Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

“ Y our Grace?” Percival heard Tobias’s voice call out to him.

He pushed back the memory he had been lost in since he had awoken and smiled at the man. “Forgive me, Tobias. I find myself sore and distracted this morning.”

Indeed, he had been since he woke up in a good mood—better than he had woken up in months—and he hadn’t had any nightmares.

He smiled again, remembering just how perfect his wife had been the night before, and couldn’t help the wave of desire that washed over him as he recalled her smooth, velvet softness. He had never felt anything like he did with her, and because he didn’t want her to be too sore, he had pushed down his desire when he had awoken in the middle of the night to leave her bed.

He knew she would be disappointed that he had left her again, but he couldn’t bring himself to frighten her with his night terrors.

“I can tell.” Tobias smiled. “Perhaps we can reschedule the meeting?”

“No, let us continue.” Percival waved his hand. “How are the repairs progressing, so far?”

“They started working on the east wing this morning, so we’ll see how quickly they finish.”

He nodded, happy that he could finally start repairing his home. He didn’t like how Louisa had almost gotten hurt the last time she had come looking for him. He wondered what she was doing now. Perhaps he would take a small break to see her in the drawing room later.

A knock sounded at the door, and he called, “Enter.”

A newly hired footman entered the study.

“Yes?”

“You have a visitor, Your Grace,” the footman announced.

Percival frowned. He wasn’t expecting anyone. Even Eli wouldn’t come without an invitation.

“Who is it?” he asked.

“I do not believe I need introductions, lad, or have you forgotten me so quickly?”

“Sir.” Percival rose from his seat, saluting the man.

“At ease, lad.” The man smiled.

His face was a welcome sight after so long. He had been a father to Percival during his training and even after he was deployed.

“What brings you to town?” Percival asked.

“I am retired now, and since I have no family and too much time on my hands, I decided to pay you a visit,” the man explained.

“You are more than welcome to visit anytime you want.” Percival smiled. “You can even stay for a long visit. I would love to have you here.”

“I intend to make myself comfortable!” the man suddenly yelled.

Percival frowned but said nothing, wondering if his mentor and friend was one of those men who would never truly recover from the horrors of war.

He frowned deeply, dreading the possibility. He didn’t want to picture the lively man shrinking into nothing but a husk of his former self, startled by everything he saw.

“Are you?—”

“Percival, I was wondering… Oh.”

“Percival, I was wondering… Oh.” Louisa stopped in her tracks, noticing three sets of eyes looking at her. “I didn’t know we had a visitor.”

She had hoped to see her husband, using his opinion on curtain designs as an excuse, but now with the fabrics in hand, she felt silly. She hid the fabrics behind her back and stepped closer to the desk, trying to hide the flush that bloomed in her cheeks when she looked at him.

She hadn’t seen him since the night before, and now that she had, she couldn’t help but feel shy. She noticed a spot of red on his ears and wondered if he too was thinking the same thing.

“Well, Percival? Won’t you introduce me to your beautiful wife?” the man asked.

His voice was firm, his posture rigid and his attire pristine. He looked like a soldier. Perhaps he was one of Percival’s superiors.

“I’m sorry, Weston.” Percival smiled, coming to stand beside his wife. “I was just taken with my wife’s beauty this morning.”

Louisa flushed, rolling her eyes at him.

Was he playing the doting husband because his commander was around?

Two could play that game.

The man laughed—a loud, raucous sound that startled her but made her smile nonetheless. He looked like a cheerful fellow given to quick laughter, and she wondered how all her husband’s acquaintances seemed so different from one another. Although she could tell that he had a good sense of humor—he just wasn’t ready to show it to her.

“I never thought the day would come when I would see you taken with a woman.” The man smiled. “It is honestly a refreshing change from your usual companions.”

Percival coughed into his hand, shooting the man a glare, but the man gave him a broad smile.

