by Vikki Vaught
Henry had never seen Melody like this … She was acting so alluring tonight. He knew that his plan must be working. He was hard as a rock just thinking of the night to come. He knew exactly what he wanted to say to her and also what he was going to do to her. Her breasts looked luscious and the décolletage of her gown was so low that he could almost see the brownish pink areola around her nipple. God, he had to stop thinking about ravishing her before he embarrassed himself. Melody drank her champagne, and he could tell she was beginning to get a little tipsy. He had better make sure she did not drink too much. He wanted her relaxed, not intoxicated.
The fireworks started at midnight, and they lit up the sky. It was so fascinating to watch Melody as she looked up at the sky with awe in her beautiful eyes. Henry suggested that they take a walk, so he helped her out of their box. He headed toward the dark walk, which was known for its trysting spots. Melody held tightly on to his arm as they made their way through the crowd, and as they walked, she said, “Where are we going, Henry? I can’t see the fireworks from here, because we’ve moved out of the light.”
Henry took the path to the right, and soon they were surrounded by large trees. He pulled her behind a tree and then said, “This is where we’re going.” And he kissed her ravenously, and Melody gasped as his tongue slid into her mouth. Henry pulled her tightly against him, and she could feel the thick rod of his desire pressing against her belly. She clung to him as her passion began to spiral out of control. He placed his hand on her breast and squeezed her nipple, and it immediately pebbled and grew taut. He slipped his other hand inside her bodice, and her breast popped out as he lowered his head and sucked her taut nipple into his mouth. He sucked furiously on one nipple while he rolled her other one between his thumb and finger. She felt a jolt of desire shoot down to her nether region, and she could feel moisture pooling between her thighs. Her breasts were swollen and heavy, and Henry was panting as he continued to suckle. Melody remembered her plan of seduction and boldly grasped his thick shaft with her small hand.
Henry moaned from the sheer pleasure of it all, “Sweetheart, we must stop before I end up ravishing you up against this tree. As exciting as it would be, I don’t think you’re ready for anything like that. I find your behavior tonight incredibly titillating, and I’m loving every moment of it. I think it’s time to leave so that we can finish what we have started, so come with me, my darling.”
Henry helped her straighten the neckline of her gown, and they headed back to the boat landing so they could leave. They were going in a different direction from the rest of the crowd, and Melody’s hand slipped out of his. He looked behind him, but all he could see was a crowd of people. Melody was so tiny that the crowd immediately swallowed her up. He pushed his way through the people, and he thought he saw the back of her head about fifty feet ahead. He followed as quickly as he could, but the crowds kept pushing him backward, and he lost sight of her again. He finally broke through and rushed to where he had last seen her head. There was a path that led to the right, and in the distance, he thought he saw her hair shimmering in the moonlight. He hurried in the direction where he had last seen a glimpse of her hair. He came to a dead end, and Melody was nowhere to be seen. He began to panic! Anything could happen to her. This was a public garden, and all kinds of rogues were lurking about. He hurried back the way he had come, and about halfway there, he spied a turn off that he had missed before, and he went down the path. He heard a whimper up ahead and ran toward the sound. He saw Melody struggling to get away from a very large man dressed all in black. Henry pulled him away from her and pushed the man out of the way. He was obviously very intoxicated, because he was staggering as he came back at Henry. Henry blocked the man’s punch and hit him hard in the face, and the man collapsed at his feet. He did not check to see if the man was conscious; he just grabbed Melody’s hand, and they ran back to where the lights were. Melody was having trouble keeping up, so Henry slowed down once they were close to the crowds.
With a relieved expression on her pretty face, she said, “Thank goodness you showed up when you did. That disgusting man was about to kiss me! I was ready to let out a big scream even if it did cause a scandal.”
“Are you all right?” he asked. “Are you sure he didn’t hurt you? I’m so sorry I let go of your hand.”
