Wicked Temptations for the Seduced Duchess: A Steamy Historical Regency Romance Novel

by Olivia Bennet

  “Lord Chamberlain, what are you doing here?”

  James felt his world crumble beneath him. “Mr. Manners, what a surprise.”

  One of the constables rested his hand on Silas’ shoulder. “Is this the gentleman who told you to kill Edward Godwin, the Duke of Summerhill? Is this the gentleman who told you where you could find His Grace, so you might do so?”

  Silas nodded. “This is Lord Chamberlain, yes.”

  “No, this is not Lord Chamberlain,” Edward spat. “This is James Godwin, my brother—the gentleman who raised the taxes, took your lands and your property, and caused the destruction of life as you knew it.”

  Silas’ face twisted into a mask of madness. “You?” The constables held him back as he tried to fight his way towards James, his teeth gnashing with desperation.

  In that moment, James realized that this was the end of his own life, as he knew it. And he had nothing to show for it. Edward had won.

  As he always does.

  Epilogue

  Three Months Later

  A gauzy veil obscured Lydia’s view as she walked through the church, spying only happy faces as she passed by. Edward stood up ahead, at the altar, looking more handsome than she had ever seen him. The recent months of peace had brought a refreshed energy to him, though his shoulder sometimes plagued him if the weather was cold.

  With her heart pounding, she walked towards him, knowing there was nowhere she would rather be. Even Adrian had come to attend the wedding, and the church was full of well-wishers. Only James was absent, for obvious reasons. Three months had passed since James had been apprehended, and life had mostly returned to normal.

  She still saw the occasional flicker of pain upon Edward’s face, but he was healing well from the wounds James had inflicted upon his soul. As for her own injuries, there was nothing left but a faint scar upon her neck.

  In the weeks that had passed, Lydia had watched Edward throw himself into his role as the Duke of Summerhill. He had removed the raised taxes upon his estate and took the concerns of his tenants extremely seriously. He had promoted Daniel, set to work on building the new wing, had worked hard to rebuild the bridges between himself and the Greenwicks, and was adored by the household in general.

  Not to mention her sisters, who had stayed with them for much of the last three months. They were all besotted with Edward, now that they knew him better. She knew how fortunate she was to find love, and had seen a change in herself, too, because of him. She had endeavored to cast off her selfish ways, and she often joined him in his daily duties regarding the estate and its people.

  How my life has changed…and I am so happy that it has. And now, she was about to marry the man of her dreams. He smiled at her as she approached and reached to lift her veil. She gazed up at him, her heart swelling with joy.

  As she took his hands, the vicar began to read out the vows that would bind them to one another for the rest of their days. She could hardly focus on what he was saying, for she was lost in Edward’s eyes, anticipating the evening that would follow. Her mother had tried to warn her that it may not be pleasant, but she knew otherwise. She had already experienced a modicum of what she could expect from Edward as a lover.

  “I take you, Edward Francis Godwin, to be my lawfully-wedded husband,” she recited, unable to tear her eyes away.

  “I take you, Lydia Emilia Bradford, to be my lawfully-wedded wife,” he replied, when prompted.

  A few moments later, they were pronounced husband and wife, making their way happily back down the aisle to begin their new life, as rapturous applause exploded around them. Even her father had managed to muster a smile, though it could not have been easy for him to give his daughter away. She clung to Edward’s hand as they stepped out into the bright morning. Truly, she had never known joy like it.

  Lydia stood nervously by the window of her new bedchamber at Summerhill Hall. The door opened, and Lydia smiled anxiously. Edward strode in and closed the door behind him, gazing lovingly at her. He wore only a shirt and trousers; his braces already loosened.

  “Duchess,” he said, with a grin. “You look radiant this evening.”

  “Do not call me Duchess, I beg of you. It reminds me too much of my mother.”

  Edward laughed. “Darling wife, you look radiant this evening. How is that?”

  “Much better.”

  They had been married that morning, and spent the rest of the day in celebration, with the two families finally at peace. Edward’s mother adored her, and her father had warmed considerably towards Edward. Still, she was pleased to be away from all the noise and music and revelry, for she longed to be alone with her new husband.

  He closed the gap between them and lifted his hands to Lydia’s face. She gazed up into his eyes and smiled, feeling her anxiety fade away. In his arms, she was loved, and she was safe. Intercourse was just another part of it, and one she hoped would be pleasant.

  “I love you, darling wife,” he whispered.

  “And I love you.”

  He leaned closer and pressed his mouth to hers, his tongue gently coaxing her lips apart. She smiled and looped her arms about his neck, letting her own tongue explore as she ran her hands through his soft curls. He pressed his body flush against hers, his breath catching as she gently nipped at his bottom lip with her teeth.

  She could feel the hard length of him through the fabric of his trousers, pressing against the rise of her hip. It felt much too large to be able to fit within her, reigniting her nerves. Curious, she slid her hand over the front of his trousers and smoothed her fingertips up and down the length.

