Epilogue

EPILOGUE

T he wedding had been everything Beth could have dreamed of or wanted. The ceremony was simple, but she had her family and Seb's family present and that made it more special than all the trimmings could have. For a girl who thought she would never marry or have any kind of ever after, it was a cup full to overflowing. She cried from sheer happiness which upset Seb until he realised the cause of her tears.

After the wedding in the Church, they went back to the vicarage for a simple wedding breakfast and then to their new home at the Bull's Head Inn. Mr Rosebury the previous owner, gave them the best suite for their wedding night and promised to vacate the publicans' rooms within the week, during which time he would teach them the ropes. Mr Rosebury was eager to re-join his wife and assume responsibility for her mother's business which the old lady was no longer capable of running.

Genevra and Garmon left after the wedding breakfast, but Mama and Papa a lso stayed at the Inn and left for London the following day.

Under Mr Rosebury's tutelage, Seb learned how to draw beer and porter from the kegs and the business of managing the till and ordering inventory.

Beth, with her exposure to the brewery all her life, knew more than she had given herself credit for and found the role of publican's wife easy to assume. As Mrs Rosebury had been the chief cook of the establishment, she found herself thrust into the role of mistress of the kitchen and loved it.

She consulted Hetty for receipts and tips and with her help designed a menu to tempt traveler's, supplementing her efforts in the kitchen with selections from the village bakery run by another young couple the Bradfords, whom Beth foresaw becoming close friends.

Altogether she felt very content with her new life and was giddy with happiness to be Seb's wife.

Three days after the wedding, Ben arrived on the stage with the kittens in a basket and a portmanteau of their clothes, packed by Genevra. He stayed for two nights appointing himself chief taster of each new receipt she tried.

Towards the end of their first week of married bliss, Seb took her to visit the local physician, Dr. Thornton.

The doctor had rented a small white, thatched cottage in the main street, with his consulting room in the front parlour, with a small waiting room across the hall.

He didn't keep them waiting long, which was fortunate as Beth was getting anxious. The house was tastefully but simply furn ished and the windows overlooking the street were open to the warm breeze with flowers in the window boxes giving a pleasant scent.

The doctor was a tall lean man with a neat brown beard and dark brown hair. His eyes were slate grey and his features regular. He wore a buff-coloured jacket, grey waistcoat and pale fawn breeches, his cravat was tied neatly, but without artistry. He smiled at them and held the door.

"Mr and Mrs Rooke? Please come through."

Seb shook his hand and Beth bobbed a curtsy. "Good of you to see us Doctor," said Seb. "I understand you have a lot of patients."

"Och, always room for one more." His voice was deep with a rumbling Scot's burr.

He led them across the hall and into a larger room with a desk, two chairs and a chaise longue, as well as a small table in the window embrasure with a large vase of flowers on it.

"The flowers are lovely!" exclaimed Beth.

"I've the wee lassie at the Vicarage to thank for those. She'll be your sister, aye?" He said nodding to Seb.

"Hetty, yes."

"She were changing' the flowers in the Church and goin' t' throw them out. I said I'd take em off her hands, as they still had life in them." The doctor waved them to the chairs and seated himself behind the desk. He took out a pair of spectacles, polished them, and set them on his nose, opened a journal and picked up a pen. Finding a blank page, he set down a couple of lines and then sat back in his chair .

"Now tell me what I can do fer ye."

Seb glanced at Beth, and she cleared her throat and leaning forward she said, "I contracted scarlet fever as a child and the doctors told me I would likely suffer damage to my heart as a consequence, that I would most probably die before my sixteenth birthday. I am seventeen now and lately married." She flushed and took Seb's hand. "I did suffer with fainting spells and shortness of breath as a child, but those symptoms seem to have subsided of late years. But my heart is subject to an irregular beat, it flutters and skips, whenever I am under any emotional duress."

The doctor was taking notes as she spoke and set down his pen when she stopped, rising and coming round the desk.

"You will permit me to touch your wife, Mr Rooke? For the purposes of diagnosis?"

"Yes," Seb nodded, and Beth glanced at him anxiously.

"If you would lie down on the couch Mrs Rooke, and remove your bonnet and gloves?"

Beth obeyed and lay back, her head resting on the cushions of the chaise longue. Her heart skipped and beat rapidly, responding to her anxiety. She swallowed and tried to breathe slowly and calm her heartbeat.

"Aye you anxious lassie?"

"A little she admitted."

"And your heart's dancin'."

She nodded, smiling at the poetic expression. She had never thought of it that way before.

"That's fine, it may help to hear it better," he said, kneeling beside the couch. Seb rose and came to her side, his gazed fixed o n the doctor as he lowered his head, turned sideways to her bosom. Beth felt the pressure of his head against her bosom as he attempted to get his ear close enough to hear the activity of her heart. She was accustomed to this, although it had been sometime since she had been to a physician.

