The Marchioness’ Buried Secret (Historical Regency Romance)

by Ella Edon

  And, she did. He felt her slip her hands into his hair. He pulled her closer by her waist, so that her body was pressed to his. His mouth moved against hers, and she responded with as much passion as he gave. Before he knew what was happening, he was pulling at the stays that held her dress in place. He pulled and fussed with them blindly, before the dress loosened from her body. She gasped as it did, but she did not stop kissing him. He moved away from her, a slight smile on his face. She stepped out of her dress the moment it dropped to the floor, and then, she touched her petticoat lightly. He chuckled and helped her out of it. When she stood before him, he knew that she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.. Through the dress her soft curves were outlined and all he wanted to do was touch her everywhere. He proceeded to walk towards her, pulled her close and kissed her forcefully again. His hands gripping her waist. Her hands wrapped around his neck and she kissed him back roughly.

  Suddenly, they were stopped by the sound of the knocking on the door. She was panting against him, and he was panting as well. He felt the rise of his manhood in his breeches. His head was against hers, and his right hand still held her close to him. He didn't want to let go. A knock on the door came again, and he froze.

  "My Lord, My Lady? The Earl would like to have a word." It was Mr. Anders, his father butler.

  Henry raised his head slightly and responded. "Tell the Earl that he'll have to wait."

  Emma giggled. "Henry..."

  He liked the sound of her giggle. He liked that he made her giggle. He liked his name on her lips. Before they responded to his father, they would both need to diffuse this fire between.

  "As you wish, my Lord," Mr. Anders replied.

  Once he was sure that the butler had gone, he turned to Emma and scooped her up.

  She gasped. "Your Father — "

  "Can wait, like I said." He gently placed her on the bed and moved above her.

  She giggled and crawled back. He crawled close to her, and when he got near, he pulled her to him. She laughed at the movement. He moved closer still, so that his lips met with hers, while he raised her cotton underdress a bit, his hands on her skin at her waist. She gasped at the contact. He moved his right hand, towards the V below her waist. She gasped again, her eyes boring into his. He shifted to kiss her again on her lips. Then, he slipped his hand into her. She bucked, to permit him entrance. He moved away so he could kiss her neck. She held on to him, her hands around his neck, as he pleasured her. She moaned loudly, so he moved faster, making her moan faster.

  He enjoyed his occupation, but the reminder that his father had sent for them both, intruded into his thoughts. She still had her hands around him though.

  "Don't stop," she whispered.

  He raised his head, so he could meet her gaze, but her eyes were closed. He smiled. He leaned in and kissed her. She opened her eyes and looked at him. She pulled him close to her and kissed him again. They stayed, wrapped in each other's arms, breathing. Henry held her close. There was a comfort in being with her in this way. He enjoyed that she was in his bed. Her hands trailing down his chest. He looked down at them, smiling. She looked up at him, and with a shy smile, she made to look away, but he held her chin and lifted her face to meet his.

  He kissed her deeply, moving his lips against hers. She moaned and that made him want to do many more things to her. His hands raided her chemise and he moved against her thighs. She sighed against his lips and withdrew. Her eyes were clouded, and he was panting once again. She swallowed hard and looked at his lips. Then, slowly, tentatively, she raised her lips to meet his.

  Henry took this opportunity to keep exploring her body. He slipped his hands under her chemise and made his way to back her clit. He moved his lips away from hers and trailed them down her neck. He pulled down her chemise and kissed her breasts. He took his time, suckling on one, before moving to the other. The way she moaned in his ears made his want to do much more to her. He looked up at her. She was panting and watching him.

  He made to kiss her again, but she shook her head, blushing. He creased his brows.

  "Can we stop, I want us to take it, slowly."

  "Oh, " Henry said.

  Emma nodded. She raised her chin. "Do you mind?"

  He shook his head. "Certainly not. Whatever you wish."

  She smiled. "Thank you." After a while, she added. "Can you hold me, Henry."

  He pulled her close. She snuggled close to him, sighing against his shoulders. He smiled, content with the way she held him close. They were silent for a while, then, she chuckled. Henry looked down at her.

  "What is it?"

  "Do you recall the summer when we met?"

  Henry creased his brows. "Vaguely."

  She gasped and made to rise, to look at him, but he held her closer, chuckling. "If you remind me, perhaps then I would recall."

  Emma shook her head, but she did tell him about that summer. "I had alighted the cart with my mama. You were at the stables, I remember. You had peeked from the corner–“

  Henry laughed. He did recall. He had been learning to ride a horse. He had returned from his lessons when he saw her with her mama. He had been curious. "I do recall. I however do not recall you spotting me."

  Emma laughed. "I did and I called my mama's attention."

  Henry smiled. "I must have fled by then."

  Emma giggled. "You had. Indeed."

  Henry smiled. The events of that day replayed in his mind. It was the very first time he had laid eyes on her. He kissed the top of her head and watched as she drifted off to sleep.

