Dederick chuckled at that.
“Thank you, my love. Truth be told, I don’t know where their thoughts are either. I know they were vehemently against the idea initially, but I am sure they realize they cannot hold out forever and that I would just accept defeat and leave their care to make my own way. You’ve done it, how hard could it be?” Dederick asked with a laugh.
“I don’t know, my lord. You may have difficulty navigating in my world given that you have no rank and no wherewithal without your parents help.”
“Touché,” Dederick said with a smirk, gave her hand a squeeze, then went into the room to face his parents' wrath.
Dederick spent the next several hours arguing with his parents, which he expected. And as Arabella had easily surmised, he could sense his father coming to his side, but his mother was still not convinced she was the right woman for him to wed.
“What about Lady Bedford?” the Countess asked as she strolled about the room. “You seemed to like her, and she’s very pretty.”
“Her father is in debtor prison and they sent her off to live with an elderly relative,” Dederick answered with a yawn.
“When did this happen?” she asked.
“A few weeks ago, she’s no longer viable. Who is your next choice?” Dederick asked, trying to conceal a smirk, though he caught his father smirking just the same.
“What about…” she started, but his father had had enough.
“We’ve touched on every available woman in the three hours since we’ve sat here and it’s apparent there is no one who either fits your guidelines or is available anymore. We need to be smart about this,” he said as he stood from his chair and stretched his back. “Arabella is a charming girl. She’s smart and well educated. Her lack of standing in our circles may be a shortcoming, but it is not as if someone of noble blood has never married a commoner before,” he said, glaring at the Countess.
“But she’s not right for him. She’ll be an embarrassment,” the Countess said as she continued to glower at her son, but he would not budge any more than she would.
“What will be an embarrassment is a bachelor son who will never leave our household… for years and years,” Dederick remarked and this time his father smirked.
“Dederick, why are you being so adamant about this girl. What do you owe her?”
“I owe her everything, mother. She was by my side when I needed her. She comforted me when I needed it most. And I find I can speak to her easily. We share so many of the same thoughts and ideas. And I love her. That’s the simplest explanation I can give you,” he said, giving his mother a warm smile. “She makes me happy, is that not enough?”
The Earl nodded his head slowly and gave his wife a pointed glance.
“It looks like we have a wedding to plan then,” she admitted with a sigh.
Chapter Thirteen
Four months later
Arabella rolled over into the glorious downy folds of the coverlet that was draped over the lower half of her body. She stretched languidly and flipping her long hair out of her face, looked over her shoulder and across the room where she spied her husband leaning against the windowsill gazing out across the landscape. He didn’t note her movement and with a smile, she pulled a sheet free, wrapped it around her nakedness, and made her way to him.
“My beautiful wife,” he said when he turned to note her approach, and pulled her into his arms, kissing her soundly.
“Is everything all right?” Arabella asked as she snaked her arms around his neck, nuzzling him there.
“Everything is fine,” he said, laying his cheek against the top of her head. “I was just ruminating that we must return home this afternoon and how I wish we could stay here forever.”
“It has been glorious, has it not?” she said with a sigh. “When does the coach depart?”
“Half two. We’ll stay in Paris for the next two nights and then head across the channel.”
They’d spent a month in Milan with a quick stop in Geneva before ending at this French estate in the small lush town of Sancerre, just south of Paris. It was a heavenly wedding tour, one Arabella never thought to undertake in all her life, but with the generosity of his parents and her father, they could stay at the most beautiful places she’d ever been to.
“Well,” she said, gesturing with her head. “We have a few hours before we leave.”
“Indeed, we do,” Dederick said as he loosened the sheet around her and let it drop to the floor. “I’m sure we can while away some of that time.”
Lifting her into his arms, he carried her to the bed and sat her at the foot of it, standing between her legs as he kissed her deeply, languidly.
Arabella melted into him as she did so many times over the last months, never able to get enough of the man she now loved so much. His touch was gentle yet eager, his kisses searing her skin with their desire. His teeth nipped at her ears, skimming along her jawline where he kissed her throat, his tongue lingering where her pulse was strongest. When a soft moan escaped her lips, she could feel him smile against her skin.
“I love that I can make you react with the simplest touch,” he whispered, his fingertips feather soft as they trailed up her arms and fanned through her hair.
Arabella let her head drop back as his lips travelled down her collarbone to her cleavage.
“I love that your body reacts so quickly to my kisses,” he murmured and then took one nipple into his warm lips and suckled, forcing another moan from her throat.