The doctor raised his head after a few moments and clasped her wrist to check her pulse. Seb twitched, and she tried to reassure him with a look. This was a normal part of the process.

The Doctor consulted his watch as he held her wrist and grunted. Rising he said, "Thank you Mrs Rooke, please sit up." She obeyed swinging her legs over the side of the couch. He then tilted her head up and pulled down her lower lids, asked her to open her mouth and inspected it. Lastly, he applied his fingers lightly to the pulse on her neck. And closed his eyes counting under his breath.

Rising to his feet he turned back to his desk and said over his shoulder, "You may resume yer bonnet and gloves Mrs Rooke, give me a moment to make some notes."

She retied her bonnet and pulled her gloves back on and then resumed her seat with Seb. And they waited until the doctor finished writing in his book.

Looking up he smiled, which made Beth relax. Surely, he wouldn't smile if the news was bad? For the first time she felt a tingle of hope.

"Weel, I'm glad you came to see me Mrs Rooke. It's true yer heart is a fidget. It jumps aboot all over." Her shoulders sagged .

"But I've a tincture that you can take that should settle your fidgety heart down."

"Will that cure her?" asked Seb.

"I canna promise a cure, it depends on the cause of the jitterin'. But I've had success with this tincture afore with other patients in worse case than yer wife appears to be."

"What is it?" she asked.

"A mix of Chinese herbs, boiled and reduced to a powerful extract. It tastes a mite nasty, but if you take it morning and night for a week you should see some improvement. I'll have to make up the mixture, I'll drop it in tomorrow. Come back and see me in seven days and we'll see how yer doin'."

Beth's eyes pricked and she said, "thank you, Doctor."

He smiled. "Yer welcome, is there anything else I can help you with?"

"Yes Doctor, there is," said Seb, flushing.

"The doctors warned Beth, that is my wife, that her heart would not withstand the rigours of childbirth. Is that your considered opinion too?"

"I canna say. As I told ye, it depends on the cause of the trippin'. It is possible that the uneven heartbeat is the result of damage from the scarlet fever, or it may be another cause altogether. One that isn't life-threatening. I can treat the symptoms, which may reduce the risk, but I canna promise that it will."

Seb's expression hardened. "I see." he turned to Beth and said, "Love I want to talk to the doctor privately, will you wait across the hall for me? "

She glanced between the two men and nodded, rising. He kissed her hand before letting her go. When he was sure she had left the room and closed the door behind her, he turned back to Thornton and fixed him with a stern look. In spite of that he could feel his skin flushing.

"You will understand Dr. Thornton that I'll not risk placing Beth's life in jeopardy for my own pleasure. Are there any methods for the prevention of conception, other than abstinence?" Seb's cheeks flamed.

The doctor gave him a sympathetic smile, which made Seb's cheeks flush even more. "There are several methods but the one I have found to be the most effective is something I came across while I was in India." He rose from his chair and went to a cupboard against the wall. He took out a brown glass bottle and brought it back to the desk, setting it down between them.

"It is called Neem oil. It is a very effective barrier to conception and can be used in two ways. By application to the lady's private parts just prior to congress. It should be liberally applied to the entrance by the fingers you understand., it can form part of the play or be applied by the lady herself prior to events proceeding. You can also coat your member with it, paying particular attention to the head."

Seb nodded. "And the second method?"

"It can be taken orally by the man to ah, make his seed ineffective."

"Which method works better?"

"I believe both are effective, but the latter may be more certain. The effect is temporary, it only works while the oil is taken o rally. If the daily dosage is ceased, the effect is reversed, and the seed becomes effective again. To be completely certain you could employ both methods."

Seb grinned taking the bottle. "How much do I owe you for this, and can I obtain more when I need it?"

"A sovereign per bottle. I have a sufficient supply and a source from which I can obtain more."

Seb rose, leaning across the desk and wringing the doctor's hand. "Thank you doctor, you have made me a very happy man."

Seb re-joined his wife in the waiting room and whisked her back to the Bull's Head.

"What did you talk to the doctor about?" she asked.

"I'll tell you later," he said, his colour high.

"You're grinning, it must have been good," she said accusingly.

"It was," his smile widened even further.

He whipped her upstairs to their room with a peremptory order to the tapster Keilor, that they would be down in an hour and on no account were they to be disturbed.

The expression on the bar staff's faces and the smothered chuckles and giggles that followed left Seb in no doubt they had been bubbled, but frankly he didn't care.

Shutting the door of their room and locking it he produced the bottle of precious oil from his pocket and said, "This is what I spoke with the doctor about."

"What is it? "

"He said it is called Neem oil. It's from India, and apparently it will protect you from falling pregnant."

"So..." her eyes widened, and she smiled. "We can do it properly?"

He swept her up into his arms and kissed her. "Yes, we can and I'm sorry if you're not prepared. But I would very much like to do it now?"

