Chapter 17

The following

morning , Alessandra woke up

to find herself intertwined in Edward. He had his arm over her,

while her leg seemed to be thrown over his. He was still asleep,

and she was alarmed when she heard someone else in the room, making

up the fire. After initial surprise and shock at the discovery, she

realised that the bed she was sharing with Edward had curtains

around it and they were not at all visible to whoever was also in

the room. She lay quietly and looked at her husband. She loved the

word. Her husband! Her mind drifted back to the nice things they

had learned about each other the night before.

As she listened, she

could hear the person outside the curtain finishing up the lighting

of the fire and the laying of hot water on the dresser. The door

opened and closed quietly, and then there was silence again.

Alessandra extracted herself enough from Edward to be able to peek

out from the curtain. When she did, she could see that no-one else

was in the room and the fire was starting to warm up. She huddled

back to the spot she had been and felt Edward start to

stir.

When he woke, Edward

opened his eyes and was happy to see Alessandra there still. He

pulled her close and kissed her.

"Good morning, my beautiful

wife," he said.

Alessandra cuddled

against him, kissing him with a fervour that woke him up

immediately.

He lowered his hand to touch

her as he had the night before and she moaned in his arms as she

moved her hand and touched him at the same time. They kissed

deeply, touching each other until one and then the other exploded

in blissful pleasure, after which they continued kissing.

Finally, Edward pulled away,

breathless but smiling.

"We do

need to leave this bed today, you do

know," he said.

Alessandra smiled shyly

at him, before she then remembered that her parents were leaving

that day.

Edward saw a shadow pass over

her face.

"What is it?" he asked.

"My mother and father are

going home today," Alessandra replied. "I shall miss them very

much, Edward."

He pulled her to him and held

her tighter. "You can see them whenever suits you all. They are

welcome here, Alessandra, anytime they wish to visit, and we can go

and see them too."

She pulled back and looked at

him with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

"You

would truly be happy for us

to go and visit sometimes?" she asked, prompting Edward to smile

and kiss her forehead.

"Of course," he said.

"You have seen where I grew up, so of course I am curious to see

where you grew up."

Alessandra suddenly felt

ashamed of her home, uncertain and embarrassed that he should see

it. She changed the subject quickly.

"We must leave this bed,"

she said and after kissing more, they began their first day

together as husband and wife. They also found a new adventure in

seeing each other dress and do things in the quiet privacy of their

marriage room.

~~~~~

After breakfast, Alessandra

prepared to say goodbye to her parents, but not before her mother

had pulled her aside to talk to her quietly.

"Are you

alright, my daughter? He did not hurt you?" Isabella asked

quietly, closely studying

Alessandra's face to read how it was for her.

Alessandra smiled. "All

is well, Mother. You need not worry," she said to put her mother's

mind at rest. "Edward and I shall be well together. He has also

told me that you and Father are welcome to stay here whenever you

wish to. Please do come back and see me."

Her mother and her father

both hugged her before leaving, and even her father surprised her

with his words before he left the manor.

"If he treats you in a

way that makes you unhappy, you must send word to us immediately

and we will help you to come home, Alessandra," he said. "Too many

women stay in situations they should not. Promise me you will ask

for help if you need it."

"Father, I will be fine

but, yes, if I need help I shall be certain to ask you for it," she

said.

Soon her parents were off

on their way back home, leaving Alessandra standing on the manor

doorstep, watching until they had long disappeared from

view.

"Alessandra, come. The weather

is too cold to stay out here. Let us go indoors," Edward said,

putting his arms around her completely in a full standing hug,

openly for the very first time.

Alessandra responded

by putting her arms around him and kissing him deeply, not caring

who would see them. Through their clothing, she felt him press

against her, hard. She giggled as he looked sheepish in the

realisation that she had woken him up again.

"Perhaps we do need to stay

here for a few minutes after all," he said, making her giggle more.

They stood like that until he felt it was safe to be walking around

again.