Regency Romance: The Rake's Fake Marriage (Historical Arranged Marriage Romance) (19th Century Victorian Romance)

by Sarah Thorn

  ''May I ask you to introduce us?'' a man asked Michael.

  ''Er....yes....of course. May I present Miss Megan Longhurst, Megan this is Lord William Thurlington.

  William had seen Megan from the other side of the room and instantly decided he wanted to meet her. Megan curtsied, and he bowed.

  ''It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Longhurst,'' William said. ''If I may say so I have never seen anyone as charming.''

  Megan thought exactly the same. The second she saw him she took an enormous liking to him. ''Thank you.''

  ''I'm the Duke's younger brother.''

  ''It's a magnificent ball, people have made a lot of effort to make the ballroom look so nice. So many fresh flowers.''

  ''It's thanks to my sister-in-law, Maria. The ball was her idea.''

  Megan was dazzled by the color of his eyes, somewhere between blue and turquoise. ''What is the reason for the ball.''

  ''It's really for me. I'm looking for a wife.''

  Megan looked around. ''That's why there are so many beautiful young women here and so few eligible young men,'' she observed.

  He laughed. ''There are, as you say, many eligible young women here. But none as.....'' He stopped himself. He'd intended to say, 'wonderful,' but thought he may frighten her by his enthusiasm. Megan waited for him to finish the sentence.

  ''None as, what?'' she asked when he wasn't forthcoming.

  ''Lovely,'' he said in a gush of emotion.

  ''You are most kind,'' she said, feeling her face turn pink. Stop blushing she told herself, but it was impossible. She'd only known him for two minutes, and already her whole body was on fire.

  ''Tell me about yourself,'' he said casting his eyes over her breasts, and down to the curve of her hips.

  ''Oh, I'm not really that interesting.'' She didn't want to lie to him. She hadn't thought she would end up talking to Lord Thurlington, let alone find him stunningly attractive, and telling him she was the daughter of some fictitious Earl suddenly seemed like an act of betrayal.

  ''I'm sure that's not true. Who are you?''

  ''I live in Bristol, I like horse riding.''

  ''Do you? I like it too. Very much. Is it the first time you've been here, to Hamilton Hall?''

  ''Yes.''

  ''Oh, then you must come and look at something, if that's agreeable?'' Megan had no idea what he intended to show her, but she smiled and nodded.

  ''Just a moment, I'll arrange a chaperone.'' After a minute or so, William returned with a young woman. ''This is my cousin Alice, she will walk with us.''

  Alice was small and quite insignificant looking, but she had a kind face and Megan found her a suitable type to act as chaperone. They walked through the large double door and out into the evening air. It was a soft evening and there was a smell of newly cut grass in the air. They walked to the left down a path that led away from the house towards some outbuildings. When Megan smelled hay, she instantly knew he wanted to show her horses.

  ''What do you think?'' William asked as Megan stood open-mouthed in front of a stable block.

  ''I can't find the words,'' she said. ''They are beautiful.'' She walked up to a stable and stroked the face of a white horse. The horse seemed to enjoy it, and its ears turned forwards.

  ''I think we have twenty-six in all. And next spring we are looking forward to some new arrivals. The brood mares are in this block.'' He pointed to another set of stables. Megan walked over and peered inside one of them. She saw a brown mare with a swollen belly.

  ''Oh, Lord Thurlington, they are all so lovely. Thank you for showing me.''

  ''It's my pleasure. As you can see, we love horse here at Hamilton Hall.'' Megan wanted him to take her in his arms and kiss her. In fact, she wanted more from him than just a kiss. The way he looked and his interest in horses was making her think very sexual thoughts. Her imagination was taking her to places she'd never been with a man before. ''We'd better get back to the ball,'' he said. As they walked back to the house, he stopped and nodded to Alice, who stepped ahead and didn't look back. ''Miss Longhurst...''

  ''Please call me Megan.''

  ''Megan, I.....I think you are very beautiful and more than that, we seem to share an interest. I would like to ask you before we return to the ballroom if you would........''

