by Hunt, Brenda
Nate pulled her toward him and kissed her passionately. Dulcey returned his passion. Reluctantly, Nate pulled away from her. Married to Dulcey would be enjoyable, very enjoyable.
“Later, my love. We have the rest of our lives to enjoy each other. Right at this moment, I need food or I shall just fade away unto nothing.” He pulled out the chair for her.
Dulcey sat down. “Yes, let’s eat. I can’t have you fading away, just when I found out all the things you can do.”
Nate laughed, “Not all, my love,” as he began filling his plate with chicken, ham, cheese, greens, potatoes, and sliced a piece from the loaf of bread. Nate sat down. “Shall I fix your plate?”
Dulcey shook her head. She gazed at the food on the table. Nate was indeed right. Cook had sent enough food for two weeks. Dulcey piled her plate high with food. Suddenly she realized she was hungry, starving like Nate.
She bit into a piece of chicken. It was delicious. Food had never tasted so good.
“Some wine Dulcey?”
She nodded and watched as Nate poured her wine. She took a long drink.
They both ate in silence, neither needed to talk. The comfort of each other’s company was all they needed at the moment. They finished eating and Dulcey helped Nate store their food for later.
Nate stood at the window. “Dulcey come look at this.”
Dulcey stood beside him and gazed out of the window. Nate pulled her in front of him and wrapped his arms around her. The full moon was just beginning to rise in the night time sky, a big cream colored orb shedding its luster onto the snow making it glisten like a thousand points of lights.
“My fairy princess, the king has granted your wish. You are to marry your human” said Nate remembering the story Dulcey had been telling Abby.
Dulcey nodded, not trusting her voice. When she had begun the story of the fairy and the prince for Abby, she wanted to end it with a happily ever after. But she had begun to realize, she was talking about her and Nate. She had doubted the happily ever after.
“Abby?”
“You’ll be able to tell Abby more of your stories. She made me promise I would bring you back.”
Dulcey smiled. “She has come to mean a great deal to me. I’ve come to love her as my own.” Abby had come to dwell in a special place in her heart.
“I know. She’s come to mean a lot to me, as well. You have been good for her. She needs a woman in her life to love her. Heaven knows, my mother is not that person.”
Dulcey sighed. The Countess. Surely, she was against all of this. She hated the thought of having to deal with the Countess on a daily basis. It would be daunting. But to have Nate’s love every day, she would deal with the Countess.
Nate could feel the worry from Dulcey. He knew, she was remembering the ugly statements his mother had made about her. He needed to reassure her.
“I am not certain if mother will be there when we return. I have strongly suggested she go back to London or Shefley Hall. I’ve had a long talk with her. You will not have to deal with her. She knows my decision. Please understand my mother likes very few people, if any. I now realize how miserable she made my brother, Grayson and his wife, Carolyn. I have informed her, I will not put up with any of her condescending melodramatics. She did not like what I had to say. She has been given a choice. When we get back to Brandanlyn, I will know her decision.”
“But Nate, she is your mother,” argued Dulcey. She who had never had a mother, felt that a mother mattered. But she also thought mothers loved their children and she had not seen any signs of love from the Countess.
Nate nodded. “Yes, she is but I am not blind to her shortcomings. My brother and I were raised by a tutor and then sent off to school. She was not a part of our lives growing up. I do not want that for Abby.”
Dulcey smiled. “I don’t want that for Abby either. I missed growing up with a mother. I had Grammy Digby to care and love me, also Lord James. I want Abby to have that love.”
“So do I,” replied Nate. His hands had found their way to her breast and had begun teasing her nipples through the fabric of his shirt till they budded hard between his fingertips. He could feel his shaft hardening against her buttocks, buttocks he had learned to watch sway with her hips. Remembering the way her hips swayed, how he liked watching them, made him even harder. He smiled.