  * * *

  Henry arose when he was certain that Emma was fast asleep. She needed rest. As he made his way downstairs, he could not stop thinking of what had transpired, of what she had let him do. Of what he had let himself do. The were not yet completely man and wife but it had been intimate. He had felt the heat from her skin. He had seen the passion in her eyes. And she had even begged to be touched. It was —

  "Henry!" his father's voice stopped his thoughts. He saw his father at the edge of the staircase, his eyes glaring. The Earl was furious. "I sent for you long ago, Henry! Pray tell me what it is that held you and that Chit, up?"

  Henry walked past his father and headed to the drawing room. "Perhaps it is better we had that discussion in the drawing room?"

  "I do not like to be kept waiting, Henry."

  Henry could not help his smirk. He had well known that his father would not like it.

  "If your intention is to infuriate me, you should make sure not to drag your dear wife into it. She knows what will happen if she disobeys me." He dismissed the issue with a wave of his hand. "To more important issues, Blackmoor. We will be having a ball here. An introduction ball. One that announces your wedding and welcomes Emma to London."

  Henry clenched his teeth. Suddenly it occurred to him whatever his father had blackmailed Emma with must concern her father, It would explain why Emma didn't want to talk about it or allow it to get out. She was doing all of this for her father. Surely there was a way to make the blackmail null. He wanted to help Emma overcome all of this. He could see the hurt in her eyes every time they spoke of it. He decided then, that even though Emma refused to tell him what exactly the blackmail entailed, he would not stop trying to help her be free of it. All he wanted was for her to be happy. He sighed and closed his eyes, willing himself to be calm.

  The Earl raised his index finger. "As you know, pulling Loringham down is the major objective. In doing so, we can attain the dukedom for our families legacy--”

  "And the only way to pull Loringham down, is by his wife, Lady Allen. Which is why we need Emma to be in intimate contact with her."

  The Earl clapped. "Perfect. We throw a ball and Emma should invite Lady Allen. From there, she may blossom their friendship, in return she will be invited into Loringham home, and so on and so forth. We will be able harvest the friendship anyway we wish. "

  Henry closed his eyes briefly. His father was obsessed with a
ll of this.

  The door creaked, and Emma walked in. Her shoulders were stiff and upright. She didn't meet his gaze. Henry creased his brows. He had left her asleep.

  "Emma dear, lovely of you to join us so soon." The Earl's sarcasm was not missed. Emma said nothing to him. She simply sat on the blue velvet seat closed to the door.

  "Emma, I was saying that a ball will be thrown," the Earl said, "so, Henry can introduce you to the ton. What do you say?"

  She shrugged. "A splendid idea, I suppose."

  Henry creased his brows at her choice of words. She sounded , accepting.

  "Good! You shall send out a special invitation to Lady Allen of course. The ball should take place in a few days."

  Emma smiled as though she was complying willingly, almost as though she was happy.Henry sat up gingerly, his gaze on Emma. Was something wrong? "Emma?"

  She looked at him. Her eyes held nothing.

  "Emma —"

  "I am alright, my Lord. " she smiled a bit, but he could tell she feigned it, and then, she turned her attention to the Earl, who was smiling himself in satisfaction. "Carry on, please."

  Henry felt cold with way she was shrugging him off. After what they had just experienced together, what could possibly make her so angry and so... cold towards him. He wanted to speak again, she was chuckling to his father and everything was lost. It was surely something that he had done to upset her. That had to be why she was being jovial with his father. Henry needed to find out what exactly was upsetting her. He hoped that she had not chosen to give over completely to his father. His mother had done that, thinking the only way to survive was by always giving in to him. It had all ended very badly for her. He didn't want that for Emma. He wanted to do for her, what he had not and could not do for his mother.

  Chapter Twelve

  When Sally Brooks and Cecil arrived, Emma was preoccupied with her thoughts. The conversation she had heard.

  "We can obtain the dukedom for our families legacy "

  Those words rang in her head. Why would Henry be involved in his father's evil plot. Was he a part of all of this to raise himself up like his father said? Or was he trapped into this because of his attachment to her? Her mood dampened as she thought of this. Was it because of her that he was involved in something that he was uncomfortable with?

  It made her wonder what was truly going on between she and Henry. They had both been wed out of duty, but now, she wondered what she felt, what he felt. She wondered if Henry would risk his own reputation, if her secret eventually got out. She would taint his image as well after all. Her thoughts were jumbled up, her fears were rising, and she did not know what to do. She simply wanted to be alone. She decided that she would keep her distance from Henry. Unlike his father, she decided he was a good man and her heart would be heavily burdened if it was her fault he had to do something he did not want to do.

  " You've barely touched your meal, Emma" Henry said.

  Emma stared down at her breakfast. Henry was opposite her. His eyes searched hers. Her fears rose again, and Emma looked away. Perhaps she needed to protect him from her as well.

  The Earl was at the head of the table. The maid was by her side, holding a bowl of pudding. Emma averted her gaze and looked down at her meal. Slowly, she began to eat.

