Chapter Ten

December 25, 1819

Christmas Day

Late in the morning, Gabriel finally was able to introduce Charlie to his new family. He paused outside of the drawing room with the boy’s small hand in his, then he kneeled on one knee before him to peer into his eyes.

“Are you ready to meet your mama and sister?”

Though there was a bit of excitement in the boy’s face, a trace of apprehension reflected in his brown eyes. “Wot if they don’t want me?” He was dressed for the holiday, in his little navy suit, and small boots, with his brown hair styled with the veriest amount of pomade.

“They will. They’re my favorite people in the world. You already met Henry, and you know he’s a good man. And you like me, don’t you?”

“Yes, but they’re girls.”

Gabriel chuckled. It would be such fun raising a son again. “They are, but everyone needs good ladies in their life.”

Slowly, Charlie nodded. “All right.”

“Splendid.” Once Gabriel stood, he tugged on the bottom of his dark green superfine jacket. “Here we go.” Then he entered the room with Charlie’s hand snuggly in his, and the scene that met his eyes immediately gave him peace and contentment.

Mary sat on a low sofa with Cassandra beside her. They had both been laughing at some sort of story Henry was regaling them with, and the sound of that laughter warmed his heart so much. They glanced over at them when he brought Charlie toward that particular arrangement of furniture.

“Good morning. I would like to introduce you to the newest member of the Bright family.” Then he sat next to Henry on the other low sofa and brought Charlie with him. “This is Charlie.” His gaze fell on Cassandra. She was a vision in a white dress with a flounce at the hem and a red satin sash at the waist. Another red ribbon tied her platinum blonde hair back, but those large ice blue eyes contained curiosity as she bounced her gaze between him and Charlie. “Cassandra, this is your new brother. Do you remember when your mama and I adopted you and brought you here to live?”

“Yes.” She nodded, and there was a small pout that pulled her lips downward. “You are my papa and Mary is my mama. Forever.”

“Exactly.” Gabriel nodded. “That is what we have done for Charlie as well, because he was alone and on the street like you were.” He flashed what he hoped was an encouraging grin. “Charlie needed a family, just like you did, so he’s here. He is your brother.”

Cassandra rested her attention on the boy. “Henry is my brother.”

“He is, but now you have a second brother.” Gabriel glanced over at Mary, who watched the proceedings with tears in her eyes. “But you know how happy you were to not have to live on the street and be alone? That is what Charlie is feeling too, and I hope the two of you will trust each other enough to be siblings.”

Slowly, she nodded. “Are you still my papa?”

“Of course, poppet. Nothing could tear me away from you.” He glanced at Henry. “Help me explain it to her.”

Henry chuckled. He stood, came around the table, and then took Cassandra’s hand. “You love me , right?”

“Yes. You are fun.”

“Good.” Henry’s eyes twinkled. “Just think of all the other fun waiting for you when you come to know Charlie. A girl with brothers means she’ll always have a companion, but it also means we will always protect you and never let anyone harm you.” Then he swung her up into his arms and propped her on his shoulder, which was one of her favorite things. “Let’s go retrieve our gifts for everyone, hmm?”

Cassandra giggled and clung to Henry as had been her custom since he’d come home from university.

As they went out of the room, Gabriel relocated to the sofa next to Mary. He brought Charlie with him. “This is your new mama, Charlie. Her name is Mary, and if you don’t want to call her mama, you can use her name.”

Charlie stuck out a little hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

Mary chuckled. She took his offered appendage and gave it a shake. “I’m so happy you are here, Charlie. I think we will have a lovely time together and…” The delicate tendons of her throat worked with a hard swallow. “I have always wanted a son.”

All the trouble he’d gone through, all the anxiety he’d put himself through this week while trying to keep the secret from Mary was more than worth it when Gabriel saw the love in her eyes and heard the tiny wobble in her voice. He put a hand to his chest over his heart, which squeezed and swelled with pride until he thought it might explode. Their family was indeed complete. There was nothing like the feeling of being a father.

“Well, then.” Charlie glanced between them. “I don’t ‘member my parents so I guess I’ll be grateful to have new ones.” When he grinned, Mary did the same. “Sleepin’ in the kitchen has been real good too.”

“Oh, dearest.” She took both the boy’s hands in hers. “You won’t sleep in the kitchen any longer. There is a room waiting for you upstairs. There is so much we will give to you, because we love you and you are our son.”

Charlie’s eyes rounded. “No more chimney climbing?”

“Of course not.”