Dulcey leaned back against him savoring the feel of his hands. A low moan escaped her lips as she felt those feelings begin again. She felt him open his shirt till he freed her breast to his hands. The cool air that came in through the cracks around the window felt good against her warm skin. His fingers found its way to that place between her legs and played homage to the bud of her womanhood. She felt his lips on the back of her neck as his shirt slipped off her shoulders, kissing, nipping the side of her neck, her shoulder.
She tried to turn, but he stayed her. “Nay, love,” he whispered in her ear. “Place your hands on the window sill.”
She did as she was told but she so much wanted to touch him. She felt his shaft poking her from behind. She felt one of his hands on her buttocks, his other hand at her front pull her back. She felt his shaft and then he entered her from behind with a quick thrust. She gasped from the suddenness of it, but as he began to move and his hand began rubbing her bud, she desperately needed to hold onto the window sill in front of her. She arched her buttocks to meet his every thrust trying to feel every part of him. She felt his other hand come around her and hold her breast teasing the nipple, rolling it between his finger and thumb. When he tugged on it, she soared to the heavens and moaned and pleaded, “Please!”
Nate smiled and increased his assault. “Please, what my love?”
She didn’t answer him, just moaned. The feelings he was creating in her were the same, yet different. Each new position he showed her, brought about different sensations. Each thrust brought her closer and closer to the edge. He pulled her tight against him time and time again. The crescendo built within her with each thrust. She cried out as she burst into million pieces of light like the stars that studded the night time sky then slowly, she drifted back down to earth.
He felt her come. Her spams tightened about him. With several hard thrust he emptied his seed deep in her, as he groaned with pleasure.
Dulcey held on to the sill in front of her for all her support. She felt him scoop her up in his arms and deposit her on the bed. His shirt was halfway down her arms. Her
gazed traveled over him and came to rest on his limp shaft that showed from the front opening of his pants. She gazed back up to his eyes. When he raised one eyebrow in question, she replied, “It seems lack of clothing is not necessary. Different positions, too. Interesting.”
Nate threw back his head and laughed. “Oh, my love. And yes, there are many positions. I shall enjoy showing you each and every one of them.” He removed his pants.
Dulcey bit her bottom lip, smiled and replied. “I think, I shall like being instructed by you very much.”
“Minx,” he replied as he joined her in bed and claimed her lips. Yes, the thought of instructing her in all the many things he had learned along the way, was a very pleasant future to look forward to. He would enjoy every minute of it. So would Dulcey. He smiled with anticipated pleasure.
For the next two days, he did exactly that. Dulcey proved to be the adept pupil learning everything he showed her. A very eager pupil indeed. It was a time of discovery of each other.
Chapter 13
We’ve been through a lot already,
And have many more hurdles to cross,
But I can’t wait to cross them together.
Jennifer Smith
Nate stopped at the top of the rise. Brandanlyn stood in the distance. How had he come to love this place? Maybe, because he had come to love the woman he held in his arms who was so intertwined in this place.
“It is beautiful, is it not?” asked Dulcey. She stared at the three story red brick manor house that had been her home for half of her
lifetime. Now, it would truly be her home. Her’s and Nate’s and Abby’s. She shifted on Nate’s lap atop Max.
Nate groaned. “My love, if you continue to rub that sweet arse of yours against me again, I promise you, I will dismount from this horse and take my pleasure with you right here on top of this hill and be damned, if there is anyone wandering about.”
Dulcey turned to Nate, swishing her arse temptingly against him again. “Promise, my lord,” she replied saucily.
Nate groaned again, “I think I have unleashed an insatiable monster.”
“I have heard no complaints the past two days,” she replied, as she batted her eye lashes at him.
Nate laughed, then groaned as Dulcey swished against him again. “If you don’t behave, I’ll drop you here and let you walk the rest of the way.” He slapped her arse rather forcefully.
“Oww! That hurt.” Dulcey gave him a disdainful look.
“I do not plan on walking in and have the whole staff able to see my discomfort,” replied Nate haughtily.