  "Lord and Lady Blackmoor’s servants have arrived," Mr. Anders announced, stepping into the dinning room.

  Emma turned to the serving maid. "Let something be prepared for them. It must have been a tiring journey."

  The maid smiled. "Most certainly, My Lady."

  She was pleased that her ladies maid Sally had arrived. Sally had been with her for a very long time, and she missed her. She was able to confide in Sally and she needed to talk to someone.

  After the meal, Emma rose from her seat, bowed to both the Earl and Henry before she turned and made her way out of the dinning room. She could feel Henry's gaze burning through her. She didn't realize she was holding her breath until she was out of sight. She felt the need to flee to their bed chamber and close the door behind her. She had made sure to retire to bed before him, the night prior. She had made sure to seem asleep when he walked into the bed chamber. He had checked to see if she was awake. She felt that he wanted to touch her armbut had she sighed against the pillow and turned away. He had left her alone after that and gone to his own bedchamber.

  It was daytime now however, and she wasn't sure how to go about ignoring him, but it was what she was going to do. She had only made it to the foyer when she was interrupted.

  "My Lady!" Sally had entered the room with a wide grin. She rushed towards Emma, curtsied, and grinned. "How have you been, My Lady?"

  Emma smiled at her. "Very well, Sally. How was the journey? Not uncomfortable, I hope.”

  "The road was a bit bumpy, but by His grace, we are here." She smiled again.

  Sally had a cheery nature. She was rarely caught unhappy. She smiled too often and even little things amazed her.

  "Are you alright, My Lady?" Sally asked, interrupting her thoughts.

  Emma looked down at Sally. At that moment, what she needed to do dawned on her. Sally was there for her. She touched Sally's shoulders and said to her. "Dear, I require your assistance."

  Sally nodded attentively. "Anything, My Lady."

  Emma nodded. "Finishing settling yourself if you need and then come help me dress my bed chamber, and we can speak more on your journey then. There is a kitchen maid, Alicia, who might be of help to us, and she will be able to guide you to my room."

  Sally wanted to speak, but Emma was aware of what she wanted to ask. Sally was inquisitive about nearly everything. "Listen carefully, Sally. You must be discreet. We shall talk later."

  Sally's shoulders sagged, but she curtsied and said. "As my Lady wishes."

  Emma smiled at her. Sally walked around her and made her way to the kitchen. She would execute everything discreetly.

  " Emma. "

  She turned around and saw Henry standing there.

  "You scared me!"

  "Pardon me. I had no idea that I'd scare you." Henry's eyes twinkled. It was obvious that he found the situation amusing. She wanted to smile as well, but she recalled that she was supposed to be keeping her distance.

  "Well, you did. Is there a problem?" she asked.

  "Perhaps, it is I who should be asking such a question?"

  Behind him, the Earl emerged from the dinning room. He nodded in satisfaction when he saw them.

  "Ah, I am so glad to see you both. We must begin preparations for the ball. Emma, send out the invitation to the Lady Rachael Allen. She should be the first one to know of the ball and ask for recommendations on who else to invite.

  Relieved for the excuse escape Henry, Emma walked towards the study. She would immerse herself in writing the letter to Lady Allen. She didn't want to have any thoughts about her husband for the rest of the day.

  * * *

  When Emma finished writing the letter the Earl demanded she read it to him. She felt that it was too personal , but she had no choice. This was his game and he wanted his players to do as he desired.

  Dear Lady Allen,

  I am writing to inform you that my husband and I are planning an introduction ball, and we are honored to make yours our first invitation. As I am new to London and you are my only friend, could I beg of you to help me with the guest list and preparations? I trust your judgement above all other’s on whom are the best people are to know.

  Regards,

  Lady Emma Blackmoor.

  The Earl was grinning. That was a good sign, Emma thought. He liked what she had written. "It should be sent to her immediately!"

  Emma simply nodded.

  "When you comply with me, then there will be no problems. I appreciate that you have come to understand that." The Earl sniggered.

  Emma felt repulsed by what she was doing. By what she was being blackmailed to do. She was faking a friendship. Forcing it. She didn't know how to think about her acti
ons, but she felt guilty. As the Earl rose to walk out of the drawing room, he stopped at the door. "Hand me the letter. I will have it delivered."

  Emma sighed. He was skeptical of her intentions butshe herself was happy to not be the one delivering the letter. He took it from her and made his way out. Emma closed her eyes and calmed herself. She hoped that she would not ahve do anything that would bring harm to Lady Allen.

  The next few days went past in a blur, she continued to avoid Henry, and her cause was aided by the Earl's constant demands. She was grateful for that. For this reason, she didn't have to talk to Lord Blackmoor. On the third day, Emma received a response from Lady Allen. The Lady had simply accepted the invitation to her ball. There was no further points, she had not accepted Emma’s request for help. The Earl was not pleased by this. He had thought that Lady Allen would invite her for tea to discuss the preparations and potential guest list. Emma was happy Lady Allen had been dismissive. She wasn't sure how far she was willing to take the entire charade for the Earl.