  ''Yes,'' she said before she knew what he was going to ask.

  ''But you don't know what I wanted to ask you,'' he said, a smile on his face.

  ''It doesn't matter. I will do whatever you want.''

  ''I want to see you more often.''

  ''Then my first answer was already correct,'' she said.

  Megan wondered what had happened to her. Only a day ago she was adamant that she didn't want to get married, now here she was, prepared to do anything this man wanted. If he'd asked her to marry him, she would have said yes. As they approached the ballroom, a dreadful, sobering thought crossed her mind. Either she would have to lie to him and tell him she was the Earl's goddaughter, or tell him the truth and risk being cast aside as a woman of a lower class. She hoped he would fall in love with her before she had to reveal either.

  ''Will you dance with me?'' William asked upon their return to the ballroom.

  They danced, and William felt proud to be with such a beautiful looking woman.

  Many of the young women who had attended the ball began to feel cheated. They'd understood the theme of the ball was to find a wife for Lord Thurlington, but he'd not spoken to one woman except Megan. At the end of the evening, as people began to leave, many women scowled their disapproval at Megan. It was as if she'd stolen something intensely personal from them.

  ''When can I see you again?'' William asked.

  ''Whenever you would like. Perhaps you would be kind enough to show me the horses once again. Perhaps, even, we could ride together?''

  ''Yes, I'd like that very much.''

  *****

  Megan returned to Hamilton Hall just three days later. When she stepped out of the coach her father had provided for her, she was greeted by William, who she thought, looked even more handsome than at the ball. He was dressed in riding clothes, a splendid red jacket and white britches with boots.

  ''Thank you for returning so quickly,'' he said.

  ''Thank you for inviting me.''

  Alice was on hand again as chaperone, but she'd been thoroughly briefed by William to keep her distance, and when he gave the signal, to disappear altogether. Alice took Megan to a room where she was able to change into her riding clothes. William waited impatiently outside, pacing up and down, like a caged lion.

  ''She's a steady ride,'' he said as Megan climbed the mounting steps to a horse called Blossom. When Megan was in the saddle, William handed her the reigns and mounted his horse. Alice was to follow on a pony, which seemed too large for her.

  ''Are you sure she is alright, so far behind,'' Megan asked, referring to Alice.

  ''I asked her to stay back because I want to talk privately to you.''

  ''I'm glad you did.''

  They rode over a meadow and through a gate, to a path along the river. ''We can follow this path for a long way, but I thought we could stop in a little while, tie the horses up and talk.''

  ''It's a really idyllic place,'' Megan said. ''Is it all your land?''

  ''For now, yes.'' He scolded himself for saying that. It implied they wouldn't always have the land and that wasn't necessarily true.

  ''For now?'' she inevitably asked.

  ''No, I mean it's ours, or more correctly said, it's my brother's. I'm only number two.''

  ''You are more than that to me,'' Megan said. She didn't care whether he thought it was forward or not. She wanted him to know how she felt about him. If she was honest with herself, she was already deeply in love with him. As they rode along the path, the chemistry was palpable. William had made up his mind too. As soon as they reached the place where the river became shallower, he would send Alice away.

  When William gave the signal they had rehearsed, Al
ice turned her pony around and galloped off into the distance. William dismounted and tied his horse to a tree. It lowered its head and began to munch on some grass. He put out his arms to assist Megan dismount, and she dropped down into them. He tied her horse to the same tree. As soon as he finished, he reached for her and kissed her. A passionate kiss which demanded a response and Megan did respond. She clung to him, crushing her lips against his. It wasn't long before she felt William's erection pushing against her leg. Feeling desperately aroused she put her hand on him. He moaned and thrust his hips against her.

  It was the first time Megan had felt a penis, and she was surprised how hard it was. She ran her hand, sensually, up and down the length of him and smiled at the effect it was having on him. William wanted more, and he quickly opened his trousers and allowed Megan to release him. When she touched his naked member, she felt her own desire beginning to flow.

