Chapter 23
CHAPTER23
Genevra spent the next six weeks being coddled by Garmon as the fatigue and nausea were terrible. But miraculously it vanished one day and after a few days of being able to eat without vomiting she was feeling so much better she insisted that Garmon let her return to working in the tavern.
A visit to her parents for dinner at which both her sisters and their husbands were present, provided the perfect setting for the announcement of her pregnancy. She hadn’t wanted to say anything too early for fear that something would go wrong. But she was feeling so much better now that she felt confident of sharing the good news.
She waited until the dessert was served and a lull in the conversation enabled her to say, “Garmon and I have some news.” Garmon took her hand under the table and squeezed it, while she smiled round the table.
Mama, who had picked up her spoon put it down and fixed her with an enquiring look. Hiram, in the act of spooning extra custard on his generous slice of apple pie, said, “the tavern doing better now you have a man to run things?”
Genevra bit her lip, determined to ignore Hiram’s needling. She would not allow him to spoil her surprise. “We are expecting a baby.”
Stunned silence greeted this announcement for a moment and then everyone was talking at once, tears, congratulations and hugs were exchanged and for the first time Hiram looked at Garmon with approval and Genevra with pride. Garmon had his hand wrung and received several pats on the back from the other men. Hiram broke out the best brandy and there were smiles and flushed faces all round.
The weather was gettingcold now as the year headed rapidly towards winter and Garmon bundled Genevra into a blanket when they got into their carriage to head home.
Wrapping an arm round, her, he said,” that went well, don’t you think?”
“Yes, better than I expected. Hiram behaved himself.”
“You know I think he is fond of you girls despite what you think.”
“He just has an odd way of showing it!” said Genevra tartly, obviously still not convinced. She ran a hand up his thigh and leaned into his shoulder. Garmon glanced down at her as her hand continued to rub his thigh, causing his cock to thicken and heat behind his falls. The last few weeks Genevra had been too ill to want to do anything much except sleep when they went to bed, and he’d been in the habit to tending to his own needs manually in private, unwilling to bother her with his desire for her, which had abated not one whit.
She turned her head into his shoulder as her hand reached higher and cupped him boldly, provoking a groan from him.
“Genevra!” She lifted her head and grinned at him slightly flushed. “Do you think we might-?”
“God yes,” he said, kissing her. “If you’re feeling well enough?” he added, running a hand across her ribs and up to cup one large breast. Always generous, her breasts had become quite huge with the baby and her nipples exquisitely sensitive as he proved just now by brushing one very lightly with his fingers and getting a moan in return.
“I’ve been thinking about it for days,” she admitted, kissing him back with fervour. Heat flared in his groin and pleasure wreathed through his body, his mind already on logistics and how to make the best of this opportunity without hurting her or the child.
The carriage arrived at the tavern, and he sent her upstairs to get ready while he helped Joe, and the boys tidy up. Racing up the stairs after locking up, he found her snuggled under the covers, her hair spread out on the pillows a glorious halo round her head. The fire in the grate had only just begun to take the chill off the air, and he undressed rapidly, crawling under the covers and pulling her into his arms with a convulsive shiver.
“I loathe winter,” he muttered burying his face in her neck. “You smell delicious.”
She wriggled closer and murmured, “you do too.” He found her mouth and fell into a deep kiss, his body lighting up with desire, it had been so long since he’d been inside her, his hunger was sharp and demanding.
Her hands ran all over him, and she straddled his thigh, pressing and rubbing herself on him with increasing urgency, making little noises of pleasure and demand that set fire to his blood. He was panting and shaking with wanting her when he broke the kiss, as frantic for her as she was for him.
“Turn round love and I’ll spoon you,” he said husky with passion,” it’s better for the babe.” Reluctantly she turned within his arms, and he reached down to stroke her sticky flesh and draw a long moan from her.
“Please Garmon, I need you!” She pushed her bottom back into him, and he moved to find the right angle, reaching lower to guide himself into place.
Sliding inside, he groaned as tight heat enveloped him and gasped as she wriggled and pushed back on him.
His fingers slid between her folds giving her what she needed, as his hips reflexively thrust and his other hand brushed her nipples very gently, if a little haphazardly.
It was a heated rush to the finish line for them both as she clenched and shook, moaning her release, and he lost any control he’d had, which wasn’t much and grasping her hip thrust wildly to bring himself off with a ravaging rush of pleasure that took his breath and made him groan loudly into her neck.
Not his best effort, he thought muzzily through the waves of intense pleasure, his cock loosing his seed in hard pulsing shots.
He huffed and panted, “sorry I couldn’t hold back.”
She sighed, “no matter, that was wonderful.” She moved on him, and he gasped as she clenched.
“But not enough,” he murmured, stroking her gently with his fingers, swirling and bringing her rapidly to the peak again. After the sixth time, she stayed his hand with a panting moan.
“Enough, that is enough.”
“For now,” he said nuzzling her neck and letting himself slip out of her. She turned and snuggled into him.
“You want a cloth to clean up?”
She shook her head, “Sleep...” she murmured.
He smiled and kissed her mussed up hair. Listening to her breathing level out, he didn’t think it was possible to be any happier. He offered up a prayer of gratitude and entreaty to keep her and the child safe. That worry was never far from his mind, though he tried not to dwell on it.
* * *
Jacob gotwind of the price being offered for the duke’s ransom when he got off the boat from Richmond and headed to the nearest Tavern for a drink. He was still two days from home on foot, unless he could cage a lift, or some form of transport, and with no coin to trade he was hopeful of finding a way to pick up a little easy cash. He didn’t expect to stumble across such an opportunity as this. The furtive conversation he overheard, made his ears prick and his heartbeat faster. Going home could wait, this opportunity seemed too good to pass up. He approached the table where the conversation was taking place and introduced himself.