The Mystery of the Black Widow ~ A Gay Victorian Romance and Erotic Novella

by Lady T L Jennings

  I smiled at him.

  He really is very handsome, I thought hazily while I tried to remember that there was something very important that I needed to tell him, but the words seemed to slip away from me.

  I think I may have fallen in love with you, I wanted to say, but instead the nearly lost words came back to me.

  “Poison,” I whispered, although I had already forgotten why it was so important to tell him that. “It was poison…”

  I closed my eyes slowly and drifted away towards black unconsciousness again.

  *

  ~ Chapter Fourteen ~

  When I woke up again for the second time, I felt much better, if albeit somewhat weak, as if I had been ill and bedridden for a long time.

  “How are you feeling?” Morgan said instantly as I stirred in the bed. He was sitting next to me on the side of a narrow bed with a checkerboard quilt cover in various colours, and immediately offered me a wooden cup of water.

  “Significantly better, thank you,” I said and drank down the cool water greedily. “Where am I?”

  I was lying in a narrow bed in what appeared to be a small one-room stone cottage with an uneven ceiling. The walls were unpainted, and the rest of the sparse furniture consisted of a worn chest of drawers, a round table with two rustic three-legged chairs, and a black, heavy iron stove with a burning fire.

  Outside the two small alcove windows it was dark, so I assumed it was night, and I vaguely wondered for how long I had been unconscious. However, what really caught my interest were the numerous wooden shelves along the walls, which were filled with peculiar wooden statues of carved animals, which were quite detailed and skilfully and lovingly carved.

  “You are at my house,” he replied and took the empty mug from me.

  “Did you make those?” I asked and nodded towards the carved sculptures.

  “It is… only a hobby,” he said and shrugged slightly before he continued, “Do you remember what happened?”

  “I am not sure…” I replied slowly as I searched through my chaotic memories. I recalled that I had decided to search the house, and I remembered the black crow, which had flown down and landed on the small grave by the crossroads. And then… All of my memories came back to me. “Tell me everything,” I whispered.

  “I came back to Lydford Hall early,” Morgan said. “The weather was turning worse and the heavy rain had already rendered the roads quite impossible to travel on with a horse carriage.”

  “You called my name,” I said slowly.

  “Yes,” he replied. “When I could not find you in the library, I searched through the entire house. I found you in Lady Catherine Lydford’s old rooms. You were lying unconscious on the floor next to an unlit wax candle and close to an open wardrobe. You were pale as a ghost, unresponsive, and in pretty bad shape…”

  Something in my mind clicked.

  An open wardrobe… I thought.

  “What…” I said slowly. “What was in the wardrobe?”

  He frowned slightly at me.

  “Lady Catherine Lydford dressed in black for the rest of her life ever since her husband died when she was young,” he replied. “The wardrobe contained a wooden clothes stand with one of her mourning gowns.”

  Ha! I knew there was a logical explanation! I thought, genuinely pleased with myself and quietly chose to disregard the fact that I myself had in a weak moment believed that the Black Widow was real.

  In my mind I went through the scenario: The floor had creaked quite a lot and must be uneven, so when I walked past the wardrobe, I created leverage on the floorboards, which in turn shifted the weight of the wardrobe slightly and had been enough to make the doors swing open behind me, without me noticing it. And in the dark room–and under influence of both poison and residuals from the laudanum that I had taken the previous night–in combination with a dim mirror, it was not strange at all that I had thought I had seen the Black Widow, when, in fact, what I had seen was a mourning gown and veil draped on a clothes mannequin in the wardrobe behind me!

  But what about the wax candle? Had it been a coincidence that it was blown out in a mysterious wind that seemed to come from nowhere? I frowned and thought hard. Of course! When Morgan entered the house, the open door must have created a sudden draft, which had made the feeble candle light wink out.

  It all made perfect sense!

  “But there is one thing I do not understand,” I said slowly. “How did I end up here? I thought you said that the weather made it impossible to travel along the roads?”