Gabriel grinned. “You’ll go on outings, have a governess and tutors, and best of all, you have a family. That’s the most important thing.”

“Then I ‘spect I’m luckier than most. And not getting beat every day is good too.” When he hesitated, Gabriel didn’t know what the child would do, but Charlie managed to surprise him by leaning forward and bussing Mary’s cheek. “Say, Mama, might we have breakfast? Mrs. Pearson already gave me porridge, but my stomach is empty again, and I wouldn’t mind a second breakfast.”

Both Gabriel and Mary laughed, and it was he who ended up wiping at the tears gathering in the corners of his eyes.

“I think breakfast is absolutely what we all need now,” Mary agreed with a smile that could have lit up the room.

“Not until we pass around presents!” Henry said as he came into the room with Cassandra trotting behind. They both had small parcels in their hands.

Gabriel stood. He leaned over and kissed Mary’s other cheek. “I have gifts as well, and since I forgot to put them beneath the tree in light of the contretemps of yesterday, I’ll go retrieve them now.” Once in the corridor beyond, he leaned his back against the wall and bowed his head, humbled by all his Christmas blessings.

Christmas night

Gabriel sat in the silence of the drawing room with only a couple of candles lit and the fire slowly dying behind the ornate metal grate. All the Christmastide finery of the holiday was not only pretty but it brought peace to his soul.

And he welcomed his new responsibilities with open arms.

“You look so content, I hesitate to ask if you’d like company.”

The sound of Mary’s voice wrenched him from his musings. “I would never turn down spending time with you.”

“Good. The children are asleep, and Charlie was amazed by having a bed of his own.”

“I imagine. No doubt he hasn’t told us everything that’s happened to him in the past two years, but I hope his new life will work to put those horrors from his mind.”

“We will do our best to give him happy memories, and he is just a charming little dear.” Without another word, she joined him, but instead of sitting next to him, she straddled his lap. The skirting of her maroon silk gown bunched between them. Then she kissed him, ending it by smiling at him with matching emotions of love in the blue pools of her eyes.

“What was that for?” He rested his hands on her hips. Just having her close sent awareness shivering over his skin. “Not that I’m opposed to displays of affection by my wife.” And damn, it was lovely being back in her good graces after a week of confusion.

“No reason. You are a good man, Bright. Somehow you knew exactly what I was missing in my life, what we needed together to complete our family.” The longer she held his gaze, the more deeply in love he fell with her. “Are you certain you are up for this challenge?”

“I truly am.” He couldn’t stop grinning, and he also couldn’t stop his hands from exploring. A few moments passed as they indulged in kisses.

Mary pulled slightly away. “I didn’t think I could enjoy a Christmastide more than I did last year.”

“Well, I am a man of mystery at times.”

“Yes, you are, but I know what you’re thinking right now.”

“Oh?” He couldn’t wait to separate her from that gown.

“Yes, and it’s the same thing I want, what I always want when we’re alone.”

“Mmm, now that is a lovely suggestion to end Christmas Day, isn’t it?” As if to punctuate the point, the longcase clock in the corridor chimed the midnight hour.

“Not a suggestion, darling, but a real certainty,” she whispered against his lips before claiming them with hers.

“I find no fault with that.” Needing to touch her, reassure himself she didn’t harbor annoyance toward him for keeping secrets, he skimmed his palms up her legs, over her hips to cup her breasts. “I have missed you in this capacity.” Already, his shaft was pressed so painfully tight against his silken evening breeches that he couldn’t imagine further delay.

“I’m afraid I handled this whole week poorly.” She rested a palm against the side of his face. “Please forgive me.”

“There is nothing to forgive.” When he lightly brushed the pads of his thumbs over her nipples through the fabric of her gown, her eyelashes fluttered, and a sigh left her throat. “I should have told you immediately.”

“I’m glad for the surprise, though. There is no one I want to go through life with beside you, and the fact that you manage to continue to delight me is wonderful.”

“Because I adore you.” Then he held her head between his hands, claimed her lips in a kiss designed to tease, to stoke that hunger between them. Even though they’d been wed for two months, he still couldn’t believe she was his.

“Not as much as I do you.” Her hand was at his cravat again, this time worrying the knot, undoing his valet’s careful precision while Gabriel dragged his lips beneath the underside of her jaw, down the column of her throat, licking the satiny skin as he went. It was one of his favorite things.

A sigh escaped him when she tugged the length of silk from about his neck and pressed her lips to the skin she’d just uncovered. Dear God, how was it possible he was so easily lost when they’d barely begun touching each other?

