for the occasion, but she wondered if he’d ever grow it long again.
James barely listened to the words of the preacher as he stared into Maria’s green eyes that completely captivated him. She looked radiant in her wedding gown and he was so proud to be able to marry such a wonderful woman. And yet, at the back of his mind, he couldn’t deny that he was also excited to bring her back to the estate and have his way with her. That thought became stronger as the preacher announced them husband and wife, and James bent down to claim Maria’s lips, passion sparking between them.
Maria pulled away first, a fierce blush coming to her cheeks as she kissed James in public for the first time. It was an exciting experience that she couldn’t wait to do again. But for now, they needed to make their way to the Duke’s estate and get ready to greet their guests, now as husband and wife. Without another word, James led her down the walkway as they waved at their friends and family and quickly stepped up into the waiting carriage so they could make it to the estate before their guests.
“I love you,” James said as he pulled Maria against his body, chuckling softly as the train of her dress filled up the rest of the carriage. He was still getting used to English clothing and looked forward to shedding his clothes as soon as they were alone in his bedchamber.
“And I love you,” Maria replied as she moved onto his lap, pressing her lips against him. As the carriage continued to roll down the lane, Maria took her time kissing James, letting her tongue slip between his lips so that she could taste him. James was enjoying the assertive way in which he was being kissed by Maria, his ardor rising quickly as he pictured having her bare in his arms once again.
As the carriage came to a stop, Maria giggled as she slid off James’ lap as the footman came to open the door. James didn’t have time to arrange his trousers as he stepped down and helped Maria do the same. But the moment her feet were on the ground, he bent down and picked her up, throwing her over his shoulder like he had done once, so very long ago.
“James, how dare you carry me like this!” Maria yelled even though she laughed the entire way up the front stairs, through the foray, and up the staircase that led to James’ bedchamber.
“You’ll have to forgive me, my dear,” James called back as he walked quickly down the hallway. “But I’m afraid we don’t have much time.”
James set her down once they had reached his bedchamber. He quickly pushed open the door and ushered her inside, locking it behind them before he turned on his wife and began pulling at her dress.
“This is ridiculous,” James declared as he withdrew a small dagger from his boot and sliced the gown down the back, causing the cool air of the room to hit Maria’s skin, sending a wave of chills over her. She stood perfectly still, allowing James to cut the clothes from her body, sending a pool of wetness to gather between her legs. With only her stockings remaining, James picked her up and took her over to the bed, her legs wrapping around his waist as she wiggled against him.
Though her stomach had grown a bit rounder, James still loved the way Maria looked without an article of clothing on. He was quick to discard his own clothing, tearing bits here and there in his hurry to feel her bare skin against his. He looked down at Maria, spread wide upon his bed, her cheeks flushed from excitement, and all he felt was love for this woman as he finally climbed on top of the bed with her.
“I’ve wanted this for so long,” Maria admitted as she pulled James down to her face, claiming his lips as she felt his manhood press against the opening of her core. “But hurry. We will have to find other clothing before we return downstairs.”
James smiled as he took hold of both her legs, spreading them wide before he sunk into her warm, wet core, causing Maria to cry out in ecstasy. At first, James started a slow rhythm, pulling out only to plunge back into her, causing Maria to moan his name over and over again. James quickened his pace, loving the way her breasts bounced with each thrust. He then put her legs over his shoulders and grasped her from behind, kneading the flesh of her rear end as he sunk deeper into her.
“Faster, James!” Maria called out as she grasped the bed linens, needing to feel James fill her with his seed. She could feel the intense gathering of her own ecstasy building within her core, and she desperately wanted to feel the high of falling over the edge with him.
James obeyed his wife’s commands as he pounded his manhood into
her tight core that seemed to squeeze every inch of him. He wanted this pleasure to last forever but knew that soon the estate would be filled with the wedding guests, and they’d be sure to hear Maria’s moans as she began to become louder with each thrust of his hips into hers.