Chapter Thirteen

N ext morning, after another interview with his mother reneging on their journey to London, which she took with less grace than before, Julius hurried to the foyer. The time he'd appointed for him to meet Augusta was fast approaching and he didn't wish to be late. He asked a footman to have his and Lady Augusta's horses brought around, but Warner, the family's butler for generations, appeared with Julius's hat and stopped him. "I beg pardon, my lord, but Lady Augusta has already gone out."

"She did what?" Julius hoped the shock didn't sound quite so strong in his voice as he feared it did.

"Yes, my lord. The lady said she was meeting you at the assigned place and when you showed up here, to tell you the plan had not changed." The butler blinked, but otherwise did not comment.

"When did she leave?" And more importantly, "Did she ride out alone?" Aghast at the thought of such a thing, Julius snatched his hat from the butler and prepared to run out to mount Brutus and take off after her. The land around Hertfordshire was usually quiet, however young ladies did not ride unaccompanied. There was always the fear of being accosted by some vagrant or unscrupulous gentleman, although knowing Augusta, he rather thought to fear for the person who might try to accost her.

"She left around an hour ago, milord, and took Bobby the second groom with her."

Julius stopped and sent up a prayer of thanks for that, then managed to breathe again. "Thank goodness." He turned to the footman. "Fetch my horse now. I cannot keep the lady waiting." Julius strode outside, then paced like a madman until Brutus arrived, mounted and started off at a canter. He was supposed to have met Augusta in the foyer at ten. Why she would take it into her head to leave so early and without waiting for him was puzzling. Had something upset her? Replaying their conversations of last night, to see if he'd said or done something to give a reason for this change of plan, bore no fruit whatsoever. Of course, the lady was capricious and had a mind of her own, so anything was possible.

He urged Brutus on toward the cabin, wondering how Augusta was going to explain her destination to the groom. The servant accompanied her specifically to make certain no such assignations could take place, so even if she paid the lad handsomely, he would end up talking to someone in the kitchen and eventually it would make its way upstairs. Then Lady Augusta's reputation would be in shreds. Well, they would be married shortly, so perhaps the scandal wouldn't be quite so dire. He shook his head. His future wife seemed to be enjoying their illicit trysts far too much to want to give them up. It was a problem he would need to deal with, and soon.

At least scandal would ensure not only that she married him, but that she did so without a lengthy engagement. Now that he'd had Augusta in his bed, he didn't see how he could spend another night without her soft, voluptuous body pressed familiarly against his. Or how his cock would manage without its snug nest. Lord, he could scarcely wait to show her some of the other things ladies were not supposed to be aware of before their marriage.

Just imagining the first of those things made his cock harden until he had to pull the horse down to a walk and wait until he'd gotten himself under control. From his body's reaction to the mere thought of Augusta, he feared they would see little on their wedding trip save the inside of their hotel room. He saw nothing wrong with that. However, as Augusta hadn't been to any city outside of England, she would likely object to a schedule of lovemaking that didn't include at least some time to sightsee and shop.

As Julius neared the cabin, he began to wonder what Augusta had done about the groom. He certainly hoped she hadn't tied him up along the way. That might sound farfetched, however knowing Augusta as he did, he wouldn't put it past her. Another scandal in the making that would lead to inquiries that would certainly ruin her reputation quicker than a telltale servant. Julius sighed and touched his heel to Brutus's side, urging the horse to greater speed.

The clearing around the cabin was quiet, no sign of Augusta, her horse, or the groom. A strange foreboding came over Julius. Had Augusta decided, for some unknown reason, against their tryst and actually gone for a ride? Considering she was supposed to give him her answer about marrying him today, her absence would be a dire signal that she'd suddenly had another change of heart and no longer wished to marry him. And if by chance she'd been caught with child yesterday, well then there would be hell to pay for sure.

Julius rode Brutus around back to the stable, dismounted and walked the horse into the old wooden structure. An interested nicker greeted him and Brutus, and Julius sighed in relief.

Augusta was here.

He quickly stabled his horse next to hers and hurried back around to the front door of the cabin. He opened the door, looking around eagerly. "Augusta?"

There was no sound, save the crackling of the fire he'd come over and lit earlier this morning when he'd tidied the bedroom, preparing for their rendezvous. He had to admit, these clandestine meetings, tinged with the excitement of possible discovery had heightened both his pleasure yesterday and his expectation of today's tryst. Augusta had been right about that. He'd have to find a way to persuade her that the threat of discovery could be every bit as real when they were married. They'd just have to make love in places where they might be found in very compromising positions.

