Amy looked into my face intensely, as though she too was committing every detail to memory.
I imagined both of us, an ocean separating us, and the lonely nights that lay ahead.
But she was determined to complete her promise to her sister. Who was I to ask her to give that up for life in Briar Glen?
Brushing those thoughts away, I focused on the present. On the woman in my bed. The woman who had imprinted herself on my heart.
The ache of it stilled my breathing. I should tell her. Beg her to stay. Get on my hands and knees and propose to her since I had never actually done that.
She cupped my cheek and then brushed her fingers through my hair. I caught her hand in mine and drew it to my lips, placing a kiss on her fingertips, one by one.
She inched closer to me and tugged at my shirt until it was loose from my trousers. Her hands slid under the fabric and caressed my chest, teasing across my nipples with her thumbs. Leaning forward, she ran her tongue over the hard tip through my shirt. I gasped at the sensation and gripped her by the upper arms and lifted her mouth to mine.
In moments we were both naked and though we had stripped in a hurry, our lovemaking continued at a slower pace. Her hands seemed to be everywhere, caressing me and grazing her fingers along what seemed like every nerve ending in my body.
We were facing each other, lying on our sides. I stroked my palm over the gentle slope of her hip, then down to where her thighs met. She opened for me and I stroked the outer rim of her quim.
Amy’s moan of pleasure was my reward and I followed the same path with my mouth, finally settling myself between her legs and lifting her sweet cunny to my lips, my tongue lapping up the juices of her arousal, the musky flavor making me wild with desire, but I forced myself to hold back. I kissed along her inner thighs, the flesh there quivering under my lips.
“Oh, Drake,” Amy gasped, her hand buried in my hair, trying to guide me back to her quim. “Please.”
I glanced up the length of her body, taking in the gentle swell of her belly and the full globes of her breasts, the nipples pebbled.
I reached up and cupped both breasts in my hands, then devoted myself to pleasuring her with my mouth, my lips sucking on her clitty until she bucked her hips against my face and climaxed, her juices flooding my mouth.
* * *
Amy
I lay upon the bed, gasping in the aftermath of a shattering climax. So relaxed and happy, it was on the tip of my tongue to tell Drake how much I loved him and beg him to let me stay and be his wife. Maybe someday I would be able to earn his love, if only he would give me the chance.
I reached for him and drew him up to kiss me, my feminine essence upon his lips.
I cupped his face between my hands and gazed into his eyes. I would do it. I licked my lips and prepared to reveal my soul to him, but he covered my mouth with his, silencing me on the topic. As we kissed, he raised his hips and straddled me, his cock slipping into my cunny with a familiar move. He found his rhythm and pistoned in and out. I raised my hips and moved with him, our bodies moving in unison until he exploded inside me. As he came, I peered deep into his eyes, certain our souls had united in that moment.
Spent, he situated us both beneath the covers, pulling me to his chest. He kissed the top of my head. “Good night, sweet Amy.”
Chapter 15
Amy
It was a silent ride as we made our way through Briar Glen in the curricle, only Drake and me. This bit of business needed to be handled by just the two of us. Though there was no specific reason not to trust the staff at Jade River Hall to be discreet, there was also no reason to allow for any temptation.
I was reminded of that morning, what seemed a lifetime ago, when Drake had picked me up from Cherry Grove Manor in order to introduce me to his Uncle Jarvis as his fiancée. I had thought to be in the hamlet of Briar Glen no more than a few days, a fortnight at most, thereafter to leave with my pockets full of bills and nary a backward glance at Lord Drake Stowe.
Though the silence was uncomfortable, the tightness in my chest caused me to wonder if I would have been able to talk, had I wished to do so.
Oh, there was plenty I wished to say to Drake. Turn around. Take me home. I love you. I will always love you. To name a few.
Considering the vast physical intimacies we had shared, you would think a simple confession of love would come easily, but it did not.
I feared his rejection more than anything in the world. After the way Richard, my first husband, had ridiculed and shamed me. Calling me vile names and even persuading my parents to disown me as some sort of immoral harlot, I could not take that risk ever again. If rejection from Richard, for whom I cared little and respected not at all, caused devastation, I could not fathom the unending ache I would feel if Drake set me aside as well.