  He gasped. “You must act on your impulses, my love. I urge you to do so.”

  She chuckled, though she still feared what lay behind the fastenings of his trousers. It strained against her hand, as if it had a life of its own.

  “It is…far larger than I anticipated,” she confessed.

  He smiled. “I will be gentle, my love. I wish only for you to have your pleasure. My own is secondary.”

  “Show me,” she whispered.

  Slowly, he turned her around, and began to undo the fastenings of her gown, unlacing every one whilst placing kiss upon kiss along the curve of her neck and across her shoulders. She shivered with excitement as he pushed her sleeves over the edge of her shoulders, and let the gown fall to the floor with a rustle of silk and lace.

  “You are beyond beautiful,” he murmured, wrapping his arms about her and pulling her against him, embracing her from behind. His fingertips worked skilfully at the fastenings of her undergarments, prompting them to follow the gown onto the floor.

  Naked, he whirled her back around and admired her figure in the soft glow of the bedchamber. Obeying his instruction to act on impulse, she reached for the buttons of his shirt and cast it aside. His body was taut and muscular, with two red scars where the gunshots had torn through him. She touched them tentatively, before putting her lips to both. He shivered with heady anticipation, his eyes closing for a moment.

  Spurred on by the sound of his heavy breaths, she unlaced his trousers and let them fall to the floor. He stood before her, naked and formidable. Immediately, her eyes were drawn to the sight of his erect length, a droplet of moisture beading at the tip.

  In a sudden movement, he lifted her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. Lying her down, he began to cover her entire body in kisses, letting them graze passionately across her smooth skin, and pausing at her full and inviting breasts. She gasped and bucked against him as he took a nipple in his mouth, sucking gently. Pleasure shot through her like a thunderbolt, making her slick with desire.

  I had thought the Greeks had fabricated this. It was far more thrilling than any book had ever described. With her hands in his hair, he moved away from her ripe breasts and kissed his way down the rise of her stomach. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation, only to open them in surprise as she felt his mouth somewhere unexpected.

  His tongue lashed against the most sens
itive part of her, igniting new feelings she had never experienced before. She cried out in bliss as he continued to move his tongue against her and sucked ever so gently. Her cheeks grew hot as she reveled in the sensation, as strange and unfamiliar as it was.

  “Does that please you?” he asked, pausing for a moment.

  “Yes…very,” she rasped, her breath catching in her throat.

  He smiled and continued, making the world around her melt away into naught but ecstasy. Just when she thought the feeling could not get any more intense, he moved further down and plunged his tongue into the heat of her sex, whilst his fingertips took up a steady rhythm against the sensitive bud of her moist lily.

  A few minutes later, she gasped as an overwhelmingly-intense sensation gripped her, powering through her body like nothing she’d felt before. Her body shook violently as the pleasurable wave crashed over her, making her gasp and buck against Edward as he slowed the rhythm of his fingertips.

  “Did that please you?” He kissed along the smooth skin of her thighs, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

  “Very much,” she replied, her breath slowing as the intoxicating feeling subsided.

  He kissed his way back up the length of her body, and caught her mouth in his, his tongue dancing with hers as they entwined in a sensual embrace. She gripped him tighter as she felt the hard length of him accidentally slide along the hot, sweet damp of her entrance.

  “If you wish me to stop, you need only say so,” he murmured, gazing into her eyes.

  “I do not wish you to,” she urged.

  “I love you, with all my heart.”

  She smiled up at him. “And I love you, so much more.”

  He maneuvered himself over her, before reaching down to take hold of his formidable length. With his eyes bright with desire, he slid his member along her slick heat once more, teasing her in the most delicious way. She held her breath as the tip of him pressed against her entrance, though he did not push inside her immediately.

  Instead, he took it slowly, easing himself into her. To her surprise, she felt very little pain, only an unfamiliar sensation of pressure, and the knowledge that she was somehow accommodating the size of him. She had heard rumor that a painless first time could happen, when one was partial to horse riding.

  She moaned as he pushed his hips forwards, his entire length sliding into her depths. He bit his lip in bliss, as he slowly moved back out again. His lips found hers as he thrust once more, her moans of pleasure muffled against his mouth as he kissed her, soft at first, building with each touch, each thrust, each tantalizing movement.

  She cried out as he moved at a delicious pace, making sure he was in her to the hilt each time. For a moment he paused, enraptured by her. But then desire seemed to spur him on, her own hips moving upwards in their eagerness to feel him.

  He took his time, thrusting with a teasing pace, prompting her legs to wrap about his hips, so she might be as close to him as possible. With each draw of his fractured breathing, his thrusts quickened, her arms clinging to him as she cried out with each one. In an act of pure magic, his hand slid down her stomach and found her sweet spot. He rubbed his fingertips across it as he moved inside her, causing her breath to come in sharp gasps.