The warmth of her, the scent of her, the vibrancy of her in his arms went directly to his head, and as she kissed every part of him she could uncover, he did the same to her, following the bodice of her gown with his lips, licking the tops of those glorious breasts he could never have enough of.

Nearly drunk on her, Gabriel made quick work of undoing the laces at the back of her gown. As the bodice gaped, he wasted no time in tugging the garment down her body, freeing her arms from the short, puffed sleeves as he went. She had a glorious wardrobe for this holiday season, but he went particularly out of his mind when she wore red. The stays slowed him incrementally, then the soft lawn of her shift provided little resistance as he pulled it down too until her perfect breasts were bared to his gaze.

“Imagine that over a year ago we had never met each other,” she whispered as she peered at him with desire-darkened eyes. She yanked the tails of his shirt from the waist of his evening breeches, and when she shoved her hands beneath his lawn shirt, the heat of her seared him, claimed him, reassured him that he was hers.

Always.

“A quirk of fate, surely, but so fortuitous,” he whispered against her lips as he held those quivering mounds in his palms. Never would he tire of her, because she was a continuing adventure for him. Gabriel teased and tormented those dark pink buds until she writhed on his lap. “And one I’m permanently grateful for.” He encouraged her onto her knees so he could better take a pebbled nipple into his mouth.

“So charming, Bright, and such a darling man, the best husband any woman could have,” she whispered, and there was amusement in her tones that disappeared on the heels of a moan when he indeed took one of those buds into his mouth.

Needing so much more, he spent long, heated moments fondling one breast while leisurely licking and nipping the nipple of the other. The curves she possessed never failed to entice him, and he gave himself up to her magic.

She threw back her head, and a tendril of hair escaped its pins. The fingers resting on his shoulders dug into his skin through the layers of his clothing. “I wanted you in my bed after the sleigh ride, but—” A moan interrupted her words when he rolled the other tempting pink bud, gave it a playful pinch while applying firm suction to the bud he’d already latched onto.

“We botched the whole of this week.” There was no shame in admitting such.

“Promise me that in the future we’ll keep no secrets from each other, even if they are wonderful.” Honesty reflected in her face. “I can’t fret about our future or fidelity to each other again.”

“Agreed.”

“That is part of the fun of having a spouse—doing things together,” she said in a whisper as she furrowed her fingers into his hair and held his lips to her breast.

“You have driven home that point all too well.” Feeling quite smug, Gabriel grinned and spent the next several minutes pleasuring her breasts, and as her breathing shallowed, he kissed her again, for how could he not?

The warmth of her in his hands, on his lap, the floral scent of her, the faint sounds of pleasure she made, the way her fingers curled into the hair at his nape and how she brushed her body against his all worked to hurtle him close to the edge and they’d yet to couple. But then that was how it always was with his wife; they turned each other’s worlds upside down.

“Gabriel...” Mary pressed a line of tiny kisses to the underside of his jaw, the hollow of his throat, the upper portion of his chest.

“Hmm?”

When she worried a specific spot where his jaws connected, he gave into a shudder and nearly came prematurely, but he eased backward to meet her gaze in the flickering candlelight. “I want you; have been so emotional this week without you, and now I can’t wait any longer to make up with you.”

The urgency in her whisper matched the hunger prowling restlessly through him. “Aww, sweeting, what we are together was never in doubt.” Not knowing what else to say, he spent the next several seconds kissing her lips, licking her neck, nibbling the slope of her shoulder, exploring the curves of her breasts until she quivered with need, moaned her approval.

“That makes me so happy.” Mary delved a hand beneath his shirt once more to tangle her fingers in the mat of hair on his chest.

“I want you in every mood, Mary, because I am not going anywhere.” He was moments away from exploding, but he wanted to prolong the foreplay, merely because she captivated him. Needing to feel the heat of her, he burrowed a hand beneath her skirting and didn’t stop until he brushed his fingers through the curls hiding that swollen bud at her center.

“Never did I think I could be at this point in my life that I was wondrously, gloriously happy and content, but you managed it.” Her eyes briefly closed but she held him tighter, nipped and nibbled at the place where his neck joined his shoulder, and when she lightly bit that skin, it was his turn to moan and hover on that razor’s edge of pleasure.

With one hand playing her breast, he strummed the fingers of his other hand along the swelling button at her center, and as she gyrated her hips against his hand, he continued to kiss her, their moans blending into the all-encompassing silence around them. No longer did he notice the chill in the air due to the dying fire or the fact the doors to the drawing room were open.

