Lady Star

by Claudy Conn

  Suddenly he pulled out of her and said almost harshly, “No…no…not yet…I want this to last.” He scooped her into a sitting position. She eyed him questioningly, for she was in heat, she wanted him inside of her, she wanted him in every imaginable way a woman could want a man. He turned her gently and set her on her hands and knees and whispered low and sweetly, “Your derriere is exquisite my love…you perfect little woman, you.”

  She felt him rub his cock on her bottom and pumped backward against him wanting him to enter, wanting him to make her feel the way she just had.

  He complied, slamming his cock deep inside and rocking her in an age old motion that brought her to a screaming climax. She shook and jerked this time with the aftershocks of her experience and he released a short laugh and said, “Now…my love, now…”

  He pulled out once more and she felt cold from his withdrawal, and objected. He laughed again, “Here, Star…is this what you want, and he plunged himself back inside of her and his hands went around her to find her breasts and as he pounded into her and fondled and teased her nipples, he let out a long hard growl of pleasure as he let himself go.

  He collapsed on the blanket and brought his arm around her to draw her close. He kissed her forehead, her nose, and her lips. He whispered words of admiration and satisfaction and she waited. She waited to hear him say he loved her, but that one word never escaped his lips.

  Was she disappointed he had not said it, she asked herself? Not exactly. Why, she asked herself. Because, he damn well does love me and I am going to hear it from his lips…soon, very soon.

  Chapter Sixteen

  STAR WAS AWARE of him in a way she couldn’t explain, even to herself. He seemed to hold a key and that key opened a new and wonderful world for her.

  He helped her dress, even as he stood naked in the sun and she saw his manhood, still hard and erect.

  She smiled at him and he took her fingers to his lips and said, “Star, there are so many things I want to say to you, but more importantly, I want to get you safely home.”

  An answer to this was something she couldn’t seem to form either on her lips or in her mind. She never wanted him to leave her or be far from her, but that was what was happening.

  She did the only thing she could. She smiled and he helped her with the buttons down the side of her gown, and set her to rights.

  When she turned, he had on his breeches and was pulling on his boots and their eyes met and locked. Life now would be forever changed. She wondered what he was thinking for the expression on his face was inscrutable.

  It didn’t take them long to ride the distance to Berkley after that and he created an atmosphere where she was not uncomfortable. He teased and challenged her to a race and then they took their fence flying, laughing and jesting about nonsense—all instigated by him.

  She would be forever thankful for the manner in which he treated her after their love-making. If she had not won his heart, if he broke hers by leaving without giving her his, she would always remember this time with him and how perfect he had been in every imaginable way.

  They dropped off her horse at Berkley stable. With her hand in his, he walked her front courtyard, where he tethered his horse to the hitching post. He took her elbow to lead her to her front door.

  She opened the door and turned to him, hoping her smile told him how she felt, and asked, “Do you come in?”

  “No, not now, love. I must return to Stamford…”

  “Oh, perhaps you and Jules would like to join us for dinner?”

  “Minx, my minx. Are you sure your brother will be up to it?”

  “I am,” she said quite unsure.

  “Then I shall extend your invitation to Jules. I, however, cannot, though it pains me for I would like nothing better. I have business in Hastings that may take a good part of the day and some of the evening.” He touched her cheek. “But…it pains me to say no, for I would enjoy dining with you.

  She lowered her eyes, “You know, you don’t…owe…me anything…It was not your fault. It was what I wanted.”

  He frowned, “Don’t talk like that, Star.” He bent and brushed her lips with his own. “You never stood a chance once I decided you were mine!”

  A moment later, he had turned to walk the distance to his horse, and another moment took him hurriedly away.

  * * *

  Georgie knocked on Vern’s door and waited for him to call out a welcome before she opened it and stuck her head in. “Good morning, or is it nearly afternoon?” she said brightly.