Her mind could not focus when he was so intent with his ministrations. On their wedding night, she’d experience feelings she’d never imagined. Even as the daughter of a physician, Dederick had done things to her and made her body react in ways she never thought possible. And so, she looked forward to any chance they could get to be intimate that she could learn from him and enjoy everything he made her feel. This being one of those moments.
The intense burning roiled in her core as his tongue and teeth worked at her nipple was maddening and without thought, her legs wrapped about his waist, pulling him toward her, and she felt him smile again.
“My eager wife,” he cooed against her skin as he continued to nip and lick. “She is so voracious.”
Arabella found it impossible to respond, the depth of the enthralling heat surging through her deeming her speechless. She reached out for him and drew him up to her so she could kiss him once more. Her fingers laced through his hair and she deepened the kiss, devoured what he offered until their moans mingled and heightened their already ravenous play. She broke away from him then to catch her breath, laughing softly as his lips traveled back to her breasts, suckling, teasing, toying with her until she was squirming against him.
“My wanton wife,” he said with a sly smile, then nipped and licked his way along her stomach to the place where she ached for him the most. He need not coax her for what he offered, she eagerly opened for him and her apparent hunger made him smile is such a way that it nearly shamed her. But she could not help the need that coursed through her at his nearness. It burned like a wound deep inside her, begging to be soothed.
His lips went to her thigh, kissing as his fingers stroked her flesh there and then he bent to her, his tongue probing, tasting her in the most intimate way. The instant rush of heat that surged through her made her gasp aloud, and her fingers tightened in his hair, hungrily pulling his mouth into her so that he was now lavishing her wetness like a man beyond the bounds of thirst. The feel of his tongue as it flicked against her sensitive center had her arching against him and a strangled sound escaped from her lips, a sound of exquisite pain and great abandon.
She was on the precipice once more, icy flames tickling the soles of her feet, making her skin prickle as he pressed into her, drawing out the sensation to the brink of madness.
“How hungry you are,” he growled against her flesh, nipping at her belly. “How insatiable.”
“I can never have enough of you,” she offered on a sigh as he lean
ed over her and kissed her once more. The taste of her on his tongue was an unexpected shock, but she did not have time to dwell on it. With able fingers he probed her wet, intimate center and then with a slow deliberate stroke, pushed himself into her.
Arabella cried out, biting his shoulder and Dederick moaned and growled against her ear.
“And I can never get deep enough,” he offered on a pained growl. “I want to crawl inside you and stay there forever.”
“And I would let you,” she said, and arched against him, grinding so that she felt him deep inside her.
Their movements started slowly, like a waltz finding its rhythm. But the music inside her mind began building, the crescendo like a tide of brilliant color bursting all along her body and Dederick quickened his paced, rubbing against her in such a way that tiny explosions began erupting up her spine until, at once, they both cried out and the world shattered around them like a waterfall. They lay in one another’s arms, panting and slowly caressing until they had once again fallen asleep.
More than an hour later, a maid came to the door to rouse them and though they were not eager to separate their bodies, their departure was quickly approaching. Soon the master’s chamber was filled with movement, maids and valets packing trunks and dressing each of them for the last leg of their journey. Soon they would be back in England and the true test of their marriage would begin.
Arabella, now fully dressed in her new traveling gown that Dederick had purchased for her in Italy, gathered her reticule and went to the foyer where her husband was waiting. The glow in his eyes no doubt mirrored her own as they looked upon him.
He stepped forward, shaking his head slowly.
“You are so beautiful,” he offered, taking her hand, kissing the back of her knuckles. “I should have had more gowns made for you in Milan while I had the chance.”
“Nonsense,” Arabella said with a giggle. “Beautiful as this gown is, I will hardly have need of fancy clothing once we return home.”
“I beg to differ,” he said with a sniff. “I plan to show you off as often as I can.”
Arabella shook her head and stepped away from him, allowing her maid to put on her bonnet, and the two of them took to the coach and departed.
Once in Paris, they dined with friends of Dederick’s and though some of the company was stuffy and much too haughty for her taste, she enjoyed their time there. Dederick talked her into purchasing several more gowns, two pairs of kid gloves, and a pair of slippers so exquisite, she was loath to remove them. By the time they left Paris and boarded the boat that ferried them across the channel and back to English soil, Arabella was sated and exhausted. So, when she awoke on her husband’s shoulder several hours later, she was surprised to see that their coach had not pulled up to Braedon Manor.
“Where are we?” she asked, then hid a yawn behind a gloved hand.
“We’re home,” he offered with a smile. “My father offered us the use of Millstone Cottage as a wedding gift.”
Arabella looked up at the facade of the building, which was as large as a manor house. Hardly a cottage in her mind.
