15

Ian

The fact Mabel had to travel as the saint and the answers about the plague came while I was in my territory left me beside myself with worry. And then Andre had no excuse to go with her. I did trust Gerald. Truly, but… He was not Andre or me.

I was a beast with Colin and I knew that, apologized for it even. The only shining light was he now had a "Colin" for himself. A young third son of a viscount who was quite promising and as sharp as Colin when he was that age. That way Colin was free to be where Kathy needed him, and I could do the same with Mabel.

And this young lord would stay in the territory always. He was thrilled to be so spoiled and have luxuries his family never dreamed of, him especially being so far down in the hierarchy of life.

Kathy was also following in her brother's footsteps… For now. She wanted to be the "Colin" for Mabel and apparently had done a wonderful job managing the priests and household while she was gone. Yes, she had Viscount Byrd to run the business, but Mabel was so much more than simply mixing the medicines.

I waited at the palace for Mabel and Gerald to arrive, promising Louisa I would since she had morning sickness again. I would have even if she hadn't asked, but I wanted her to relax. This was not the time for her to be so overly stressed, and I wanted to speak with her about maybe having a priest on staff at the palace just in case.

Relief filled me when the carriage and entourage came into view. I knew they were fine. I knew everything had gone well even. I was sending letters and getting updates constantly.

But reading in letters that things were fine and being able to see them were vastly different. Anyone who had loved ones leave their side to handle something upsetting would understand.

Gerald came out first and gave me a tired smile before helping Mabel down. I barely let her feet touch the ground before I lifted her up in my arms.

"It went well," she promised. "I am fine, and your cousin made sure no one disrespected me. Truly."

I nodded and gave Gerald a grateful look. I leaned back and gave her a soft kiss. "Let's get you a nice shower and then we can talk updates."

She raised an eyebrow at me. "Are you saying I stink?"

"I do," Gerald grumbled and walked past us. "What updates? Talk as we walk. I want to see my wife and sleep."

Fair enough.

"We just received a magical message that doctors inside the city confirmed two dozen people with symptoms specific to the book they received that Mabel gave them. They've confirmed it's plague, but they are hesitant to say it's one unlike they've ever seen."

"That is fair," Mabel said. "From what the goddess showed me, it only showed as not a plague dealt with before in the later stages, and then it was too late. We warned them of that."

I nodded. "The King of Helvet believes you. He's asked to take possession of the medicine you ordered to be transported to the port. They changed the plan a bit."

"That's worrisome," Gerald muttered.

"No, their military is transporting it, and two battalions with healers have volunteered to go into the quarantine zone to distribute the medicine and help the sick," I explained, noting their shock. "They volunteered."

"They have family there like the commander," Mabel surmised.

"Some probably, but they all agree this is the time fear overrules sense, and the only thing worse than plague is if people lose their heads and waste the medicine. Or it's destroyed fighting over it. So the military is going in to make order and know there is enough for them as well once they catch it."

"Will there be?" Gerald worried.

"Yes, because two other countries are sending their stores as long as Helvet covers replenishing it. King Alkian is proposing a treaty specifically for medical cooperation like plague where this is how things are handled. No matter the preparations and gathering, all it can take is one fire or disaster and the whole reserve is gone. We need more cooperation."

"Agreed. Tell Alkian we fully support this treaty," Gerald said.

I snorted and gave him a look. Of course, I already had. I would never overstep and speak on behalf of Gerald on much… But this was a no-brainer.

"Greenhouses going up around the temples to grow the Canter bellflowers, and distilling them would be a nice income source for the temple," Mabel muttered. "People from the community could be hired to help, and that's jobs, working with the community—getting rid of the stain on the temples."

"Agreed," I said firmly. "The queen already said the same and sent notice to the new designated head of temples that she wants exactly that done and the cost will be covered by the national treasury." I nodded when Gerald sighed. "I understand, but I agree with her."

"That is not a bottomless pool of money the way some believe," he grumbled.

"No, but the queen of all people knows that," I defended.

"I will ask the goddess if there is another use for the extract that maybe could be sold to help recoup the cost through taxes," Mabel muttered. "If it's that powerful, it cannot be just a one-use medicine only. There are several staples that are used a lot."

"Good. Yes, thank you," Gerald mumbled, looking exhausted. He probably hadn't slept the entire journey.

I moved my hand to his shoulder and patted him. "Louisa is fine. I have had the healers check her. A bit of morning sickness today and that is all. I want to find a priest to be on staff for her care just in case."

"Thank you," Gerald whispered.

"And the goddess gave me a tonic to help morning sickness," Mabel said, shrugging when we both looked at her with surprise. "When would I have had time to mix it? And I still will not test anything new on the queen. Give me someone else with morning sickness."

