CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

C HAPTER E IGHTEEN

A fter dinner, hand in hand, Oriana led Charlie to the small house set off a path between the hay barn and the next tenant’s farm. The route took them through a wood replete with flowers and a small stream. The house was made of stone with bright red shutters and a thatch roof. A low wall of the same stone and a wildflower garden surrounded the cottage. It reminded him of the fairy tales his mother had read to him. “This is beautiful.”

“I have always thought so.” She gave him a rueful glance. “I discovered it when my mother and I were visiting. However, I was not allowed to enter the house because it was only for my grandmother’s use.”

He wondered if he would have been able to stay out of it. “Is it yours now?”

“It is. Although I do not have much time to spend here.” She pulled out a key and opened the thick wood door. “Come in.”

The inside was as charming as the outside. It was one large room. Pale yellow painted plaster covered the walls. There was a sink, cupboards, and a square table with two chairs. Two other chairs and a rug formed a seating area in front of the fireplace. And off to one side was a bed large enough for two with several pillows covered by colorful counterpane. He would wager a lot that the bed also had sheets. Watercolor paintings hung on the walls. Most of them were of the wood and the cottage. “Did your grandmother make these?”

“I have no idea.” Oriana looked at them and tilted her head. “She might have done some of them.”

He opened the diamond-shaped, glass-paned windows, then the shutters. They gave views to the front and both sides of the house. In the back there was a small door but no windows. “As long as no one goes behind the cottage, it will serve as an excellent place to watch the lane.”

“That is what I was thinking.” She turned in a circle, scanning the house, as if to ensure everything was in place. “I should spend more time here.”

He drew her into his arms. “We could spend time here.”

She looked up at him and gazed into his eyes. “That sounds like a wonderful idea.”

Charlie slowly lowered his lips to hers as her hands heated a path up his chest and across his shoulders. He’d never had a reaction like this to any woman. Her lips opened and he invaded.

Mine . For now and forever.

Their tongues danced as he slid one palm over a breast. Short stays . And feathered his thumb over her nipple. Would it be light pink or dusky?

Oriana sucked in a breath and moaned, pressing the lush mound into his hand. “That feels good.”

He pulled her closer, sliding his other hand over her nicely rounded bottom. “How does this feel?”

“Better.” She ground herself against him. “What is that lump?”

“That is my member. Some people call it a cock.” Would his crude language excite her? Some women liked it.

She rubbed her body against it. “I do not understand.”

So much for that idea. “Have you ever seen bulls and cows or horses mate?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I was never allowed to be around them during their seasons.”

This was going to be interesting. “It is the part of a male that he puts inside a female to make babies. It can also create a great deal of pleasure.”

Her lips formed an “O.” Tears filled her eyes. “I never knew. I feel so stupid. I am a grown woman. I should know these things.”

“You are not stupid. Anything but. You simply never have had anyone explain it to you. Quite the opposite in fact. Here.” He kissed her tears away, then took her hand and braced himself as he placed it on his cock.

“Oooh.” She glanced down. “That is interesting. It got harder.”

Oriana was literally going to be the death of him. “That’s because I want you.” Realizing she wouldn’t understand, he explained, “I want to make love to you.”

“You want to make babies.” Her tone was flat.

“I want to make pleasure.” He had to make sure she didn’t think that children were all he wanted. “Children will come or not.”

He ran his hand over her bottom again and pressed his leg between her thighs. When she shuddered and opened her legs, he rubbed lightly over her mons. In response she squeezed him. “I’d like to see you without your clothes.”

“I would like to see you too. I’ve never seen a naked man.”

“Not even the famous Elgin marbles?” He was certain all his sisters had seen them.

“No.” She shook her head again.

Charlie had meant to take this slowly. Partly to calm her fears. But it was clear she had none because she didn’t know anything about marital congress or male bodies. He would still need to be careful. “Very well. Do you wish to undress me?”

Biting her bottom lip, she perused his form. “Where do I start?”

“My jacket.”

He held his breath as she slid her hands over his chest and pushed the garment off him. She worked on his cravat next, and soon his shirt was on the floor. His cock strained against his trousers. He hoped it didn’t scare her when it sprang loose.

“You should take off your boots.” He quickly sat and removed them, then stood again. Her fingers worked on the buttons to his placket and his cock landed right in her hand.

“This is soft.” When she stroked it he thought he’d died and gone to heaven.

He stepped out of his trousers. “May I see you as well?”

“You mean you want to?” She appeared confused.

“Desperately.” Why would she think he didn’t want to see her? Or perhaps the idea had just never occurred to her.