“Oh, yes!” A shiver went through his gorgeous wife. All too soon, Mary hit release, and it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. She threw back her head and arched her spine, giving into a keening cry. Her body shook, and passion-crazed man that he was, Gabriel took full advantage. He suckled her nipple over and over until he’d brought her to the brink once more, and all the while, he never let up on the firm friction he put against that all-important nubbin.

“Bloody hell, Mary,” he whispered against the soft skin of her neck. “How is it that you can still arouse me far past what’s proper?”

“We’ve worked hard for this, and we belong together,” she said, her dulcet tones breathless as she trembled on his lap.

Gabriel chuckled. “Indeed, we do. Shall we go upstairs?”

“No!” She fought her way through yards of skirting before her fingers fumbled at the buttons of his frontfalls. “If the staff doesn’t know by now how much we adore each other, then they haven’t been paying attention.”

“Minx.” Yet it was true; they’d not made a secret of their ardor. He batted her hand away in order to complete the task of freeing his hardened, straining shaft. “How much do I love you?”

“Show me.”

“Gladly.” Gabriel cupped her cheek, peered into her face, made certain she could see into his eyes. “What I feel for you…” Dragging the pad of his thumb along her lower lip, he tenderly kissed her mouth, for he was without words.

Remarkably, tears rushed into her eyes. “I know.” But then those blue pools winked with wicked promise. “So I’ll ask again, show me. We have been apart for days, and I am not happy about that.”

“Neither am I. It seems I must make up for lost time, hmm?” He looked forward to every sensual second of that.

“A happy Christmas indeed for us.” She nipped at his chin, pressed tiny kisses to his cheeks, his forehead, the side of his neck. “Just now, I want to explore, I think.” Her fingers went gently around his aroused length, and when she squeezed his shaft, his whole world upended itself.

The fact he was still tip over tail for her was shocking, wasn’t it? “This night will end far too soon from your handling. Is that what you want?”

“Absolutely not, but I can’t promise this will be our only coupling tonight.” Her smile could have lit the whole of England with its brilliance.

“Is that a challenge, Mrs. Bright?”

“Oh, yes.” When she rose onto her knees, he guided the head of his member to her opening, and as she slowly, oh so damned slowly, impaled herself on his length, a shuddering sigh left his throat.

“Bloody hell, you feel so good.”

She made a sound much like the purr of a contented cat. “Well, you are quite satisfying as always,” she whispered as she wriggled on his length to fully seat him. With a soft laugh that sounded more like a purr, she moved, up and down, sliding along his shaft, over and over, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she held his gaze. “Is it scandalous I look forward to this with you practically every night?” she whispered against his lips and then was apparently distracted in kissing him or learning the secrets of his mouth.

“Of course not. That is what love does, and I’ll wager our ardor will cool as our lives grow more hectic.” Especially now with two children, yet he widened his legs, thrust upward with each of her downstrokes, and with every pass, sanity slipped away.

“Perhaps.” As she bounced, a sound of frustration escaped her throat. “I need more, though, more than this position allows.”

“Agreed.” Quickly, he urged her off his lap then he encouraged her onto her back against the sofa cushions. With his lips at the shell of her ear, he said, “I want to go as deep into you as I can, connect our souls.” Then he followed her down, settled between her splayed, bent knees, planted his elbows on either side of her to encompass her body within the cage of his arms while holding her head in his palms. “Better?” In the desire-soaked vestiges of his memories, this reminded him of one of the first times he’d coupled with her during that house party last Christmastide.

“It is, now claim me. Remind me why I married you.”

“I think you know.” God, how much did he adore her sharp mind and tart mouth? With one powerful thrust of his hips, he speared into her, burying himself in her tight heat until they were irrevocably joined.

And it was like coming home. Every single time, there was a similar welcome, and he marveled over it.

“Yes!” Dreamy desire and love filled her eyes as she wrapped her arms about his shoulders and cradled his hips with her thighs. Her breath came in soft pants. “When we do this…” She thrashed her head on the sofa cushion.

“I know.” Now was not the time for words. He simply wished to love her.

Not that he had ever stopped.

Again and again, he stroked into her body, thrilled that her honeyed heat sucked greedily at his shaft. Over and over, he lost himself in the glory of his wife. She held him close, encouraged him even closer with the subtle tightening of her fingers and legs, and he obeyed—how could he not? This carnal dance had been perfected for them over the course of the year, and he adored every exciting moment of it.