“This is ours?” she asked with a gasp, her eyes taking in the lush greenery and beautifully homey exterior of the place.
“Yes, for as long as we have need of it.”
He took her hand and walked her to the front stoop, then swept her into his arms to carry her over the threshold. Arabella let out a squeal of delight and giggled breathlessly until he set her feet on the lovely marble floors within. It did not have a main hall as grand as the one at Braedon Manor, but this was just as pleasing. The candles were lit throughout, and the staff stood by to greet them as they came in, taking their things and then departing to allow them their peace.
“It’s late, so I will wait until tomorrow to give you the grand tour, but I am sure you will be pleased with it. It has always been a favorite place of mine,” Dederick said, tucking her hand into his elbow as he started up the stairs.
“If you love it, then so shall I,” Arabella said, leaning up to kiss his cheek.
“And there will be plenty more time for that,” he said, giving her a wink as they reached the top of the stairs. “Let us settle in for the evening. I’ll have dinner sent up to us and we can laze about like Kings for a few days and just let the world go by.”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” she said. “I just have one question, where are we? Are we close to the village? As much as I want to just crawl beneath the blankets and disappear with you, we should surely let our families know we’ve returned.”
Dederick chuckled and shook his head.
“The village is about eight miles east of us. And I already have asked that our families be notified of our return. We shall go to Braedon Manor in a few days for dinner and you will have all the time you need to tell your family of your adventures.”
“You think of everything, don’t you?” she said with a great smile.
“You have no idea,” he said, looked over his shoulder, then led her into their master’s chamber for the evening.
Chapter Fourteen
“Keep your eyes closed,” Dederick said as Arabella took light steps ahead of him, her kerchief blindfold enough to obscure her vision, but his hands were there as well to make sure she didn’t peek. He’d been planning this surprise for months, had worked on the details with both his father and hers, and he was near to bursting in the reveal of it to her.
“What is all this?” Arabella asked with a giggle, steadying herself with a hand to his arm.
“You shall see,” he said with a laugh, helped her along the last few steps and then slowly removed her blindfold. When Arabella squinted and looked at what lie before her, she was confused for only a moment.
“Oh…” she said in a whisper and her hand immediately came to her lips as she felt the prickle of tears form. Looking to Dederick with astonishment, she swallowed and laughed, allowing her tears to flow freely.
“This is for you,” he said, pulling her into his arms. “All for you. Consider it a wedding gift.”
Arabella cried against his shoulder for a long moment before she pulled away and then dabbed her eyes with the kerchief that had been tied around her face earlier.
The large stone building in front of her was unremarkable and worn. Built in the neoclassical style with many windows and a few columns, it was nothing out of the ordinary until you looked at the placard above the large oak doors. The Carys Wheatley School for Girls.
“You said you wanted to teach, and though it is not something that is considered appropriate for a wife married into a family such as mine, there is nothing saying that you cannot run an entire school and be its patroness,” Dederick offered with a shrug. “In fact, I believe it would put you in high regard.”
Still speechless, Arabella stared up at the placard. He named it fittingly after her mother. Something he was sure made her father extremely proud and more than a bit humble.
“I cannot believe this is real,” she choked out. “However did you do this? However did you get your mother to agree to it?”
“My mother has offered her involvement. It will help in the admission of several daughters from families who are still waiting in line for other prestigious schools. With her input and your brilliant mind, I am quite sure this school will be highly prized in no time at all.”
Arabella could no longer control her tears. It was too much. She sat on the worn stone stairs leading to the front entrance and wept for several minutes. Dederick sat next to her and pulled her close, offering his shoulder for comfort.
“You will never know how much this means to me,” she said, wiping her nose with her handkerchief. “I could never express the joy of what you’ve done here.”
“There is no need, I understand what it means to you and I am happy to have given it to you,” he said, kissing her nose. “You should know by now I would do anything to make you happy. Anything.”
“You have done that and more. But you mus
t know I can never repay you for the unlimited happiness this will bring me.”
“All you need do is love me, dear heart, that is all I ask,” he said with a warm smile.
“You make that so easy to do,” she said, pulling him closer. “And if it takes the rest of my life, I will show you just how much I love you.”
“Well then,” he said with a sly smile, standing and whisking her into his arms. “Let’s getting started then, shall we?”
Then Dederick took her into the new school with long strides, their laughter echoing its halls as the massive doors closed behind them.
Thank you for reading One Enchanted Winter. It has been a joy to spend time with Arabella and Dederick and sharing their life story with you between these pages.
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Also by Victoria Oliveri…
No Law Against Love Anthology
Earl of my Heart
Love in the Stars
One Enchanted Winter Page 10