She nodded, wrapping her arms round his neck. "Yes please!"

"You are the best wife a man ever had; I swear!" He said starting to remove his neck cloth and boots.

She giggled and reached up to unlace her dress.

"Here let me!" He loosened the laces and pushed her gown off her shoulders, kissing her neck and squeezing her breasts briefly before returning to removing his jacket, waistcoat shirt and breeches. He turned to find his lovely wife naked, and he took her in his arms with a smothered groan. "I love you so much Beth."

"I know, I love you too!" She clutched at him pressing her lovely body close against him, and he gloried in the feel of her warm, soft curves and smooth skin. Lifting her off her feet he deposited her on the bed and fetched the oil.

Crawling onto the bed with her, he said, "I am assured by the doctor that if I apply this to the entrance of your body it will prevent conception. I can also take a dose by mouth." He consulted the script on the label and opening the bottle he poured a small amount into the palm of his hand and sniffed. It smelled a bit like garlic. He licked it up and grimaced at the bitter taste. Never mind, anything was better than risking Beth's life.

He poured out a little more and used it to liberally coat his fingers. Beth lay back and spread her legs for him as eager as he to move proceedings along. His cock was already stiff at the prospect.

Leaning over her, he stroked her and swirled his fingers around the entrance to her body. She sighed and after a few moments of this attention she moaned, moving her hips in invitation. He grinned and leaned forward to suckle a nipple and continue his application of the oil sliding his fingers inside her.

"Oh, Seb that is so good!" she moaned moving restlessly on the bed as he moved his mouth down her body to suckle her bud of desire. He shuddered, his cock throbbing. They had pleasured each other each night since the wedding but had not engaged in any intercourse since the fateful night of Genevra's wedding. The prospect of being able to be fully inside her and not have to worry about the consequences was sending him into a fury of lust.

He groaned panting. Hurriedly he applied a little more oil to his hand and slathered it the full length of his cock, ensuring it covered the head. Putting the lid back on the bottle he set it on the bedside table and lined up their bodies. "Are you ready love? I don't think I can wait much more."

"Yes, yes, please I want to feel you inside me again. I've missed it so!" urged Beth, panting, her arms reaching up to pull him closer.

"God Beth, I love you," he said kissing her and lowering his weight onto her t iny form. It was a miracle to him, that he didn't squash her, but his Beth was less fragile than she looked. In fact, no one was stronger than his brave girl. He adored her so much.

Finding the right place, he slid in easily, what with her natural lubricant and the oil, and he groaned, panting in her ear. "So good sweetheart!"

"Yes," she agreed with him, wrapping her legs and arms around him as if she would never let him go.

He moved, and she gasped. "Does it hurt?" he asked in alarm, stopping.

"No! It feels good, wonderful, please don't stop."

Encouraged, he thrust, and gaining confidence, he soon surrendered to the beast driving him and accelerated the pace until he was pounding her into the bed with deep hard thrusts. The pleasure swamped his senses and drove the tension higher. Lifting off her a little he reached between them to touch her bud and bring her along with him, slowing his thrusts to enable him to hold off until she had caught up. His impatience was likely to send him over the edge prematurely.

Sweat broke out on his skin and he worked to bring them both to the edge, his body trembled with desire, and he kissed her, watching her face. "Open your eyes, Beth. Look at me, I want to see your expression when you come," he panted.

She obeyed, panting with him, her body moving with his, pushing him higher.

"Oh Beth, oh Beth, I love you," he whispered.

"Yes, yes I love you!" she said moaning and flinging back her head, archin g under him and squeezing his body and his cock.

"Seb!" Her cry and the convulsion in her body lit the fire in his, and he thrust hard and deep once, twice, three times as the pleasure spiked and exploded, and he felt his body give up its seed in her tight, wet heat.

"Oh Beth!" he groaned. "Love. Love you my darling," He shuddered and surrendered to the tumbling fall of aftershocks and the blissful lassitude that came in its wake.

He collapsed on her body and lay breathing and wallowing in the bliss of having been able to finally complete the act with her to their mutual satisfaction.

Beth panted listening to her heartbeat settling down and reveled in the pleasure of his body inside hers. She had felt the warm rush of his completion, and she felt a deep satisfaction with it. She felt truly married now. Truly his, forever.

She wrapped her arms and legs round him and squeezed murmuring, "Your mine now."

"Yes, my darling, always and forever," he said husky voiced. "You are mine to protect and love all the days of my life."

"Oh Seb, we are so fortunate to have found each other." She sighed her voice choked with tears.

"Yes, we are," he murmured.

"I'm glad I climbed over that balcony! I'd never have met you else. Or at least not like we did, and I wouldn't change a thing. "

"Hm," he said shifting so that he could cuddle her and hold her close. "Mine," he murmured sleepily. "Mrs Rooke."

She sighed contentedly and fell asleep in his arms.