  William wanted to see more of her, and he began to open the buttons on her dress. When her undergarments were exposed, he reached inside and took her breasts in his hand. At his touch, a wave of desire enveloped her, and she began to rub him faster. He played with her, teasing her, willing her to cry out with delight. Now Megan became proactive; she wanted him, and she wanted him fast. She stood back and took off her dress.

  ''Now you,'' she said brazenly.

  William began to take off his clothes as she watched. When his shirt came off, she gasped at how well-defined he was. He had a flat rigid stomach with powerful biceps and a bulging chest. When he lowered his trousers, his thighs came into view and the size and power of them send a wave of arousal over her, the strength of which she had never in her life experienced. She hurriedly rid herself of the rest of her garments and stood ready for him.

  ''You are so beautiful,'' he said, his eyes raking from her breasts to the soft curls below. He pulled her to him and kissed her, this time, more gently. With lips still locked they lowered themselves to the ground. Megan gasped at the feel of the cool grass on her back as she lay down and opened her legs, willing him to lay between them and enter her. But he didn't. He wanted to taste her. When his mouth began to place soft kisses on her womanhood, she grabbed his hair and let out a moan that spurred him on to pleasure her more. It took only seconds before William felt the spasms of Megan's orgasm on his mouth, and as she covered her mouth to prevent herself from screaming, he hungrily lapped up the juices of her desire.

  Giving her no respite, she pulled himself up and began to kiss her. She put her arms around his back, her hands feeling the hard muscles. ''Gently,'' she said when she felt his penis pushing against her. He placed himself at her entrance and pushed, slowly. When Megan's body stiffened, he stopped and waited until the expression of pain on her face subsided. He pushed some more and stopped again. Slowly Megan began to relax, no longer a virgin, but the object of William's intense desire.

  When William was sure his lover was ready, he began to thrust harder. He put his head to the nape of her neck and inhaled the scent of her. It was too much for him, and he had to close his eyes and think of something irrelevant to prevent himself from coming too soon. When he opened his eyes again, the sight of her beautiful face staring up in admiration at him made the situation worse. He stopped.

  Megan was worried something was wrong. ''William, what..?''

  ''Sssh,'' he said. He kissed her and looked deep into her eyes. ''You are so lovely. I need to go slowly for a while.''

  Megan understood and lay still until he was ready again. When he began to move again, she felt more intense pleasure, and as he increased the strength of his thrusts, another orgasm crashed over her. The feeling of her pleasure flowed into him, and he soon felt himself on the edge. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her.

  ''I love you, William,'' she whispered. As soon as she said it, she felt his thrusts become shallower and suddenly stop altogether as the warmth of him enveloped her inside.

  ''I love you too, he muttered, between gasps. You are a dream.'' They kissed again. She felt his erection subsiding and laughed as he suddenly fell from her. He rolled from her and lay on his back. She lay on her side and put her head into his neck.

  ''Thank you,'' she said.

  ''For what?''

  ''That was the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me. You were kind and considerate, and you made me feel wanted.''

  ''I do want you, Megan. I want you always.''

  Megan closed her eyes savoring the moment. But it was spoiled by a sudden blanket of guilt. When would she tell him who she really was? How could she lie to him? Is that what people who loved each other did? She didn't think so.

  William pulled some clothes over their naked bodies, and it felt as if they were in bed together. Megan tried to imagine a grand bedroom at Hamilton Hall and waking in the morning next to her husband. She would make love to him twice daily, as soon as they woke up, and just before they went to sleep.

  ''I want to know more about you,'' he said.

  The question she had been dreading. ''There's not much to know.''

  ''We have just made love, I know you intimately, but I don't know you at all. Except I know, you're the goddaughter of some Earl or other.''

  ''Who told you that?'' she asked stunned.

  ''I asked Maria, my sister-in-law, who you were. As soon as you came into the ballroom I knew you were the one for me.''

  She decided to divert his attention. She reached down under the clothes and cupped his manhood. ''I want you again. I can feel you do to,'' she said cheekily.

  *****

  Fred heaved another sack from the bottom of another ship and sat down exhausted. ''You know I won't be able to do this job in another five years, it's bloody exhausting.''