I would go to America. To my sister who had not cut me off as had my parents, and I would focus all my energy on assisting her. With the money tucked safely in my reticule, as well as a few notes in my shoe for safekeeping, we would be able to restore my sister’s reputation and provide help to desperate children in need. Other people who had been rejected and abandoned. I would certainly be able to empathize with their heartache.
Better to keep quiet and at least retain the slim hope that he had some affection for me than to confront the situation directly and find out the truth.
Promise me you will not allow pride to cause you to make the same mistakes as me.
Uncle Jarvis’ words echoed in my brain.
We drove by Cherry Grove Manor and I thought about my friend Seraphina and how much I would miss her. Mrs. Boyd too.
There was the assembly hall. Silly as it sounded, I wanted to see it freshly painted. To go inside and dance with my husband.
Promise me you will not allow pride to cause you to make the same mistakes as me. I heard those words again as though Uncle Jarvis was right next to me. I whipped my head around and came face to face with Drake. Sadness seemed to fill his expression. I wet my lips, gathering my courage to say what I had to. But he spoke first.
“I hope your voyage is pleasant.”
A pleasant voyage? My heart was breaking and he worried about whether my voyage would be pleasant?
“I do as well,” I said, my voice scratchy with emotion.
“You will write and let me know you have arrived safely, will you not?”
My heart fluttered in my chest.
“You are traveling with a large amount of money, I would hate for anything to happen to it.”
My heart sunk.
“I will be careful.”
“And you will write?” It was more of a command than a question and my pulse raced at his familiar stern tone.
“If you wish it.”
“I do.”
* * *
Drake
We had passed through Briar Glen and made our way to the main road to London. To London and the harbor and the ship that would take Amy away from me. Across the ocean. Forever.
“Wh-what will you tell people? About my absence?”
That I am a damn fool to let you go.
“I had not considered it. I suppose it is best to stick as close to the truth as possible. I shall say you have gone to visit your sister in America. That it is an emergency situation.”
“Yes, that is probably best.” She stared off into the distance.
“You must be eager to see your sister.”
“I am. It has been many years since I have seen her. She is my only family.”
My breath clogged my throat. I thought we had been a family. Had been.
“Oh,” she said, turning in my direction, “that was thoughtless of me. You have just lost a family member. My apologies.”
I was about to lose the only family member that mattered to me.
Not a day goes by that I do not regret allowing my pride to keep me from her. Find a wife. Create a family. Please do not finish up like me.
It was as though Uncle Ja
rvis was whispering in my ear. His words from that long ago conversation reverberated in my brain.
Foolish pride. How could I let it keep me from the woman I loved?
Just because you love her, does not mean she loves you. Remember Marie.
The evil voices reminded me of my humiliation. The most painful period of my life. Until now. Compared to the ache in my heart at the thought of never seeing Amy again, Marie’s behavior was barely worse than stubbing my toe. The loss of Amy was like having my heart wrenched out with rusty pliers.
Damn it. I was no coward.
I pulled on the reins and stopped the horses, turning to Amy to bare my soul.
“Oh thank goodness,” she said, bolting from the seat to run behind a tree.
Bloody Hell! Could I not catch a break? Was this a sign that I ought to keep my mouth shut?
From behind the tree I could hear Amy gasping for air. I had assumed she had run off due to the call of nature, though we had not been traveling long. But based upon the sounds now emanating from the other side of a large elm tree, it seemed there was more to this stop than I thought.
“Amy?” I called. “Is everything all right?”
“Y-yes,” she said, though I did not believe her.
I paused for a moment and listened. She was crying. Sobbing. My Amy was in distress and I had no idea why.
I rushed to the other side of the tree and found her sitting on the ground, her knees pulled up to her chest and her face buried in her skirts.
“Amy?” I sat on the ground next to her and touched her hair.
“Please, leave me in peace. I-I do not wish f-for you to see me like this.”
Ignoring her instructions, I took the opportunity to pull her into my embrace and settle her in my lap.
“I-I said to leave me in peace,” she wailed against my chest.
“Amy, my love, please, tell me what is the matter? Do you need to see Dr. Spencer? We can postpone this trip until you are well.”
“It h-hurts,” she cried into my chest. “It hurts so badly. The worst pain ever.”
Alarmed, I jumped to my feet, my beloved in my arms and ran for the curricle. I settled her in the seat as carefully as I could then got in myself, slapping the reins on the horses’ backs and turning them back toward Briar Glen and Dr. Spencer’s house.