Fair enough.

Mabel and I went into the room I used when I stayed at the palace, and I thanked the maids who had everything ready for her. I excused them though, giving them a look that I had things well in hand.

They left with a chuckle but said they'd leave lunch on the cart outside the door for us.

Smart women.

"Ian, I am filthy," Mabel complained as I started undressing her.

"You are perfect," I muttered as I turned on the shower and checked the water. Then I went back for her and finished getting my wife naked. I moved her under the water to enjoy the relaxing heat of it but then undressed as well and joined her.

So what if I'd already had a shower that morning?

I washed her with care, praising her as I did. Not only her body but how well she'd done handling such a touchy situation and enduring the stress of it.

Once she was all clean, I started with my plan to make her dirty again.

I knelt behind her and told her to move her hands to the glass, smirking when she immediately did. Then I licked every inch of my wife's pretty, wet cunt. She cried out in pleasure, shaking as her orgasm overwhelmed her.

Turning off the water, I did not even bother with towels, carrying her to the bed and laying her on it. I stared at her with such lust that it consumed me. Every inch of Mabel was perfect. Her wet hair spread all over the bed and under her slim body. Her legs slightly parted and inviting me.

Her lips the same.

And her eyes glazed over as they looked at me with the same lust.

"Say it, lovely," I demanded.

She did not hesitate, whimpering as she begged me. "Will you please my cunt again, my husband?"

I bit back a groan. Her saying that was so much more enticing than my name. I dove right in, spreading her legs wide and licking up every drop of her orgasm… And giving her another as I did.

My fingers thrust deep into her as I kept it going, not giving her a break. I wanted her body ready for mine. It felt like months since I'd last had her, not just two weeks.

Only when her body seemed overloaded with one never-ending orgasm did I stop. I moved over her with a smirk, between her spread legs, and pinched her nipples. "Beg me to fuck you, lovely."

Shock rocked me when she shook her head.

She reached up and cupped my cheek. "I was scared and missed you. I want my husband—the only husband I have truly had like Andre—to make love to me. Show me you missed me too, Ian."

"Gladly," I purred, thrusting into her very willing body.

She screamed and climaxed again, her cunt clamping down on me and driving me crazy.

I took her with long deep thrusts, demanding she never leave my side again and never, not ever go into something dangerous.

She would not promise that, but she promised never to stop loving me and would always be mine. The damn woman knew how to counterattack even when I was too far on edge.

And it worked. I would give in to Mabel about anything.

I came and so did she, but I did not slow down, needing her again. I simply smirked when she looked surprised. "I will have you two times for every day we were apart plus the two times a day I normally have my wife until you make up for the neglect I suffered."

She looked as if she was debating smacking me or laughing… Until I flipped her over and fucked her, and then all she did was scream in bliss.

I finished again and pulled her up onto her knees, holding her to me as I kept thrusting. "How many times have you finished, my greedy wife? How much pleasure have I given you?"

"Too much!" she screamed as she orgasmed again. She screamed she loved me and her body was mine. She screamed I could have her again as soon as she healed her tight cunt for me.

She really was trying to kill me.

This time when I finished, she was too, collapsing in my arms and passing out. I winced.

I was definitely going to be in trouble for that.

"It was worth it," I chuckled, gently pulling out of her body and laying her down. I got up and retrieved what was needed to tend to her. Then I went to get the cart of food for when she woke only wearing my pants. I raised an eyebrow at the three maids across the hall pretending to dust. "On your way, ladies."

"Apologies, Your Grace," they all muttered, bowing to me and tripping over themselves to hurry away.

I rolled my eyes but then saw two guards and another butler meandering a bit down the hall. I shooed them off as well and brought in the food.

Seriously, people. That was part of why I hated the palace always. They were such gossips and nosy fools.

It was not like they would not hear it all later. I knew people in my house talked. I heard the whispers all of the time. But they weren't fools who made it obvious, and it always stayed inside my house or estate.

It never did in the palace. At least one of those maids was undoubtedly being bribed by a noble to give information. It would be passed along that I fucked my wife loudly by dinner.

Good.

I actually gave Mabel a full—but quick—bath so her hair was cleaned again and not all tangled from our fun. I even dried it, and by then she recovered, waking and giving me a look like she was salty with me.

Nothing could be further from the truth though. I could scent her desire for us to do it again.

I simply raised an eyebrow, challenging her to yell at me.

"I heard something about lunch?" she simply asked, glancing around.

"They kept it light since we were all going to rest and we will be having dinner here," I said as I brought over the cart.

We ate, and Mabel said she wanted to stretch her legs, feeling cramped up after riding days in the carriage. I offered to walk with her in the gardens and she happily accepted.

Except someone was waiting to ruin my fun.