  ''Of course, you will. All you have to do is think about Megan. The thought of bending her over one of those sacks and having her beg you for it will keep you going till you're well over sixty.''

  ''I heard that you crude man,'' Megan bellowed from up on the quay. Her father had sent her to count how many sacks the May Blossom had bough from Indonesia. ''Is that what you two talk about all day?'' Fred looked horrified, and Philip grinned.

  ''Sorry miss, it won't happen again,'' Fred shouted up at her. Then he had an idea. His mother had told him, on her death bed, that women love being told they're beautiful. Her last words were, 'it's the way to a woman's heart.''

  ''Miss Megan, sorry, but it's very hard for two red-blooded men, who work hard all day, not to think of you. We work up an appetite down here, and you're extremely beautiful.''

  Megan turned away and smiled. She liked Fred; he was simple, but a good man, and she didn't want to get him into trouble. ''Fred would you come up here something isn't right,'' she shouted. In a flash, Fred was up on the quay. Megan looked around to see nobody was looking and kissed him, one on each cheek. ''You're a very dear man Fred. I like you, but it's time you found a wife to satisfy.....you know......your urges.'' Megan had never seen Fred blush.

  ''To have a good woman to come home to would be heaven,'' he said.

  ''Then I'll help you. I know a few ladies who I think would be just right.'' Megan knew the manager at the local fish market, and there was a multitude of single women who gutted fish and dreamed of the perfect man.

  When Megan had finished counting and gone back to the office, Fred slugged Philip a proper blow to the jaw. ''No more talk like that, do you hear?'' Philip looked up from the floor and nodded.

  ''It's a terrible situation,'' Megan complained. ''You two, with your cunning plans and deceitful scheming, have put me in an unbearable situation.''

  Jeffrey and Michael looked at each other. ''How?'' Jeffery asked.

  ''Do you mean to tell me you don't know?''

  ''No.''

  ''By telling the Thurlington family that I'm the goddaughter of the Earl of Wells.''

  ''You're in love,'' Michael said mockingly. ''You've fallen in love with young William, and he thinks you're aristocracy.'' Michael began to laugh.

&
nbsp; Jeffery looked at his daughter who bowed her head. ''Have you found someone you love?'' he asked.

  ''Yes, against all that I wanted for myself, I have. And thanks to you two, I'm trapped. I should never have gone to that ball, and certainly not masquerading as someone I'm not.''

  Jeffrey was excited. His plan seemed to be working. He imagined himself standing in his best suit at Hamilton Hall, conversing with the Duke and his wife. That would be just the beginning, from there he would meet and greet the British aristocracy at will. ''What do you think she should do Michael?'' he asked.

  ''It's difficult. I suppose the best thing to do is tell him the truth. If he loves you, he will still want you whoever you are.''

  ''Father, I have always done everything you have asked of me, but going to that ball to make connections for you has turned my life upside down. I will tell William who I am, and face the consequences.''

  ''Can't you string him along a bit more, get him to propose to you, marry him and then tell him,'' Jeffrey said. There was a glass of water on Megan's desk. She took it and poured it over his head. When she slammed the door behind her, the whole building shook.

  ''She's a feisty one, just like her mother,'' Michael concluded.

  ''Yes indeed she is. And I'm a rotten father, I've just realized that.''

  *****

  William cried out like a Wild Indian, as he and Megan raced their horses across the newly harvested field. The wind in her hair and the feeling of power below her made Megan feel free. It was a perfect day, no clouds, except the one in Megan's heart. Today, she was going to tell him. Come what may.

  They stopped at a fence which bordered a wood. When they dismounted, William attended to the horses and Megan rehearsed what she was going to say. William put his arms around her and kissed her.

  ''What is it?'' he asked when she didn't respond.

  ''You have asked me several times to tell you something about my background. Well, I think the time has come.''

  ''Later, I want you. Come on. Let's climb over the fence and go into the wood, nobody will be able to see us. Can you feel how much I need you?'' He took her hand and put it to his groin; she pulled away. ''Megan, what is it?''