Emotions clogged his throat, for he couldn’t imagine life without her, not after this past year and everything they’d gone through. His pulse roared in his ears while he continued to penetrate her. Not able to find the appropriate words, he pressed his forehead to hers, and when a moan escaped her, that tiny little sound broke the hold on his control. Need tingled through his stones, drawing them tight to his body. His rhythm changed, quickened, and he shifted his stance so that the root of his member rubbed against her nubbin. The acceleration of her breathing guided him, reassured him all was well, and he stroked into her with more authority.

Already primed, Mary slipped over the edge into bliss with a cry that echoed in the quiet. With another forceful thrust, Gabriel was thrown into the abyss where the vortex sucked him under, and bright stars burst behind his closed eyelids. Every damned release with his wife was like this, and he couldn’t help but marvel at that.

“Christ, Mary.” He ground his hips into hers in an effort to prolong the wild sensations coursing through his body. “Not bad for a couple who is no longer young.”

“Age is merely a number, Bright,” she whispered as she shivered from the release that still trembled about his member.

“With you, I have no choice but to believe you.” He kissed her because he could, and eventually, his shaft ceased to pump, and he lay still with her cradled beneath him while her arms remained looped about his shoulders.

“We are seasoned, darling, not old.” When she giggled, the sensations that washed over him, from the root of his length to the tips of his hair, had him gasping. With a sigh, she relaxed her legs but didn’t try to separate herself from him. “You always know what I need.”

“Well, I have had loads of practice with you.”

“You have, indeed.” With a sigh, she snuggled into his side after he rolled them both into a more comfortable position. “Thank you for everything you’ve done this Christmastide season. I’m still amazed and reeling from it.”

“Our lives will change once more due to the children, but I can’t wait to see how we will all grow.” Having her in his arms was both amazing and relaxing. “I’m glad you liked the surprise of Charlie. There were a few moments when I thought everything would collapse around me.”

“You are the best of men, Gabriel. No more doubts on my part. How can there be?”

He reveled in her worlds and the feel of her arms around him. “I constantly try to make sure I’m worthy of you and that our life together will prove sufficient.”

“You are and you have. Never doubt either.” She pressed her lips to the side of his neck, and then with a sigh, settled into him with silence.

They remained layered against each other for long moments before he broke the quiet.

“Don’t forget, we are hosting dinner in a few nights for Henry’s love interest and her parents.”

“I haven’t. It’s significant progress and quite the statement for Henry, don’t you think?”

“I do. Life is continually surprising me, I’m finding, and everything I never thought was possible is suddenly coming to fruition.” There would be time enough to marvel at it all, but in this moment, he was simply thankful, and a bit emotional. Tears balled in his throat, which he cleared before continuing. “It’s keeping me on my toes.”

“You are moving through this phase of life with aplomb, though. We have come through a holiday season without a murder, so already this year is better than last.”

“There is that, but without that murder, I wouldn’t have met you. I still hold that last year was a pinnacle in my existence.” He grinned against her soft, fragrant skin while holding her close. “However, I think our little family is complete, don’t you?”

“Absolutely I do. I only hope the children will get on well together.”

“They will. They’ll both bond over the fact that they were orphans and now they’re not.”

“True. And who knows, perhaps you’ll soon be a grandfather close after you are a new father.”

He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Don’t rush those fences, Mary. I wish to enjoy what I have right now.” Yet life was certainly changing, and all he could do was brace for impact. “Oh, I had a letter the other day from a friend of mine. We used to work together at Bow Street—a Major Felix Kourier. The man managed to survive the war without incident then found himself permanently injured while on a job for Whitehall, which put an end to his career.”

“Oh? Is he in London?”

“He is, back from a stint on the Continent. He wishes to share tea or dinner with us when we’re free. I think he’s rather bored and wants to ask questions about consulting work.”

“Well, London certainly has enough crime.”

“Indeed. It would be lovely to see him again.”

“Write to him and tell him to come share Old Year’s Night with us. You two can catch up. It will be good for you to have a close friend about.”

“I will.” Gabriel pulled back enough so that he could peer into her face. “Happy Christmas, Mary. I honestly don’t know how we’ll manage to top this one.”

Her grin could rival the sun. “Happy Christmas, Gabriel. Somehow, I think we’ll puzzle something out.”

“Together.” And there no woman he would rather take on these new adventures than her.

Everything was a matter of perspective, but what made life tolerable and amazing were the people a man chose to put into his life as family.

That made all the difference, holiday or not.

The End