  He was up and standing by the window. He wore a maroon brocade dressing gown, cinched by a black silk belt. His fair hair fell about his head in the windswept fashion. When he turned to her, Georgie saw that his color had returned a bit and that he was looking much better.

  He took his hand out of his pocket and went forward, reaching for hers as he said, “Georgie, love, do come in and have a cup of coffee with me.”

  She smiled at him and went inside and as she had not opened the door widely enough gravity shut it. She didn’t give it a thought and went to take his hand amiably. “Oh Vern, you are looking well this morning.” She waved away at the coffee though, “I have already had a cup and will have another when Star returns.”

  “Returns?” Vern interrupted. “Where has she gone?”

  “Dilly tells me she went off on Butch for a ride, which is just as well, as I do want to have a private word with you, Vern.” She sat on a nearby chair and motioned for him to sit beside her.

  He smiled and as he pulled up the chair closer to her he said, “Georgie…your hair with the sunlight shining through it—so lovely.”

  “Stuff and nonsense, now stop Vern. I want to talk to you,” Georgie replied putting an end to any flirtation he might have had in mind. “You and I have been friends for a very long time and I have not wanted to pry, but I feel as your friend, I now must.”

  “Don’t Georgie,” he said regarding the darkly woven rug at his feet.

  “Yes, but Vern, it is drawing Star into something that is beyond her capacity to repair. So, whereas I may not be the one to meddle in your life, I must do so in regards to Star’s life.” Her tone was meant to indicate that she had quite made up her mind. “Now, if you please. Why did you come charging in at the Sefton Ball last night? I am not a fool and laudanum in the dosage you were taking would not have made you do so and you were not, I believe fevered and delirious.”

  He eyed her appraisingly and she wagged a finger to add, “That’s right, you decide if you think me fool enough to believe a farradiddle.”

  He eyed her and sighed heavily, “I won’t try and bamboozle you, ‘ole girl. I was under the misguided impression that a robbery was afoot. Something I remembered.”

  She frowned, “You said you would not try to bamboozle me. So, shall we try again?”

  “I was at the Mermaid Inn some nights ago and overheard some brutes…then it hit me last evening that it was the Sefton Ball they were talking about.”

  “Oh Vern, I do wish you would tell me the truth. The lie is there, on your face, in your eyes…how can you?”

  He shrugged and looked away from her. “As it happens, nothing of the sort occurred so I was wrong. End of a bad tale.”

  Georgie went to him then and sympathetically put a hand to the wide black silk lapel of his gown. He put his hand over hers and both sighed together.

  * * *

  Jules gave his big hunter over to Jeffries with a wink and a coin before he made his way to the Berkley’s front door.

  Dilly greeted him shyly and bobbed a curtsy. “Why Mr. Stamford, how nice.” She stepped aside and added, “His lordship is still abovestairs having his coffee. Ye can join him there and I’ll bring up another cup, I will.”

  “Thank you, Dilly, but is Miss Star about?”

  Dilly smiled and shook her head, “She is out having a late morning ride, she is. No doubt she’ll be back by the time ye finish yer cup of coffee with his lordship.”


  Jules smiled and thanked her, saying that he knew the way. At the stairs he stopped, turned and asked Dilly who had already started down the hall to the kitchen, “I say, Dilly is Miss Madison riding with Miss Star?”

  “No, no she is up, but truth is I don’t know which direction she took this morning. Do ye wish me to fetch her to ye?”

  “No, no, don’t bother her. I’ll just go visit with his lordship, then.”

  A moment later he was opening Vern’s door a wide crack and received quite a jolt at what he witnessed. What he believed he saw was a private moment of a great deal of affection at the least and a modicum of passion. His merry mood faded and transgressed into doubt as he stammered, “Oh, I am sorry…I seem to be intruding.” He started backward feeling for no apparent reason, but quite betrayed. “Please do excuse me.”

  Vern laughed and waved him inside. Georgie felt her cheeks grow hot for it was evident to her just what Jules was thinking.

  Vern called out as Jules stood there frozen, “Come in Jules. Come on, don’t be a bottle-head…in with you.”