Amy continued to sob. I put my arm around her, driving the horses with the other, and pulled her close to my side. “Sweetheart, I am taking you to Dr. Spencer, he will know how to help you.”
“Nooo,” she wailed, looking up at me with tear stained eyes. “H-he cannot help.”
“Whatever do you mean? He is a doctor, a very good doctor.”
“Please, stop.”
“Oh dear. Is it the motion? Are you ill from the movement of the carriage?”
“You might say that.”
I stopped and turned to her, taking her hands in mine. “Tell me, where does it hurt?”
“My heart,” she said.
“Then we must get to Dr. Spencer right away.” I reached for the reins, but she put her hand over mine to stop me.
“I-I…” she stammered and her voice trailed off.
Damn it. Tell her you love her. Good Lord. It was Uncle Jarvis again, this time plain as day.
“My heart hurts too, Amy,” I said, clasping her hands in mine and holding them to my chest. “I have been a fool. I love you, heart and soul. Please, do not leave. Stay here. Be my wife. Forever.”
* * *
Amy
Suddenly the pain in my heart turned to euphoria.
“Yes,” I said. “Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes.” I threw my arms around him and kissed Drake as hard as I could. “I love you with my whole heart. Please do not make me leave.”
“Never,” he said.
We paused for a long time next to the road, laughing and kissing and sharing the joy of finally expressing our love for each other.
“We had best get back to Jade River Hall,” Drake said, “before we commit some acts of public indecency.”
“Yes, please hurry.”
Drake drove the horses hard and I hoped he would do the same to me soon. We made the trip back to Briar Glen in record speed. Just as we made the last curve into town, another carriage appeared as if out of nowhere in the morning sun.
The Fisk family barouche with Mrs. Fisk and Caroline riding in the open topped carriage. Their driver managed to avoid us and maintain control, even after going up on two wheels for a hair-raising moment.
“What are you doing!” Mrs. Fisk shouted.
Drake and I laughed all the way home.
* * *
Six Weeks later
My dear Amy,
Though I am sorry you will not be joining me here in America, I am delighted to learn your sham marriage is now the real article. Love is a precious gift and you deserve all of it you get.
Please thank your husband for his generous gift and for making the arrangements with the bank for regular deposits. I do not know how I will ever be able to repay or thank him. He is truly an answer to prayer.
I shall write more later, but right now we have an outbreak of the croup and I am needed.
Much love to you, my dear sister,
Diana
I read over the letter twice while sitting in the garden of Jade River Hall, marveling once again in my vast good fortune.
And it all started when I cut off my hair to sell to a wig maker.
I gazed out over the garden toward the cemetery where Uncle Jarvis lay. I missed him every day. Gathering up a few of the blooms, I made my way in the direction of his grave, as I did nearly every day. I felt closer to him there.
As I approached, I noticed someone else was already at his grave. A woman, full figured and regal in bearing, with a flower covered hat as large as a parasol.
Frozen in place, I watched as she reached into her hat, pulled out a clump of blooms and laid them on Uncle Jarvis’ grave.
Speechless, I stood there as she turned and walked to her carriage. She paused and blew me a kiss before closing the door.
Uncle Jarvis’ words came back to me and suddenly all the pieces fell into place.
“I met a woman and fell madly in love with her. She was clever and funny and smart. Kind beyond measure. She was beautiful and the most unique and interesting woman I had ever met. In all the years since, I have never met anyone who even came close to measuring up to her.”
No, there was no one like Lady Ambrosia.
The End
Celeste Jones
One day while out to lunch with my mother, she leaned across the table and whispered, "Have you ever heard of spanking...you know, like with sex?" A friend of my mother's had confided in her that she wrote spanking stories for Discipline and Desire. My mother, convinced that her daughter could do anything, suggested I give it a try. I guess mothers do know best because I've been having a great deal of fun writing spanking stories and I owe it all to my mother.
Don’t miss these exciting titles by Celeste Jones and Blushing Books!
Maid for a Lord
Lady Katherine’s Comeuppance
Lady Katherine’s Conundrum
Willful Miss Manchester
Laying Down the Law
Regency Matchmaker Series
His Tempestuous Bride – Book One
His Mischievous Bride - Book Two
Lessons for His Bride - Book Three
His Bargained For Bride - Book Four
www.writercelestejones.blogspot.com
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His Bargained For Bride: Regency Matchmaker Book Four Page 12