  “The weather has been horrendous for the entire day and for the better part of the night too,” Morgan replied, and I realised that I could hear the wind howling outside and the rain falling in heavy showers against the cottage roof. “I could not let you stay at the chilly manor, and since it was not possible to drive you here in the carriage, I carried you.”

  “Oh,” I said, and before I could stop myself, I added, “Did you really?”

  The image of myself unconscious in his strong arms as he was carrying me along some small footpath across the bleak moor formed against my will in my mind, and I tried to force myself not to start colouring up.

  “Well, yes,” he said simply and shrugged. I was pretty sure that he had noticed my embarrassment, but politely pretended that he had not. “I knew I needed to get you somewhere warm and safe, and my cottage seemed like the best choice. It is not particularly far from Lydford Hall, only three miles or so.”

  “I see,” I mumbled before I cleared my throat. “Ah. Well, thank you.”

  He gave me a sidelong glance.

  “When I finally brought you here, you were cold as ice and paler than ever. I thought that you had caught the brain fever that killed James Lydford and the other poor attorney from London, but…” Morgan trailed off. “But then you mumbled something about poison.”

  “I remember that vaguely,” I said slowly, while my memories came back to me.

  When I had searched Lady Catherine Lydford’s vanity table, I remembered that one of the bottles had had a warning label regarding arsenic, which at the time had irked my mind. However; it was not until afterwards that I realised that the only logical explanation was that we all had been poisoned. Lord Lydford, his brother, and I had all consumed whiskey from the crystal decanter in Lord Lydford’s library. The library was cold and dreary, and it was not unreasonable to assume that the other two attorneys had helped themselves to something to drink to keep the cold at bay, and thus sealed their fates.

  “Due to this wretched weather, I could not fetch the physician, Dr Van Brunt, and I did not want to leave you,” Morgan continued. “So I gave you a strong general antidote potion mixed with coal. As a gamekeeper, I sometimes have to use poison to keep vermin in check, but it has happened that the dogs will eat it, so it is always a good precaution to have antidotes available.”

  Which means that you… most certainly saved my life, I thought pensively.

  “I do not recall that you gave me a draught or potion?” I said, because I had no memory of it.

  “You were… quite ill,” Morgan said slowly. “I thought I had lost you; however, it seems like you are recovering rather well.”

  The warm sincerity in his voice and his comment made me feel rather touched; however, I reluctantly but firmly forced myself to push my personal feeling aside.

  Oh, do not be so sentimental, I told myself with a sneer.

  “Indeed,” I said somewhat stiffly and ran my fingers through my hair. I cleared my throat. “Nevertheless, I shall need you to take me to the nearest magistrate as soon as possible. I believe the closest one is at Tavistock court, unless I am mistaken?”

  I sat up and swung my legs over the edge of the narrow bed.

  “You should not be going anywhere!” Morgan exclaimed, wide-eyed. “The weather is still dreadful, and you are not well!”

  “Nonsense,” I scoffed, although secretly I admitted to myself that I felt
slightly light-headed. “I have trespassed on your hospitality and recovered more than enough. I assure you, Mr Morgan, I am quite fit for travelling. Now, where are the rest of my clothes?”

  I looked around for my shirt, waistcoat, and coat jacket, since I noticed that I was only wearing clothes on the lower part of my body. I knew that I had been feverish; however, I promptly refused to think of how Morgan must have undressed me while I was unconscious.

  I am sure it was very… professional! I decided. I clenched my jaw and forced the picture of slightly trembling, strong fingers slowly unbuttoning my shirt, lust-filled stolen glances, and perhaps even a sinful touch here and there out of my depraved head as I resolutely censored any alternative versions. Strictly very professional!

  “You cannot!” Morgan said shortly, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “The roads are unsafe, and a horse carriage would most certainly get stuck in the mud.”

  “Very well,” I said and lifted my chin high. “I shall go on horseback, then.”

  Morgan looked like he had swallowed something unpleasant or possibly like he was trying to control himself and not scream in frustration. He took a deep breath before he placed a hand on my bare shoulder and forced me to meet his amber eyes.