  Jules was convinced that he had disturbed a tête á tête between lovers. He felt ridiculously sick inside. Why this should so disturb him he could not say. He couldn’t think and as he stepped inside was only able to manage a half smile toward his lordship.

  He turned to Georgie and said curtly, “Good morning, Georgina.”

  His coolness brought her eyebrow up and she gave him an arched look. He wondered at it and as she glared at him, he wondered some more before she said, “Ah, since when have I slipped from Georgie to Georgina?”

  “I…er…did not wish to…take a liberty…”

  “You could not take what I would not allow,” Georgie said, her eyes twinkling.

  Vern laughed out loud and Georgie frowned at him as Jules said, “Allow me to start over. Good morning, Georgie.”

  “Is it?” she returned her eyes twinkling.

  He was surprised into a short laugh, “Isn’t it?”

  Vern laughed at both of them, but they ignored him as Georgie continued, “Why should it be after the night we spent?” She started for the door.

  “Georgie…don’t go…” Vern called. “What the devil is wrong?”

  “I am going to go down and see if your sister has returned, as I should like a few words with her before I return home.”

  Jules watched her go and he was suddenly aware of an empty feeling. What the hell was wrong with him? He asked himself.

  * * *

  The afternoon sun arrived through a maze of wispy clouds, sure and warm. The breeze spun a summer magic of scent and sound as brother and sister strolled near their roses and attempted to make sense of the problem they faced.

  Star linked her arm through his and said, “Vern, I have something to tell you.” She looked up at his dear face and sighed.

  “That…” he said mockingly. “Sounds deuced serious.”

  “It is, very,” she professed, frowning up at him. “Earlier…just before lunch I went out for a ride. Farley intercepted me and made some horrible threats.”

  Vern stopped dead and turned to look down at her, “What? Farley bothered you?” He shook his head, “I will kill him…” He looked at her, “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

  “I couldn’t, not with both Georgie and Jules there, could I?” They had just walked the two down to the stables and waved them off. “Vern, he must have been lying in wait for me…waiting to follow and get me alone.”

  Vern did a spin in place and raked his head with both hands. “I will kill him, but slowly…very slowly.”

  “Stop, Vern, do hush. I had my ladies pistol and meant to do just that if he laid a hand on me, but I didn’t have to.”

  “What do you mean? Damn the scoundrel to hell. I’ll have his skin before I take out his insides and feed them to the buzzards.”

  “While I should like to help you do just that, allow me to tell you all of it.”

  “Yes, yes…sorry sis, go on.”

  “Sir Edward happened upon us and sent him off like a mewling baby,” she smiled at the memory of how her Edward had handled the blackguard.”

  Vern beamed. “Good sort, Sir Edward, but I still mean to run the blackguard through.” He frowned at her, “What did he want with you?”

  “He wanted me to know he knew it had been me at the Mermaid and not some male relative.”

  “Drat the night I sent you there and may I forever rot in hell for putting you through this.” Vern was once again attacking his head.

  “Stop that,” she said pulling his hand away and kissing his fingers. “Never mind all that now. This is not the time for recriminations and regrets. What is done is done. We must move forward and muddle through,” she admonished her brother in severe accents.

  “Yes, yes, of course, you are quite right, younger and so much wiser sister,” he managed a smile. “Tell me all of it, don’t leave anything out.”

  She had to leave a great deal out and felt the blush creep into her cheeks, “There isn’t much more. He wants something from you, and I don’t think he means to stop till he gets it, even though I could see that Sir Edward had put some fear into him.”

  “Star, I can’t have you hurt in this. I may have to give him what he wants,” her brother said gloomily.

  “Oh no you don’t! For if you do, he will never give up until you end up in a gaol or worse.” She wagged a finger at him. “I don’t know what it is you are hiding from me, but you shan’t deal with Farley even one more time.”