Louisa couldn’t help but smile at the exchange. It was nice to see her husband play even if it wasn’t with her. Percival needed more happy moments like this.

“May I introduce my Duchess, Louisa Fletcher,” he said quickly, placing a hand on the small of her back. “Louisa, this is Lieutenant Colonel Morgan Weston. I mentioned him some time before. He is visiting briefly but I have invited him to stay with us for the time being.”

“Oh, that would be lovely.” She smiled. “It is a pleasure to meet you finally, Sir.”

“Likewise,” Weston said, taking her hand and bowing over it to place a chaste kiss on the back of her hand. “I see why he is taken with you. You are as beautiful as a spring morning.”

“How long have you been his commanding officer?” she inquired.

“Since he was a boy. Over ten years,” he answered.

“I see.” She nodded, feigning scholarly interest. “It’s a shame he didn’t learn anything about complimenting women from you.”

Weston laughed again, and Percival placed a hand on his chest, feigning heartbreak.

“I like you. I really do.”

“I like you, too.”

She noticed then that Percival had gone towards the door, and she turned to see if he was leaving, but then Weston yelled suddenly, startling her. She turned back to him, noticing his eyes darting around, and wondered if he was all right. Her eyes flicked to her husband, who was looking worriedly at him. He shook his head at her, not wanting her to say anything. She nodded and smiled back at Weston.

“Would you like some tea, Colonel Weston?” she asked softly. “I had Cook make some nice biscuits with blueberry marmalade, which I think you will enjoy.”

“As much as that sounds delightful, dear, I think I should retire now,” Weston said, shaking his head. “I had a long journey, and these old bones need rest.”

“You are hardly old.” Percival smiled at him.

“I am at least twice your age, lad.” Weston laughed. “I will see you all after I have a good nap.”

“Do you need me to show you to your chambers?” Percival asked, looking concerned.

Weston waved him off. “No, no. Enjoy tea with your lovely wife. I shall ask that pretty housekeeper I spotted earlier to show me around.”

Percival shook his head as a small smile crossed his face.

It was a welcome sight, seeing his concern for the man, and Louisa wondered about their relationship.

When the door closed behind Weston, Percival settled into his seat with a sigh, but she didn’t want to ask immediately. So, she asked Tobias to send for tea, needing privacy. She said nothing until Anne set down the tea tray on the desk and left.

“Should I pour the tea, Your Grace?” the maid asked.

“I can do it,” Louisa told her.

Anne curtsied and left.

Louisa rose to pour the tea, before plating a biscuit and some of the marmalade.

“Do you want sugar?” she asked.

Percival nodded.

“Are you worried?” she asked after handing him a cup.

He nodded again. “He doesn’t seem very well,” he sighed. “I fear he’s starting to go senile. War does that to a man.”

Louisa laughed, trying to lighten the mood. “He didn’t seem senile. He seemed perceptive, and his memory was rather intact,” she noted. “What did he mean by companions, dear husband?”

Percival smiled but was quick to change the subject. “Do not tell me you didn’t notice his shouting.”

“He is a retired Lieutenant Colonel, Percival. He just has to adjust to being in polite society.”

“But—”

“Have you forgotten how you behaved at the last ball?” she reminded him. “You weren’t very nice. I seem to recall you being only a single step away from shouting.”

“Very well,” he relented. “You are probably right.”

She nodded and smiled. “So, will you tell me about the companions he mentioned?”

“No.” He smiled, shaking his head. “That is not a conversation for an innocent like you.”

“I’m no longer an innocent, dear husband.” She grinned. “You made sure of it last night.”

The air was suddenly thick with unspoken words, and he smiled, coming around the desk to sit beside her.

“I do hope you did not take offense to my leaving the way I did. I?—”

She stopped him with a finger to his lips, ignoring the way heat traveled up her arm and her pulse quickened so that she could get her point across.

“There is no need to apologize,” she told him. “I understand it is a new territory for you, and I do not want to rush you if you aren’t comfortable with it just yet.”