"Augusta?" A glance told him she wasn't in the main chamber. He scanned the corridor leading to the rest of the cabin and spied the door of the master bedchamber, where they'd frolicked yesterday, slightly ajar.

Invitingly ajar.

Heart beat pounding in his chest, his groin tightening in anticipation, Julius pushed the door open.

The fire snapped and popped merrily in the grate, illuminating the room with a gentle glow that revealed Augusta, lying in the bed, the covers pulled up as far as her breasts, which jutted toward him, two perfect, creamy globes, the dark nipples furled into hard nubs from the chill in the air. Her eyes were pinned to him, a rueful pucker to her lips. "Well, you took your time getting here, Julius. I was beginning to think I'd need to find another way to keep myself warm."

Dear God.

The sight of her naked body coupled with the deep, throaty purr of her voice and the intense, raw desire in her eyes sent a surge of lust so powerful through Julius, his cock sprang forward against his breeches hard enough to make him grunt. Without a second thought, he tore at his clothes, his only thought that he must possess that luscious body immediately, before he spilled himself here and now. The stubborn material didn't wish to cooperate, so a few buttons went flying as he ripped them from his trousers, but in less time than he'd imagined, he stood over the bed, naked and panting, and snatched the rest of the bedclothes off her.

Augusta gave a little squeak of surprise but didn't move a muscle.

His breath stopped at the sight of her curvaceous, creamy white skin, a treasure just lying there ready to be plundered. With a low growl, Julius dove into the bed and crawled slowly toward her.

Augusta's gaze never left his face, though she did giggle nervously the closer he got, until he covered her, dipping his head and clamping his mouth over one of her dark nipples, groaning at the delightful taste of her.

Her hands came up to cradle his head, pressing it to her breast as she moaned low in her throat, her legs shifting restlessly underneath him. After a moment, she guided his mouth to her other breast, her cries growing louder as he sucked her nipple, taking every ounce of control not to explode. When her groans reached a fever pitch, Augusta opened her legs wide. "Take me now, Julius," she panted in his ear. "I can't wait any longer for you."

Needing no further urging, Julius hurriedly positioned himself at her opening, guided himself just inside her, then gave a mighty thrust, crying out with the joy of homecoming as he slid snugly all the way to the hilt.

"Oh, Julius." Augusta clutched at him, seeming to want to touch every part of him at once. "It feels so marvelous." She strained against him, as if seeking to draw him even deeper within her.

"Wait, love." He was so close to the edge he needed to stop, before he spoiled it for her. "I need a moment." He panted, trying to hold still, to think of something other than the tight sheath that surrounded his member. "I need to slow down…to breathe."

But it was no use. The rapturous look she gave him, her eyes begging him to continue completely undid his resolve. He snaked his hand down between them until it rested at the apex of her thighs, in the nest of delightful curls, and murmured, "We'll do this better next time."

"Next time? But this time isn't—Oh, oh, Julius!"

Massaging her little nub, Julius began to move within her, unable to stop himself from withdrawing and thrusting home again and again. He tried his best to bring her with him to the pinnacle and just as he began to spill himself, her body clenched around him.

"Oh, oh, yes. There, there." Almost begging, Augusta pushed against him as he cried out, emptying his essence deep inside her warm sheath as it gripped and released him over and over until he fell away from her, completely and joyously spent.

Augusta lay beside him, staring up at the ceiling, gulping in air every bit as frantically as he did. She turned to gaze at him, a smile spreading over her face. "What were you saying about next time?"

He chuckled still panting though his heart had ceased to race like a thoroughbred. No other woman had ever affected him as Augusta did, in bed or out of it. His life from now on would be very different with her as his wife. If only she would agree to be his wife. Although after yesterday and today, he didn't know how she could put off the inevitable engagement any longer. It was dangerous for her reputation and his.

Because now she had him, like a fish on a hook. Having ruined her, he could not as an honorable man marry anyone else, even if he wished to do so. But if it became known that he'd ruined her and hadn't made provisions to marry her, he'd be considered dishonorable as well. No matter how long she drew this out, he would have to play along.

Well, they would see about that.