  “You were close to the brink of death the other day,” he said in a softer tone. “I will not risk your life. Not for this, or for anything else, for that matter,” he added, and his words sank slowly and deeply into my heart, whether I wanted them to or not.

  *

  ~ Chapter Fifteen ~

  I hesitated, suddenly torn between my feelings.

  “I…” I started to say. My throat went dry and I licked my lips, suddenly acutely aware of how close he was and how his fingers gently pressed around my shoulder. His thumb made a small circular movement against my naked skin, which I found remarkably distracting and also oddly erotic at the same time. “I… I really must go now,” I said; however, I felt my stern determination and hard willpower slowly fade away with every moment that went past.

  “Do you?” he asked in a slightly husky voice and leaned in. He was so close, his smell of rugged leather with a touch of wilderness filled my senses and almost made me a little bit dazed. His unshaved cheek brushed against mine, and I felt myself stiffen. Never had I been so dangerously attracted to another man as I was in that second.

  “I should leave,” I protested weakly while I silently fought frantically to resist him.

  And I should not let this happen, I thought with a rapidly beating heart; however, it was impossible for me to move away from him, even if I wanted to.

  “Is there really nothing that I can do… to persuade you to stay here with me?” he said softly, and his strong hand glided behind my neck, pulling me closer so that his intentions could not be misunderstood.

  “I cannot,” I mumbled breathlessly. Our lips so close, they almost touched.

  “Are you absolutely sure?” he whispered in my ear while he spread his fingers and slyly let them travel down my bare shoulders. I shuddered involuntarily, and in the last moment I managed to stifle a small moan that threatened to escape my lips; however, I felt my entire body react to his closeness and his touch.

  It had been years since I had been with another man; however, abstinence had clearly not made me a better man or any more prudent, I noticed vaguely as I felt myself grow hard.

  He let his fingers follow the contour of my naked spine, and slowly they made their way further down while I helplessly let him continue to seduce me, although I knew it was madness.

  My breath caught in my throat when his fingertips softly brushed against my naked skin by the edge of my trousers, and suddenly and without any warning, I finally lost the last shreds of my self-control and common sense.

  Prudence be damned! I thought, overwhelmed with raw desire, and before I could stop myself, I cupped both of my hands around his unshaved cheeks, pulled him close and pressed my lips desperately against his.

  Vaguely, I thought I heard him chuckle softly in surprise. Clearly he was more than a little bit pleased that he had managed to make me lose control and in the process drive me half-mad with burning need and lust. I growled quietly in response and pushed myself sinfully against him, knowing that it was reckless and insanely unwise; however, I did not care anymore, and I could not–even if I wanted to!–resist him any longer.

  All I wanted was to feel his body against mine, and abandoning all discretion and leaving my better judgement far behind, I kissed him roughly, exploring him hungrily with my tongue as I started to tear his clothes off.

  My eager and unabashed behaviour made him more excited as well, and before I had time to react, he was over me. Swiftly and uncompromisingly he pushed me down on my back on the narrow bed. Under the weight of his muscular body I could easily feel the full length of his hardness against me, separated by only thin layers of clothes. I moaned involuntarily, and willingly I lifted my hips against him, urging him on. In response he buried one of his hands in my hair and kissed me deeply and thoroughly, which left me breathless, a little bit dizzy, and wild with pure desire. Frantically I tore at his clothes until I heard the seams of his simple country linen shirt rip and several buttons fell to the floor.

  He chuckled softly in amusement again; however, I took my revenge, and leaning forward, I licked one of his nipples teasingly, which was exposed underneath the torn linen shirt, while I let my hands slide down his back, forcing him closer. He inhaled sharply as I closed my lips around the hard nipple and playfully let my tongue flicker over it, leaving a small, wet trail of saliva behind on his naked chest. He looked down on me, his amber eyes glazed over with lust, and I felt him grow harder against me.