"Mabel, good, I was hoping to take a walk with you," Louisa said as she came over and looped her arm with my wife. "I need to keep active, and I want to ask how married life is treating you. From what I hear, rather well."

I blinked at her, understanding what she was getting at. I made a signal for her to cut it out and she snickered, leading Mabel away who had no idea what she was about to get into.

"The maids overheard your reunion, and apparently you enjoyed it immensely," Louisa started when they were down the hall, but I was still able to hear them. "Loudly, in fact."

"Oh, Your Majesty, I do not know we can—" Mabel nervously replied.

"We are both married women. We will have the privacy of the garden. Just out this door, my dear."

NowI would be in trouble.

I sighed and went towards Gerald's office to get an update even if he was hopefully napping. No such luck and he was working on piles of everything.

He glanced up at me before looking back down with a smirk. "Did you really screw the saint until she passed out? Tell me the maids are exaggerating again."

I snorted. "Like you have not done the same with Louisa when you are separated." I lost my mirth when he frowned and looked at me again.

He cleared his throat. "You are saying you have done this before? And you kept your balls? How much penance did you pay or—"

I made an X with my arms to cut him off. "You misunderstand, Cousin. I am not in any trouble." I smirked at him as I moved closer to his desk. "Last time I did exactly what I did today to Mabel, she sucked me off before bed. And when I woke up the next morning. And the next night as well." I nodded when he could not hide his shock.

"Truly?" he asked after several moments.

I nodded. "I was going to complain that Louisa was grilling Mabel, but if Louisa acts a bit differently, know it's from her suggestions and listen. Mabel is a very erotic, very energetic woman, but I put in the time to make sure she wants to be."

Gerald stared at me as if I was speaking another language.

And then I remembered their marriage had been arranged, forced even. He had dragged his heels and went kicking and screaming. They might have ended up falling in love but… Their sex life might have started going through the motions to make an heir only.

"Give me paper and pen," I sighed. "And we will never, not ever speak of the education I am about to give you."

He cleared his throat and reached over to get what I wanted, giving me a leather binder to use to write on even. "I truly thought the maids were wagging their tongues again, and I wanted the chuckle of teasing you."

"They were not," I confirmed. "She normally lasts longer than three quick rounds, but I was—"

"Three?" he hissed, letting out a whistle when I nodded. "Fine, yes, teach me. Louisa has never… ‘Pleasant.' That is the word she uses. She loves me and—she calls it pleasant."

"You are not an average man, Gerald. You should have known it could be better than that," I chastised as I took everything from him.

I spent the next hour listing every part of Mabel's body she liked me to kiss and pay attention to most. Also, all the ways she liked attention from me, including things like washing her, teasing her breasts when we were alone, and rubbing her pert bottom before I helped her into a chair.

I was such a nice cousin I drew stick figure drawings for the positions that made her happiest.

When I was done, I set it all in front of him. "No one ever sees that, and I will get you a few books on romancing and relations. There are dozens of positions and—explore, Cousin. Communicate. Mabel asks to explore or try new things. I love it. I am addicted to that woman, and she is to me. Aspire to that."

"I will now," he mumbled as he hurried to take it from me. His eyebrows immediately shot up. "Truly. Kneel behind her in the shower?"

I smirked at him. "I did that right before our three rounds of life-altering sex today. Yes, do it often."

He seemed completely shocked like I just told him puppies were born from tigers instead of he needed to treat his wife like a loved woman if he wanted her to be excited for sex.

Dolt.

Mabel was still blushing when we met up for dinner. I shot Louisa an annoyed look, but she looked completely unrepentant… And very jealous.

Oh boy.

"Before we put this topic to rest and you stop making my wife uncomfortable, I will say you need to have a discussion with the healer since you are pregnant," I muttered once we were all seated. "Certain fun probably would not be great for—"

"Nothing aggressive," Louisa cut in. "I was already warned and given details when my pregnancy was confirmed. But apparently, there are lots of ways to be intimate that are not aggressive that I was not worthy of before. Maybe now that I am pregnant with an heir." She actually looked hurt and set down her napkin. "Excuse me."

"She cornered me and I caved," Mabel whispered after Louisa stormed off. "I cannot say no to that woman."

"Neither can I," Gerald muttered. "Excuse me."

"Do not do it now," I interjected. "Talk now. Explain. You… We were not raised normally, Gerald. You were taught it was a duty and… Talk to her. Be honest you received an education and asked for it."

He nodded and hurried off.

Mabel blew out a harsh breath. "Can we spend less time at the palace? Please? For the love of the goddess and my nerves, please?"

I threw back my head and laughed. I agreed and we left after we ate… And had more sex once we were home with Andre.

I was a very, very lucky man.