Perhaps keeping her satisfied was the best way to bring her to the altar. She'd enjoyed yesterday's lovemaking so much, she'd extorted him into today's meeting. If she wanted him to act as teacher, then he'd begin another lesson now. "While we are here and so wonderfully situated, I thought I could show you some more adventuresome ways a man and woman can have amorous congress."

"What do you mean?" She rolled over so her breasts rubbed very pleasantly against his chest.

"Well, one thing is the different positions we can use. It doesn't have to happen only with you underneath me." Gazing into her beautiful face, sweaty with their exertions, Julius once more felt his cock stir. The woman herself acted as a powerful aphrodisiac to him.

Her eyes glittered with interest. "What kinds of positions?"

"One you might enjoy is called ‘Riding St. George.'"

"What is that?" She rolled over so she lay directly on top of him.

"Almost what you are doing now." He grinned up at her. "St. George rode the dragon if you remember. And now you are going to ride me."

Her eyes widened and the excitement in her face gave him gooseflesh. "Show me."

With the foreboding that he might be slipping the leash of a dangerous tiger, Julius lay back on the pillow and grasped her hand. "First you'll have to pique my interest."

She cocked her head and frowned until he guided her hand down to where his member already flew at half-staff.

"Now, grasp me—not too tightly or you'll hurt me." He winced at her enthusiastic grip. "Loose enough that you can stroke me up and down easily." Demonstrating, he wrapped her hand around him, then drew her lax fingers upward.

Her eyes had grown wide again, her irises a blue ship in a sea of white, but thankfully she wasn't squeamish about taking hold of him, and ran her fingertips lightly all the way to the tip. "Like this?"

"A bit tighter…yes, that's right." With a contented sigh, Julius settled back, eager to see what she would do next, and amused by the serious concentration on her face. She was absolutely adorable, determined to get a rise out of him—and in the best way possible. "That's good, sweetheart." Better than good. He was already fully erect. "Now you can release me."

"Why?" She sounded more than a little disappointed.

"Because it's time for you to mount the dragon."

"Oh!" The surprise on her face was delightful.

"Just like you're riding a horse astride."

For the first time a shadow of doubt crossed her lovely face.

Well, he wasn't about to give this up now. Raising his eyebrows in an unmistakable challenge, he grinned as her brows dropped into a vee.

"Very well." She climbed atop him, her nether regions pressed to his stomach, her legs on either side of him. "Like this?"

"Almost," he groaned, the intimate touch of her so intoxicating he felt giddy. He grasped her waist and lifted her up. "Guide me in."

The flash of naughtiness that shot across her face acted as another potent aphrodisiac. Julius's cock stiffened miraculously as she slid him into position, her lips grasping him as he slowly lowered her onto his fully erect member.

The look of awe that came over her face was erotic beyond belief. Every move the woman made set him aflame. Her tight sheath grasped him so snugly, he was again afraid of spilling himself too fast. At last, Augusta sat astride him, with his cock fully inside her. Absolute heaven.

"What do I do now?" she asked, leaning forward to whisper in his ear.

Groaning in pleasure, Julius almost forgot to control himself. She felt so damned good, he could scarcely think of anything else. "Exactly what you're doing, love. Lean forward and act as though I'm your prize stallion."

"You are my prize stallion." She laughed and stroked his face, then began to do exactly what he'd requested, starting slowly, then picking up a quicker pace. "Shall we take a jump?"

Julius had no idea what she meant, but he grasped her hands and pulled her closer to him, thrusting upward in counterpoint to her movements again and again.

A look of wonder came over Augusta's face, half pleasure, half awe as her body began to clasp him. "Oh, Julius. Yes, yes!" She threw her head back, calling out as she shattered around him.

"Oh, God. Augusta." Julius thrust one last time, a moment that seemed to last an eternity, as he spent himself deep within her soft folds. For one unforgettable moment, he thought he would never stop, his climax lasting longer than ever before. Utterly exhausted, panting so hard he thought his lungs would burst, he clasped Augusta to his chest, his body going limp into the mattress. "I think…" He really couldn't speak for panting. "I think you may have killed me, my love. I'm done in." His heart was still thudding against his chest. He wouldn't be surprised if she could feel it. "I cannot feel my body because it's floating somewhere out there." He made a feeble gesture toward the ceiling.

She chuckled and burrowed her face into his shoulder. "You had better come back down. We have something important to discuss."