  “Yes, but Star…”

  “What then—shall we buckle like cowards to a common thief? No, he is more horrible than a thief, for he has no soul. Farley is the worst of his kind. You and I shall manage. We won’t give in to this scoundrel and eventually he will move on to greener pastures,” she told him.

  “Star? What about Georgie?”

  “Whatever do you mean?” She eyed him. “I didn’t tell her anything about all this, though she nearly ran me through,” Star said and giggled.

  “She accepted?”

  “I told her it wasn’t my story to divulge.”

  He grinned, “I mean to marry her, you know.”

  “She won’t have you. There, I have said it plainly so that you must heed me. Georgie loves you like a brother. She won’t marry you.” She eyed him and saw from his thoughtful frown that he wasn’t at all hurt. “I take it your affection for Georgie is not the passionate sort?”

  He laughed, “What do you know of passion?”

  “I know you haven’t a passion for Georgie. It is the same for you both. You love her like a sister. She loves you like a brother. Marriage would be absurd.” She laughed and added, “Probably even a bit incestuous.”

  “Star!” he returned in shocked accents.

  She laughed and then sighed. “You knew that right? That you didn’t stand a chance with Georgie?”

  “Aye, I suppose in my heart I knew…but, it would solve so many problems.”

  “And create new ones. We shall figure out a way, Vern…we must,” Star said.

  “I still think I should make a push to have Georgie.”

  “Vern!” Star said in exasperation. “She wants someone else!”

  “Does she, by God? Who? Who, Star?”

  “I can’t tell you,” Star said and laughed at his expression. “I don’t know why it is I have to go around holding everyone’s secrets in my head. It is most uncomfortable. What I need…what we need, is some afternoon tea and cakes.”

  “Deuced good idea and then you can tell me who Georgie wants instead of me.” He put his hand to his heart, “I shall never get over the pain of losing her.”

  She laughed at him, “Vern, you can’t lose what you never had.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  FARLEY HAD ALWAYS heard there was a heart beating in Romney Marsh and that it was to be found in the east of Rhee Wall. Legend described this stretch of marsh as the fifth quarter of the globe. Its length of swampy flatland was
unattractive to one at first glance. To those that troubled, as he did, to look again, found the inexplicable, the air of mystery and a place that held and kept one’s soul.

  It was covered in dikes, which intersected the countryside and was often laced with low hanging mist-filled clouds. Now and then a hill rolled through a sprinkling of trees, some were misshapen and eerie to look at, but Farley loved looking at this stretch of land and it was where he had made his home.

  His was a one room thatched cottage, gray from age and lack of care, but its lonely location served him well. Deep in thought, he sat by his small hearth, rubbing his hands in front of the fire. With a heavy sigh he sat back and touched his scarred nose. A knock sounded at his door and he called out, “Come in lads.”

  His men were punctual. He liked that in them. He was in a foul mood. His plan to take on the young lord’s sister had not gone well. He had been surprised by that flash gent that had arrived and intercepted his plans. Their funds were low and something would have to be done to keep his crew together.

  “Right then Farley, do we cover the highway tonight?” One of them asked as he sat at the round table in the middle of the room.

  He hadn’t worked the highway with them in an age and Farley was leery about reentering that field. High tobys were getting snatched up by the law in this area but it would appear they would have to go out just one more time. “Aye,” he said slowly, not turning to look at them when he spoke. “That we do lads…but let me think on it a bit. We gots to do it right.”

  “We could prig the first carriage that passes through on the Dymchurch Road, we could,” another man stuck in.

  “Chucklehead!” the chubby man to his left said derisively. “The Dymchurch Road, is it? Wit every nook of it covered by the land excisemen looking for a smuggler on his way to deliver his goods to London!”

  “Well, we ain’t smugglers. They wouldn’t bother with us,” the man answered him.

  The chubby man took off his wool cap and smacked the man’s shoulder, “Whot now, are ye naught but a twiddle-poop?” Then to no one in particular, he said, “A snirp. I’m dealing with a snirp!”