“You didn’t let go, we were pulled apart. I’m fine, Henry. I was a little scared, but I knew you would find me. But after so much excitement, I’m ready to leave. Can we go home now?” she asked.
Henry turned back toward the main path, and soon they were back at the boats. He helped her in, sat down beside her, and pulled her close to his side as they made the trip back across the Thames to their carriage.
Once they were back inside their carriage, he pulled her close to him and said, “Oh god, I was so scared that I had lost you and that something awful would happen to you. You were very brave. Most women would have been hysterical, but you stayed cool under pressure. You’re truly an extraordinary woman.”
Henry held her gently in his arms all the way back to the house. When they arrived home, it was dark, and Henry had to use his key to get in. He had told Simpson not to wait up for them, because he knew that they would be late. He scooped her up into his arms and carried her up the stairs.
“Henry, you don’t need to carry me. I can walk. I’m too heavy for you to carry me all the way up to our rooms,” she said.
He gazed down at her and said, “You’re as light as a feather. Besides, I don’t want to let you go. I almost lost you tonight, and I’m never letting you go again.” Once they were in her room, he put her down. “Turn around so I can unbutton your gown and loosen your corset and stays for you.”
Soon he had her gown loosened, and it slipped to the floor. Melody turned to Henry and said, “Sit down over there by the fire while I finish undressing.” Henry sat down as Melody walked over to her dressing table.
“Are you sure you don’t want any help?” he asked.
Melody boldly stared at him, as she said, “No, I just want you to sit there and watch me.”
Henry looked shocked but pleased by her assertiveness. He leaned back in the chair to watch her. Melody slowly removed her stays and corset, and dropped them beside her on the floor. Then she gathered up her chemise and lifted it up her body revealing her creamy white thighs an inch at a time. God, her skin glowed in the candlelight, and he felt his shaft pushing against his pantaloons. Henry held his breath as he watched her seductively glance over at him. The chemise was now at her hips and her sweet golden curls were peeking out. It was almost more than Henry could stand, but for some reason Melody wanted to play the wanton, and he was more than willing to let her. She pulled the chemise up, and her breasts came into view; her nipples were drawn up into tight little buds. She slowly pulled her chemise off and tossed it in the corner of the room. She stood there in just her stockings, garters, and slippers, boldly meeting Henry’s eyes. Melody put her leg up on her dressing table chair and slowly rolled down the first stocking as she ravished Henry with her eyes. Henry sat there in amazement. His erection was so hard that it was almost painful.
After Melody finished taking off her other stocking and slipper, she slowly walked over to where Henry was sitting, and she kneeled down at his feet. She huskily said, “You have on too many clothes, so let me see what we can do about that.” She reached up, began to untie his cravat, and dropped it to the floor beside her, and then she pushed off his tailcoat. After she had removed it, she unbuttoned his waistcoat. She took it off and dropped it on the mounting pile of Henry’s clothes. Slowly, she unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it over his head. She leaned back to admire his muscular chest. She loved the way his chest hair grew right in the middle between his nipples, which were standing at attention. She could not resist them; she leaned over and licked his right nipple. Henry gasped for breath.
“Are you feeling warm, Henry? Let me see if I can cool you off.” She unbuttoned the flap of his pantaloons, and
as it fell down, his huge erection sprang up. Melody wrapped her little hand around his thick shaft and firmly squeezed. Henry held his breath, wondering what she would do next. She lowered her head and kissed the bulbous head of his shaft. Henry felt as if he had died and gone to heaven. Melody slid her luscious lips down his shaft and began to suck as she slid her lips up and down his shaft. Oh god! Henry thought, He did not know how much more of this he could handle; he felt ready to explode, but it felt too incredible to tell her to stop. Melody reached her other hand into his pantaloons and gently cupped his ball sac, and then he really came undone.