  I buried my hands in his half-long hair, and I will admit I was not being entirely gentle as I forced him to kiss me again. Our lips locked, and with a small, muffled growl, I helplessly tugged at his torn shirt and let my hands follow his ribcage down his lower back, pressing him firmly against me. His breath was hot against my throat as he placed a series of kisses along my neck. I moaned softly in reply, and my heart nearly stopped when he in one swift motion pulled his ruined shirt over his head. He had a muscular chest covered with just the right amount of dark hair, strong arms, and mouth-watering broad shoulders, which seemed to be created for sin and scandals. He noted my reaction, and with a small smile playing at the corner of his lips, he lowered himself slowly down on top of me again, so that I could feel his weight against me and his erection nudging at my inner thigh.

  “Do you want me to continue?” he said teasingly in a husky voice that betrayed just how excited he was. To tempt me further, he turned his hips slightly and pressed himself a little bit closer against me, pinning me down until I was forced to spread my legs apart for him. “I could still stop if you want me to…”

  I kissed him feverishly in reply while I let my hands explore his muscular, naked shoulders, and I shamelessly crossed my legs around his hips.

  “No,” I whispered in an unsteady voice as I let my fingers glide over his promising bulging trousers, stroking the contour of him through the layer of clothes. “Do not even dare think about stopping now…”

  With one hand I fumbled with the leather belt to his rough, worn trousers until the belt buckle finally made a metal noise as it came undone. My fingers eagerly found their way in under his linen drawers, and I felt him shudder slightly when my fingers surrounded his naked hardness. He growled in reply and pushed himself rhythmically against me while he kissed me deeply, and his hard grip around my shoulder increased as his desire grew. Somewhat distracted, I managed to remove the last of my own clothes while I returned his hungry kisses. Teasingly I let one hand travel around his naked back, leaving an invisible trail from his hips over his bottom, before I lightly stroke the cleft between his buttocks. To my satisfaction, he reacted instantly, and with a low growl, his breathing became uneven and I felt the tip of his erection become moist as he pressed himself more eagerly against me.


  Suddenly I could not resist him any further, and my desire got the upper hand of me. I needed him and I wanted him completely. He laughed softly in surprise when I tried to half-wrestle with him to get on top of him. He was much stronger than I was; however, I was more desperate. Willingly, he let me have my way with him until he lay flat on his stomach on the narrow bed.

  He was still half-dressed; however, his naked back was fully exposed and seemed to sinfully beckon to me invitingly. I should have taken my time to undress him; however, I found it for some reason darkly attractive the way his crude country trousers were pushed down to his knees, so I decided against it. With half-closed eyes, he provocatively arched his back slightly towards me, and I gritted my teeth hard and resolutely had to stifle the urge to reach down and pleasure myself all over him, there and then.

  “I want you so badly,” I mumbled, and instead of giving in to the temptation of touching myself, I licked my fingers and let my middle finger glide in between his buttocks.

  He growled in reply, pressing himself closer to my fingers as I reached his most secret spot and began to stroke him and gradually prepare him. With closed eyes, his upper lip curled slightly as my actions made him more and more excited, and I felt him relax under my touch.

  I let my other hand glide down, and my fingers surrounded his hardness while I slowly stroked him up and down firmly, but not hard enough to make him come. In response, he groaned softly and moved against me, tempting me to proceed. His breathing became more and more shallow, and he mumbled something incoherently as he gave himself over to me and arched his back further, signalling that he was more than ready.

  My hands glided over his muscular and slightly sweaty back, following the curved spine before I grabbed his hips and slowly but determinedly began to make my way. He bucked against me involuntarily at first, and I forced myself to hold still so that he could move against me and let me enter at his own pace and comfort. I gasped out loud and my fingers dug into the flesh by his hip bone as he pushed himself further and further against me, much quicker than I had anticipated, since we were not using any rose oil or other lubricants. It took all my willpower to resist the tempting impulse to push him down and take hold of his neck and bury myself all the way with a scream, thrusting hard and taking him mindlessly.