Dulcey laughed then sobered up. As wonderful as the past two days had been, she knew it was time to join the real world again. It had been amazing having Nate’s undivided attention, to learn all he had taught her about loving but now there would be people and things that would need their attention. She sighed and leaned her head against his chest.
Nate kissed the top of her head. “I know. The cottage will always be our refuge, my love.”
Dulcey nodded. Nate had promised her earlier, the cottage would always be their place, their place to escape from the outside world.
At the steps to the front door Nate dismounted and eased Dulcey down from Max. Evers had the front door open. One of the footmen took the reins from Nate’s hands.
Nate squeezed her hand and placed it through his arm as he walked through the open door.
“Good afternoon, Evers.”
“Good afternoon, my lord, my lady. Welcome back.”
Dulcey smiled. “Good afternoon Evers. Has lunch been served yet?”
Before Evers could answer, a screech sounded from the top of the stairs. “Dulcey!” A small whirlwind ran down the stairs and straight into Dulcey’s arms. “You’ve come back.” Abby hugged her tightly. She had been so afraid the last two days Uncle Nate would not persuade her. Grandmother had told her several times not to expect Dulcey to come back. But she had. She was here. She knew Uncle Nate would keep his promise. He always did.
Dulcey hugged her back. It felt good to be so welcomed.
“And what about me, Poppet?” asked Nate, glad to see Abby welcome Dulcey as she did. This was his family, the loves of his life.
“Oh, Uncle Nate, I missed you, too.”
Nate knelt down to Abby’s level. “You know how I promised you I would bring Dulcey back.”
Abby nodded.
“Well, I have asked Dulcey to marry me and she has said yes. So now, she will be staying with us for forever.”
Abby’s eyes widened and smiled, “You promise?” She looked from Nate to Dulcey who nodded.
“Yes, I promise.”
“When?” asked Abby.
Dulcey looked at Nate. They had not talked about when. There had been more important things to talk about or rather do. “Yes, when?”
“I have sent for a special license and should receive it in a couple of days or so. As soon as I get it, we will marry,” explained Nate.
“Can I come to the wedding?” asked Abby.
“Of course,” said Nate and Dulcey in unison.
“I will need someone to hold my flowers,” stated Dulcey.
“Flowers. Can we have a party, too?”
Nate looked to Dulcey. “I think a party is a grand idea. We can invite all the locals and I can meet everyone.” Nate looked to Dulcey and then to Evers. “What do you think?”
“Twelfth night is in about a week,” suggested Evers.
Nate nodded. “Yes, twelfth night. Great idea, Evers. Do you think the house can be ready by then? I
mean can it be done?”
Evers smiled. Lord James would be so pleased. Of course, it could be done. The staff would do everything in their power to make it happen. “Of course, my lord.”
Nate looked at Dulcey. “Twelfth night, Dulcey?”
Dulcey nodded. The sooner the better, she thought.
“Good. Now, let’s hope the special license is delivered in time,” stated Nate. If he knew Worth, he would do all in his power to get it to him, but would it be in time.
Abby clapped her hands. “Yea, Uncle Nate’s gonna marry Dulcey.” She began to dance around Nate and Dulcey.
“What is going on here?” asked the Countess.
No one had heard her come down the stairs. They had been so involved in the plans for the wedding.
“You have decided to stay, it appears,” said Nate, rather hoping she had taken his advice and gone back to London.
“Grandmother, Uncle Nate and Dulcey are getting married,” peeped in Abby.
The Countess eyes narrowed and her lips pursed. “You have decided to go through with this after all.”
Nate shook his head. “Yes, mother. I told you of my plans before I left. Dulcey and I will marry on Twelfth night. That will give the staff here, time to get everything ready and Worth to send the special license I requested he obtain for me.”
“That’s too short a period of time to make all the necessary preparations,” replied the Countess. Maybe, she could delay this wedding until she could come up with a plan to stop it from even happening.
“Evers has assured us, it can be done. I have instructed him to begin preparations. Mr. Kinley said Reverend Treadwell is the vicar here. Let’s invite him to dinner tomorrow night and talk with him.”