“Stop, I can’t take it anymore! I’ll spill my seed right now, if you continue!” He pulled her up as he stood … He picked her up and threw her on the bed, pulled off his pantaloons, and fell on top of her. He started kissing her neck, running his tongue down to her breast, and he took her taut nipple into his mouth and sucked furiously. He squeezed her other nipple, and Melody felt a rush of sharply glittering pleasure. Henry licked and kissed his way down her belly and buried his face between her sweet thighs as he breathed in her fresh womanly scent. He licked and sucked on her little love bud and it sent her spinning over the edge into bliss. Henry crawled back up her delectable body, spread her thighs wide, and thrust deeply inside her tight passage. He was shaking all over, trying to gain control, but he could not; he moved powerfully into her undulating hips. Harder and faster, he rode her until together they crested and flung themselves high over the precipice and into the void. Just as he released his seed into her sweet little passage, he shouted out, “Melody, I love you,” as he fell on top of her. He tried to hold himself up by his arms, but he could not. She wrapped him in her arms and stroked his hair. He slowly pulled out of her body, rolled over, and pulled her into his arms. They lay there for a long time, breathing in and out, as they slowly came back down to earth.
“Melody, I love you so much … I’ve been such a selfish bastard about you marrying when you thought I was dead. I’ve realized you were right to go on with your life. I’ve watched Mary, and I know she needs to do that. Nelson would not want her to be so morose all the time. I would not have wanted you to be like that. I should never have seen your marrying again as a betrayal. You were just doing what you needed to do to survive and take care of our daughter. Can you ever forgive me? I need your love. Please … let us love again.”
“I never stopped loving you, not for a minute. Every waking hour you were in my mind and in my dreams as I slept. I could never love another like I love you. I did care about Brandon, and I loved him as my friend, but never as my lover. I’m overjoyed that you have finally let go of your resentment … of course, I forgive you. As long as we love each other, we can overcome anything.” Henry gently kissed her on the temple, and they both closed their eyes and fell asleep in each other’s arms.
When Melody opened her eyes the next morning, she saw Henry lying beside her fast asleep. He was still such a beautiful man. Her heart swelled with love for him. At last, they had found their way back to each other. Melody knew there would be struggles ahead, but as long as they faced them together, they would make it. Henry opened his eyes and gave her a big grin. He looked like an overgrown schoolboy, and she laughed.
He looked over at her and asked, “What are you laughing at, my love? By the way, do you know that you look ravishing this morning?”
“Why, thank you, husband, you don’t look bad yourself. I was laughing at how young you look lying there sleeping. All your little lines around your eyes relax and disappear when you are sleeping. Not that you have many wrinkles, but after all, you’re only nine and twenty today. Happy birthday!” she said.
Henry grinned at her and replied, “You’re right. It is my birthday. I had forgotten all about it. Let’s do something special with the children today. I want to spend the entire day together, Parliament be damned!”
And they did just that. They took the children to the park and had a picnic, and then they went for a drive in Henry’s new barouche. The children had a wonderful time. He kept making funny faces at Mary Elizabeth, and the peels of laughter rang out, for all to hear. After the drive in the park, they went back and played tea with the children. Henry fell over as he tried to sit on one of the little chairs, and Mary Elizabeth cried, “Papa, you so funny!”
Henry froze … and looked up at Melody. He got a tight knot in his throat and had to fight to keep the tears from falling. His little girl … had just called him “Papa,” for the first time. It was the most amazing feeling in the world. As they looked at each other, they knew … their lost pleasures had been found!
EPILOGUE
ALL THE DAYS of the rest of that season were filled with laughter and joy. Kathryn had quite a few beaus, but she still refused to show any interest in them. The Duke of Somerset was playing serious court to Helen, and she seemed very pleased about it. He seemed a little old for her, but she said that she liked mature men. Melody was concerned about this because she did not care for the duke at all, but Henry had checked him out and could not find any reason to discourage him. Mary had gotten very involved at the orphanage, and it was giving purpose to her life. The children were thriving, and Henry found that there was no boundary to his love for both Mary Elizabeth and Brandon. The highlight of his day was the time he spent with them, and the highlight of his nights were spent in his wife’s loving embrace. Life was at its best. Henry had adjusted well to being a member of Parliament, and he told Melody he actually found it quite challenging. He told her that he felt he could help all the soldiers that had returned and were in such drastic situations now.