“Only my maid has seen me without my clothing. I do not think I am supposed to allow anyone else to see me.”

Of course. He almost groaned. The only thing anyone told her was to keep her clothes on. Ignoring completely that marital congress could be completed fully dressed. He stroked her neck, lowering his hand until he could palm her breasts. “Do you feel hot, as if you want something more?”

“Yes.” She pushed her breasts into his hands.

He hoped that was progress. “It will feel better if you allow me to remove your clothing. We are going to be married soon.”

“Is that what married couples do?” Her voice was thready, as if she was having trouble speaking.

“The ones that I know.” He continued to rub one breast as he unmoored the top button on the back of her gown with the other. “May I?”

“Yes.” She laid her head against his chest and moaned.

Soon her gown was puddled on the floor, and her stays had fallen as well. He plucked the pins from her topknot, gathering her thick curls into his hands as it fell. Scooping her into his arms, he quickly carried her to the bed, and following after he placed her on the counterpane. “You are so beautiful.”

A lovely peachy pink painted her cheeks and neck. He touched one light pink nipple with his tongue. Today would be for her. There’d be other times to satisfy himself and Oriana as well. “Tell me if I do anything you do not like and I will stop.”

She clung to him as he placed kisses on her breasts and over her stomach. “That feels so good.”

He reached the golden-brown curls covering her mons and licked. Her hips raised off the bed arching toward him, and she moaned. Slowly he inserted one finger and rubbed her clit with another. Her hands gripped the bedding as she cried out and convulsed around his finger. He couldn’t believe how wet she was or how quickly she’d come.

Oriana stared up at him with a soft, dreamy look on her face. “That was pleasure. Did you use your cock?”

“No.” He needed to be completely honest with her. “That will hurt the first time.”

Charlie’s face was hard, as if he was in pain. He had not experienced the same delight she had. Oriana really wished she knew about this act. Yet, it could not be that bad if other women did it. “I want to try it.”

“If you do that. If we do that, you will no longer be a virgin. There’s no going back.”

“We will be married soon.” She gave him his words back to him.

“Yes.” His face was all determined, stern lines. He reminded her of a knight from an old tale. “No one is going to stop me from making you my wife.” Oriana believed him. They would belong to each other forever.

He leaned down and kissed her again. This time it was not the sweeter kisses from before but as if he would devour her. His tongue swept into her mouth as if taking possession of it. She tried to match his motions with her own. She would claim him as well. He rubbed between her legs, and the need she had felt before grew to the point at which she did not think she could take it much longer.

“Wrap your legs around me.”

Instead of asking the questions she wanted to ask, she did as he said.

“I’m going to enter you.” His voice was strained. “Try not to tense.”

She did not know what he meant until she felt him stretching her and then a sharp pain.

He stopped. “Are you all right?”

She would be. Although she did not know if she wanted to do this again. “Yes.”

He moved slowly in and out until there was no more pain. The need returned, and her hips lifted by themselves. She might not know what to do, but her body did. Then he touched the part of her he’d touched before, and Oriana exploded into convulsions around him. This time it was even more intense. He pumped into her again and shuddered as he gathered her closer. Then he fell off to the side and took her with him. Cuddling her as if he would never let her go. No wonder women liked this. She liked it. She had never felt so close to anyone before.

Charlie pressed kisses on her temple. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” She held onto his arms. “That was wonderful.”

“For me as well. You are perfect.” Oriana rolled in his arms and he kissed her. “I’m so glad I found you.”

She kissed him. “I am glad you found me as well, and pursued me. This is what I want.”

His eyes sparked as he grinned. “I will endeavor to keep you pleasured as much as you wish.”

Her face heated. “That is not exactly what I meant.”

“I know, but I couldn’t resist teasing you just a bit.” He caressed her jaw with his thumb. She wanted to purr like a cat. “Can we do it again?”

“Yes.” Charlie barked a laugh and rolled her on top of his chest. “But not today. You will be sore.”

Oriana did feel a slight twinge. “Perhaps you are right. It is a shame we are dining with your family tomorrow.”

“You could come earlier and have Penny, the housekeeper, take you on a tour of the house. I will join you of course to make sure you like our bedchamber.”

“But your sisters will be there.” Oriana did not want to embarrass them or herself.

“We are betrothed. Even if they discover what we were doing, they would never make you feel anything but welcome.”

He picked up a lock of her hair and let it drop. Oh, Lord. Her hair. It must be a mess. “No, but everyone at my house will know.”

“We will have to see about that.” He slid his fingers through her hair. “I am a rather dab hand at dressing hair.”