He nipped her finger, and she yelped, pulling her hand away from his mouth.

“You are a very tempting woman,” he murmured. “I am having a hard time keeping my hands off you.”

“Then don’t,” she urged, leaning into him.

She could feel her nipples straining against the tight bodice of her dress, and the friction was driving her so mad with desire that she wanted to undress right there and then. If he did not touch her now, she was sure she would combust. She ached to be filled by him again.

“Aren’t you… Didn’t I hurt you last night?” he asked, looking like he would pull away even though his hands cupped her face.

“You didn’t,” she reassured him. “I feel wonderful, and I feel like I might die if you don’t touch me now.”

He groaned and kissed her, and she buried her hands in his hair, kissing him back just as fiercely. She moaned at the taste of him and the feel of his hands gripping her through her tight dress.

She moved impatiently to unlace her constricting stays, and he laughed into her mouth, stilling her.

“Let me help you with that, dear wife.”

He pulled her up to her feet and turned her around, quickly undoing the fastenings of her stays. Her dress dropped to the floor, and she barely had a moment to savor the relief of having the tight fabric off her before he kissed her again, walking her backward till the back of her knees touched the edge of his desk. He lifted her onto it and stepped between her legs.

He removed the pins from her hair and then massaged her scalp. She moaned at the feel of his hands on her, leaning her cheek into the hand that caressed her face.

“You have no idea how many times I have pictured taking you on this desk,” he groaned, still fisting her hair.

“Tell me.”

He leaned down to kiss her, nipping a line from her chin to her ear.

“The very first day you came into my study, looking for your letter,” he whispered in her ear, “I wanted to flip up your pretty skirt and see if you would taste as sweet as you looked.”

She gasped as he palmed one of her breasts.

“The second time was when you barged in here, demanding that we share a meal.” He smiled against her neck. “I wanted to sweep those damned letters off my desk and show you just what your demanding tone did to me.”

“And then?” she asked, surprised she was able to ask questions, considering he had lowered his lips to her breasts.

“Today, when you came in here, holding those curtains.” He smiled against her nipple. “I couldn’t wait to have you all to myself.”

She smiled as he took her nipple in his mouth, and her back arched as he feasted on her. She didn’t think she could stand his teasing for long. Her hands went to undo his breeches, and he laughed.

“Why so impatient, wife?”

“I need you,” she said, cupping him through his breeches.

He gasped, his member twitching in her hand. He felt so hot and hard yet smooth, and her tongue itched to taste him as he tasted her.

“Can I taste you?”

His member twitched again in her hand, and he groaned, pulling away from her.

“You are certainly full of surprises, but no. Not today,” he answered, kissing her. “Today, I just want you .”

“You have me.”

He smiled as he lined himself with her entrance, sliding in one thrust that stole her breath. He groaned, using his hands to hold her hips in place as he moved in and out of her in quick, deep thrusts that made her moan loudly.

It was too much, yet she knew it was what her body had craved. Her husband was not a gentle lover, but she didn’t mind the way his fingers dug into her flesh. Even if he left bruises, she would smile when she saw them, for they would be a reminder of what they had done.

He pulled out suddenly, flipping her over and bending her over the desk. She turned to look back at him, wondering at the change.

“You are much too beautiful, Louisa,” he whispered, sliding into her slowly and giving her time to adjust to the feeling of fullness in this new position. “So tight and so damn perfect.”

She whimpered as he pounded into her, the edge of the desk digging into her thighs, but she didn’t stop him. Pleasure ripped her in two, and she screamed in ecstasy as his thrusts became erratic. He wasn’t far behind her, crying out his release, and she gasped as she nearly fell when he pulled out of her.

“I don’t think I can walk,” she complained.

He laughed, and she swatted his arm.

Eventually, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the couch. He lay down beside her and grabbed the thick blanket draped over the back of the couch, covering them both with it.

“I would have been disappointed if you could.”