Julius shook his head. "No. The cardinal rule of perfect amorous congress is that you cannot discuss anything serious for at least an hour afterward." He winked at her. "No man is able to say no to a woman who has just satisfied him to the fullest."

"Not even to discuss their engagement?" She peered into his face, one delicate eyebrow quirked upward.

Julius thanked God and slumped against the mattress. "If you give me just a few minutes, my love, I will be more than happy to discuss our nuptials." He smiled at her and grasped her hand. "I have waited so long to hear you say yes."

"But I haven't said it yet, have I, my love?" She squeezed his hand excitedly. "I'm not certain I want to say yes quite yet." Raising his hand, she looked into his astonished eyes as she kissed it. "We have had such wonderful adventures here, I want them to continue on, at least a day or two longer. The possibility of being discovered is quite thrilling."

"Augusta! You promised to answer me today." For all he sounded shocked, it was no more than he'd expected. The lady wanted to have things her way. Well, she was going to get it. "If you don't promise to marry me this minute, I will turn you over and spank your bottom."

Her eyes grew round and wife, her mouth a huge O . "You wouldn't dare."

"I wouldn't?" He dove over on top of her as she shrieked and tried to roll out of the bed. He grasped her around the waist and hauled her back, turning her over so her bottom faced up. Running his hand over the beautiful round globes, he asked, "Will you answer me or not?"

Before Augusta could answer, the thunderous noise of a great many horses coming into the clearing in front of the cabin froze both of them.

"Who is that?" Augusta whispered vehemently, her head coming up, her face stricken.

"I'll look." Julus grabbed up a blanket that had slid onto the floor and pulled it around his hips. He glanced at her, struggling to get under the sheets. "You'd better dress as quickly as you can. Do you need help?"

She shook her head, then threw off the covers and made a dive for her clothes laid across a chair in the corner. "Who is it?"

Julius padded to the window and peered out between the curtains. He muttered a curse. "It's Uncle Hugh and a party of gentleman. From the look of them, they've come here to shoot." He swallowed hard. "Your father is with them."

Augusta uttered a strangled cry and leapt for the garments, making them cascade to the floor. She grabbed the blue riding habit and undergarments and began frantically pulling them on with a quickness Julius would not have believed. "What are they doing here? I though you said no one comes here anymore."

"Uncle Hugh is about the only one of us Quartermains who still does."

"But isn't hunting season over?" She'd managed to pull on her undergarments save for the corset. Taking a good look at it, she tossed it into a closet. "I can do without that." She then proceeded to step into the habit's full skirt.

"Pheasant is in season until the end of February." Julius pulled up his breeches, wishing frantically that he still possessed all his buttons. "I suppose this is his last hurrah for the season."

"It's going to be the end of us, Julius." Buttoning her bodice, Augusta took a moment to send him one tormented look, then went back to working on the long line of buttons, not very tidy but mostly holding the garment together.

"I doubt that, my dear, although it will certainly be the end of our courtship." Julius stuffed his shirt unceremoniously into his waistband, then pulled on his boots and grabbed his jacket. "Do you mind terribly?"

She gave him a withering look then opened the bedroom door, Julius following closely behind her.

The cabin's main room was crowded with huntsmen, his Uncle Hugh and Lord Tilney standing in the middle of the floor, arms crossed, identical looks of reproach on their faces.

Augusta stopped so suddenly Julius almost bumped into her. His gaze flickered from one man to the other, wondering which one of them would speak first. The lady opened her mouth as though she would explain, then apparently thought better of it and closed it again.

At last Lord Tilney spoke a single sentence. "I assume this means that when we return to London, our parish rector will begin calling the banns."

Julius leaned forward until his lips met Augusta's ear. "Checkmate, my dear."

She gave Julius a long hard look, then nodded before turning back to her father. "No, Papa, that is not what is going to happen. Tomorrow Lord Boxted is traveling to London, to visit the Archbishop of Canterbury and secure a special license. Then, as soon as we return to London, Lord Boxted and I will be married at once." Throwing back her shoulders, Augusta swept out of the cabin, head held high, without a backward look.

Julius hurried after his betrothed but stopped beside Lord Tilney. "Thank you, my lord. Your presence has thankfully hurried along the inevitable marriage."

The glint in Lord Tilbury's eye made Julius's blood run cold. "You'd best see to it that it does, Boxted."

Julius bowed and all but ran after Augusta. He might not have needed his future father-in-law's assistance, but as with anything having to do with Augusta, better safe than sorry.