“How?” That was a skill she had not expected. “Oh, your sisters.”

“Indeed. I have probably put up more hair than you have.”

She framed his face with her hands and kissed him. “It will be nice being married to such a talented gentleman.”

The sun was lower in the sky. “We should go.”

“Yes. As much as I love lying here with you, you’re right. We’ll have most of the day tomorrow to be together.”

It would be lovely seeing Stanwood Place in a new light. As her home as well. “I am looking forward to the house tour and a tour of your bedchamber.”

“It is ours. There hasn’t been a countess’s sleeping chamber in more than a century. If there ever was one. The space that could have been a bedchamber is a parlor and a dressing room.”

She could not imagine her mother without her chamber in which to retreat. “Do you mean to say that even if we are angry at each other we must sleep together?”

His fingers drew paths along her back. “My parents maintained that was the best way to resolve an argument. We marry for love. I think that makes the difference.”

Mama and Papa had been matched by their parents. Papa had come to love her, but they had not begun that way. “You might be correct. Only time will tell.”

Charlie lifted her off him, giving her a view of his muscles flexing as he did. They were magnificent. Oriana had never actually thought to see a man’s bare arms. “I take it this means we are getting up.”

“As you said.” He kissed her nose. “We must depart.”

He helped her with her stays and gown, before dressing himself. She took a seat at the table, and he dressed her hair. There was no mirror in the cottage, but it seemed as if it was right. After all, how hard could a topknot be?

“You should bring your maid tomorrow.” He inserted the last hairpin. “She will be able to meet the rest of the staff.”

“She will appreciate that. I would like all of my staff to meet the one at Stanwood Place.”

“That’s an excellent idea.” He stood back and critically viewed his work, then nodded. “We could do it tomorrow if you like. I wonder what Knapper and Rabb will think of Green One and Two.”

She laughed. “Or your butler of my majordomo.”

“You will never know what Royston thinks.” Charlie’s lips tilted up. “I’ve known him all my life and have never worked it out.”

“This will be all right.” Oriana felt so certain she scared herself.

“It will. We will make it so. We can divide our time between the houses if you like.” To her amazement, he straightened the bedding. “You will be busy visiting all our tenants and yours.”

That sounded odd. She would have her own property and share his. Yet it was the only way for it to work. “You will come with me at times.”

“Anytime you wish.” He started closing the windows and shutters. “I was serious about you keeping control over your property. I hope never to make you think I am taking it over.”

Oriana had a feeling that would be hard for him. Charlie naturally took control. Still, she knew he would do his best.

They left the house and she locked the door.

As they strolled past the hay barn, he stopped. “Do you mind if I take a quick look around?”

“Not at all.” Although there was not much to see. She kept pace with him.

“Have you considered placing some water barrels and extra buckets discreetly around the barn?”

“No, but that is a very good idea. Especially under the circumstances. I’ll talk to Watts.” He might have to get help to carry all the water.

By the time they arrived at her house, there was just enough time for Charlie to get home before the sun set. They must have spent more time together than she had thought. It was so easy to be with him.

Green Two came dashing out from the stable. “Do you need your curricle readied, my lord?”

“Yes, please.”

Oriana almost laughed as the girl ran back to the stables. “I believe she has developed a fondness for your pair.”

“Charlotte’s pair. I hope she likes mine as much.”

“I had forgotten we were using her curricle. It was nice of her to agree.”

“She would know that it was easier to take her carriage than the landau. You will notice that my sisters are all extremely practical.”

“Even the two youngest?” Oriana remembered having her head filled with silly dreams at those ages.

“Especially them. Mary has been like that since birth. Nurse tells a story from when Mary was nine months old. One day she was crawling. Then she sat and looked up at everyone around her. The nursemaids walking around the room. She got up and started to walk.” He grinned. “Naturally she didn’t make it very far, but from that day on she refused to crawl.”

The story said a lot about his youngest sister. “And Theo?”

“From what I understand, Theo has been older than her years as well.”

“I forget that Theo is actually your sister-in-law and you did not know her when she was a baby.” It was amazing how they all acted as if they were blood.

“That was Charlotte and Louisa.” Charlie had a reflective look on his face. “When the children decided Grace and Matt should wed the two of them made the decision that everyone would be brothers and sisters.”

Oriana took his arm. “I am glad I will be a part of your family.”

He smiled. “I am as well.” He turned her into his arms and kissed her. “I am thrilled you agreed to share your life with me. I love you.”

“I love you too.” More than she ever thought she could love someone. It was strange to think that if she had not met him, and if he had not kept coming back, she would not be as happy as she was now.