Dulcey smiled. “Reverend Treadwell, I am certain will be most pleased. I will write to him shortly and have it delivered.”
“I shall be happy to see to it, Lady Dulcey. Shall I have lunch served or tea?” asked Evers.
Dulcey looked to Nate who looked back at her. “Lunch.” They said in unison and laughed.
“Can I have lunch, too?” asked Abby. She wanted to stay with them. She had missed them.
“Of course,” answered Dulcey as she took Abby’s hand and walked to the dining room. She left Nate to tend to his mother. She had felt the negative force that surrounded the Countess. She was able to see it clearly now. This was a woman to avoid. She would try to disrupt their lives. Of this, she was certain. She would take extra care around her. She would not trust her.
“We will have to look at your clothes after lunch. We will need to decide on what you will wear.” Dulcey told Abby as they walked into the dining room.
“Can I wear my yellow dress? I never wored it,” asked Abby.
“Wore it,” corrected the Countess. “The yellow one will not do at all.”
Dulcey looked to Nate. The Countess had followed them into the dining room.
“Mother,” stated Nate. She would not ruin this for Abby or Dulcey.
The countess looked at him in all innocence. “Yes, Nathaniel?”
Nate was not fooled by her sudden acquiesce.
“All of the decisions concerning this wedding will be made by Dulcey, Mother. And if you want to wear your yellow dress, Abby, and Dulcey says it will do, then you will wear it,” stated Nate looking as his mother, daring her to argue with him.
Abby smiled. “You will like my yellow dress. It’s pretty.”
Dulcey smiled. “Very well, as soon as we finish eating, you and I will go upstairs and take a look at it. If it is as pretty as you say it is, I think it just might do.”
They ate lunch and made plans for the wedding. Several times during the meal, Nate reached over and touched Dulcey’s hand. She always looked back at him and smiled. She loved the connection she had with this man. She marveled how it fulfilled her. He was the part of her she had been missing.
Lady Shefley watched these silent exchanges and seethed with anger. How could h
er son put their family name is such jeopardy by marrying this woman, this witch woman. She had to be such, for she had put some sort of spell on her son to make him lose all sense of propriety. She had to put a stop to this. How? She did not know.
Dulcey watched the countess. She could feel nothing had changed. This woman was an enemy. The forces about her warned her, the Countess would never accept her. She would have to be careful around her. She would try to be tolerant for Nate. She was his mother. But even that would not save her, if she harmed Abby.
After lunch, Abby and Dulcey went upstairs to look at Abby’s yellow dress. The countess stayed behind to talk with Nathaniel.
“Nathaniel, have you truly thought this decision through? The repercussions from this marriage could be long lasting. Again, I beg of you, think of how this will all affect Abigail, perhaps not now, but in the future. Her opportunities for a good marriage will be greatly reduced.” Surely he could see that. The rumors would destroy her opportunity for a good match.
“I am thinking of Abby,” explained Nate. “Abby needs mothering. Someone who will love her. Dulcey already does. I have no plans on going back to London in the near future. It may be years. I have found I have liked it here at Brandanlyn and plan on remaining here. I know Shefley Hall is the seat for our family and I will visit from time to time. But I feel more at home here at Brandanlyn, than I ever felt at Shefley Hall. As far as Abby’s future is concerned, by the time Abby makes her debut, we will be an old couple.”
Lady Shefley frowned. He refused to listen. “Nathaniel.”
Before she could continue, Nate interrupted. “Besides it is too late, Mother. Dulcey could very well be carrying the heir as we speak. Do not think over the last two days, I haven’t made certain this marriage will take place. Just think Mother, if that information got to the ton, that your son compromised the new Lady Fergers, just as she found out who she was. How could you face all those gossip mongers when they would be talking about how nefarious your son was? And that it was all your idea. That would surely overshadow any talk of her being a witch, would it not? ” He smiled at the stricken look on his mother’s face.