  She could feel something building within her, her abdomen tightening as the sensation gathered. It was similar to the one she had experienced before, only far more intense. She raked her nails across his muscled back as she felt the tension grow within her, the shivers and jolts gathering pace as he moved quicker, his kisses fiercer upon her lips.

  “Edward!” she screamed, as the surge of her pleasure crashed down around her.

  “My love,” he murmured, as his hips thrust once more, a groan escaping his throat as he stilled within her. Panting, he looked down into her eyes, and smiled wide with pure happiness. She smiled back, relishing every new sensation as he collapsed against her.

  She wrapped her arms around him, enjoying the weight of him upon her. He nuzzled into her neck and kissed her tenderly. After all the heartache and upset they had endured, she could hardly believe that they were entwined together like this, as husband and wife.

  You were my gift, Edward. You were my gift.

  “Did I hurt you?” he asked, as he gently eased out of her and lay at her side, bundling her into his arms so she might lay her head upon his chest.

  She shook her head. “No. Quite the opposite.”

  He chuckled. “I am glad of that, for I never wish to hurt you. And I never will.”

  “Are you certain I survived that attack, Edward? For this feels entirely like a dream.”

  He kissed her forehead. “This is life, my love. You and me, together, against all odds.”

  Oh yes, my darling…this is life. And if it is a dream, I never wish to awaken.

  The End?

  Extended Epilogue

  Eager to know more on how Lydia and Edward’s relationship evolved? Then enjoy this free complimentary short story featuring the beloved couple.

  Simply TAP HERE to read it now for FREE! or use this link: http://oliviabennet.com/68ta directly in your browser.

  I guarantee you, that you won’t be disappointed ♥

  But before you go, turn the page for an extra sweet treat from me…

  Daring Fantasies of a Noble Lady

  A Betrothal

  “Lady Alexandra, you’re late,” the governess snapped as she hurried into the school room. Alexandra wanted to snap back at her; she had been at sixes and sevens for the past few days and restless in a way that made her feel like taking her sister Magdalene and running. At the same time, she did not want anyone near her, not even Magdalene.

  Instead of answering Miss Catherine, she turned into her seat and settled her frock primly around her. She raised her head in time to catch the tail end of her governess’ glare. There was also a frown on Magdalene’s face as she peered over her shoulder at Alexandra.

  While they were finished with normal schoolroom learning, Miss Catherine had been retained by their father to teach them Greek and Latin, as well as hone their piano playing skills. He believed it would increase their marriage marketability.

  Alexandra grimaced, taking up her notes and getting to work on diction without Miss Catherine having to prompt her. She said nothing about the awful cramps that made her want to curl up in a ball of misery. No doubt Miss Catherine would think she was pitching the gammon for her own ends. She couldn’t imagine what those ends might be, but Miss Catherine always thought they were too ripe and ready by half.

  Once their lessons were done for the day, Magdalene would be free to return to her chambers while Alexandra had just graduated to the sewing circle her grandmother, Cordelia Abbot, the Dowager Countess of Ramsbury, presided over in the drawing room. She sighed, wistful for the days when she, too, could run free and not have to be a prim and proper Lady.

  Her stomach cramped, and she hunched forward in pain.

  “Lady Alexandra!” Miss Catherine called in alarm, “What is going on?”

  “I…” Alexandra moaned, wanting her bed. “I think I need to go and lie down.” Magdalene sprang to her feet, hastening to Alexandra’s side and helping her up.

  “I will take her to her room, Miss Catherine,” Magdalene said.

  “Yes, yes. Do that.” The governess hurried to open the door.

  On one hand, Alexandra was embarrassed about all the fuss. It is not that serious.

  On the other hand, it would get her out of learning the Greek alphabet, a subject she found to be a frightful bore, so she let herself lean ever so weakly into Magdalene’s arms, really playing up her sudden illness which she suspected was merely her monthly malaise.

  Magdalene took her right to her room where her lady’s maid, Constance, was waiting with a hot water bottle and a cloth clutched in her hand.

  Constance tentatively held out the t-shaped piece of cotton. “My Lady, why don’t you put this on and I’ll fetch you some laudanum and a nice cup of tea?”
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  “Alright, Constance,” Alexandra said weakly.

  Magdalene burst into her room and jumped on her bed. Alexandra groaned in annoyance.

  “Magda, must you be so exuberant so early in the morning?” she asked.

  Her sister just laughed. “My apologies, Xandra. I merely thought to check that you were still breathing in here. You haven’t left your room in three days.”

  Alexandra hesitated to tell Magdalene that she was taking advantage of her debilitation to get out of learning Greek. Her sister was very earnest and honest, and Alexandra had no wish to corrupt her with her nefarious ways.

  “I have been sick as a dog and thought to lie here undisturbed until I should feel better, Magdalene. But of course, you must come along and be a regular out and outer while I am attempting to rest.” She teased instead.