In August, they traveled back to the country. His mother decided she would go live in Bath, since many of her friends were there. Henry bought her a townhouse on the Royal Crescent, which was the most exclusive part of Bath. It had never been so peaceful at Sanderford Park that fall. They had another bountiful harvest, which meant plenty of bounty for all of his tenants.
Late one night, as they lay in their bed, after they had finished making love, Melody turned to Henry with the most incredibly lovely smile on her face as she said, “I have some wonderful news. We’ll be adding an addition to our family in May. I’m with child!”
Tears filled Henry’s startlingly blue eyes, and he dashed them away with his hand as he lovingly replied, “That is the most wonderful news I’ve ever received! Come here and give me a kiss.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately as they let passion take them away to that special place where only lovers can go.
Christmas came, and everyone enjoyed the holiday season, especially without Uncle Theodore. Kathryn seemed to have truly put all that behind her. Henry was so proud of the young woman she had become. She had finished the formal portrait of him and Melody, and it now hung in the main drawing room, where it could be seen by all. The portrait was absolutely magnificent and by far the best work Kathryn had ever done. She had caught the love shining in both their eyes as they gazed at each other. She still wanted to be an artist, so Henry pulled some strings, and she had been accepted at the London Art Institute. She would be going there in the spring, but because of the child Melody was carrying, she was going to live with Melody’s aunt, Lady Helton.
The winter passed, and then spring came. The gardens were in full bloom, and Melody and Henry spent many happy afternoons there with the children. Kathryn and Helen left for London: Kathryn to study art and Helen to enjoy the season with Lady Helton. Helen told Melody that she was looking forward to seeing the Duke of Somerset, and she had high hopes he would propose to her this year. Melody was trying to come to terms with Helen’s choice because it would probably soon be a reality. There was just something about the duke that made her very uneasy. For Helen’s sake, she hoped she was wrong about him.
Everything settled down after they left. Melody complained that she was as big as a house, and Henry had to admit that her belly was quite large, but he was enjoying every moment of her pregnancy. He loved to place his ear on h
er belly and try to hear the baby’s heartbeat, and he loved it when the baby would move. Since he had missed her other ones, he wanted to savor everything about this pregnancy. As May rolled around, Melody became very irritable. They were having an unseasonably warm May, and she was extremely uncomfortable. In the middle of the night on May 12, Melody woke up moaning. Her labor had started. She woke up Henry and told him.
He jumped out of bed, started throwing on his clothes, and dashed out of the door, but then he ran back in and gave Melody a quick kiss and said, “Don’t go anywhere, I’ll be right back.” Then he ran from the room.
Henry was back in record time with the midwife, and it was a good thing, because Melody’s labor was progressing at an alarming pace. The midwife kicked Henry out of the room, and he did not like that at all. He paced back and forth, right outside their bedroom door. After an hour, he was ready to pull out his hair. He heard the door open and out walked Millie carrying a little tiny bundle in her arms. Henry approached and looked at the baby with wonder and amazement in his eyes.
As Millie put the baby in Henry’s arms, she said, “Your grace, you are the proud father of a beautiful baby … boy.” This time there was no holding the tears back as he felt his small son’s body in his arms for the first time. Henry carefully held his son close to his heart as he walked into the room. Melody was laying there, her face glowing with happiness. He went over to her, leaned down, and kissed her on the cheek, then said, “Words can’t express how I’m feeling right now. Thank you, for our beautiful son. I couldn’t be happier. He has your blond hair, and I do believe he’ll have your sherry-colored eyes. Are you sure about the name we picked out?”