Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

S eraphina was curled up on the window seat, absorbed in her book as the rain pattered against the window. A fire was roaring in the grate, and she felt very cozy and comfortable. On her way home from dropping Tessa, she had stopped off at Rosalind's and borrowed a book whose theme dealt with pain as an avenue to passion.

She was fascinated to learn that it was quite common, if not exactly conventional, for such things as spankings to be used to arouse.

At least that was according to the story she was reading of a smuggler who found a stowaway on his ship, when it was too late to put her ashore. In order to punish her, he had her stripped naked, before spanking her bottom with his belt. The girl's screams and squirming aroused him, and he threw her on the bed. She widened her legs, and he could see that she was dripping wet.

He took her roughly, as she egged him on, leaving bruises on her wrists where he had them in a tight grip.

Seraphina squirmed in her seat, and then jumped when there was a knock at the door.

She looked up expectantly. "Come in."

The knob turned, and Gerard stuck his head in. Her heartbeat accelerated.

"Can we have a talk?" he asked softly.

Seraphina nodded, closing her book and putting it aside. He walked into the room and closed the door behind him, and then held up a piece of paper. "I just got an invoice from Floris Fragrances. You've been shopping again?"

Seraphina shrugged, "Tessa needed a perfume."

He dropped his hand, "Did she?"

Seraphina nodded emphatically.

"Well, all right. I appreciate that you only purchased one perfume. I would like to make a request of you, really more of a favor."

Seraphina nodded cautiously. "All right."

He took a step towards her. "I wanted to ask that should you feel the need to make a large purchase, that you inform me first."

Seraphina nodded again. "I can do that."

He peered at her intently. "You can do it, but will you?"

She chuckled a bit shamefacedly, eyelashes fluttering as she avoided his gaze. "I will admit that perhaps I have been a little reckless in my spending. Part of the reason why was that I was feeling resentful towards you. I realize now how infantile I was being. So I promise you, that aside from household needs, should I want to make a large purchase I shall inform you."

He took another step towards her. "I appreciate your candor. I also would like to apologize for… making you feel abandoned, even though that was not my intent."

Seraphina blinked, taken aback by his apology. "Oh. Thank you for saying that."

They stared at each other, each expectantly waiting for the other to say something else. Seraphina licked her lips. "About my sister however…"

Gerard nodded. "Yes?"

"I would like to hold a social gathering for her. We don't have to have a ball—it's expensive and unnecessary, considering she seems to have already caught a gentleman's eye—but we need to do something."

"Why? Especially since she's already achieving her objective."

"Well, she hasn't yet and it's a good way to introduce her to society. We did not get much opportunity to meet our peers when under my father's roof. Please Gerard. Just a musicale. Something we can invite a select group of people. I promise not to splurge on it." She put her hands together and batted her lashes at him. "Please?"

Gerard sighed in defeat. "Fine. A musicale seems like a reasonable pastime. You'll excuse me if I remain on hand for the remainder of the season to oversee things."

Seraphina held up a hand. "I understand. And I will be glad to have you along for the rest of the season. I would appreciate the company."

He frowned. "I didn't say I would be attending ton events."

"Of course." She smiled to hide her disappointment. "I just meant in general."

He walked towards her, looking into her eyes. "Did you?" he asked.

She got lost in his eyes, unable to look away, and she noticed that he had little flecks of gold in the blue of his eyes. "Pardon?"

"Did you really mean it, in general?" Gerard said slowly.

"Of course. What other way would I have meant it?"

He blinked once, his stare intense, slightly bent over her as if he meant to excavate the truth from her by any means necessary.

She leaned forward, in an effort to distract him, putting her shoulders back, hoping to show off the plunging neckline of her dress.

She breathed out, looking him in the eye. "Am I not allowed to be pleased to spend time with you?" she asked in a whisper.

His eyes shifted downwards, taking her bait, taking in a breath. "You certainly don't need my permission."

"No, I don't." She bit her bottom lip, her eyes on his slightly parted lips. "And there's a lot we're yet to learn from each other."

She was feeling particularly bold, the book she'd been reading having woken her desire just enough that she was tempted to rub herself all over him like a cat.

The book , she realized, her cheeks feeling hot suddenly. She was still holding it behind her back.

Something in her movement must have alerted him, as his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"What are you doing?" he asked sharply, tilting his head to the side. "What are you hiding there?"

Her brow furrowed and she pulled away slightly, "Nothing, Your Grace. What do you think I'm doing?"

He stared intently into her eyes as if he might be able to discern her motives in that way. Then his eyes were drawn downwards again, taking in her frame before narrowing in suspicion again.

"You're holding something behind your back," he said.

"Um, it's nothing important," she mumbled, feeling like a child that's been caught dipping its fingers into the cake.

He smirked, "Show me."

"Um… It's nothing, truly—" she began to say but was cut off when he twisted her around with ease.

Before she knew it, he'd snatched the novel right out of her hands.

"What is that?" he asked.

She squealed in protest as she turned back around, trying to take it back. Gerard held it over his head, out her reach.

"Please give that back," Seraphina exhaled nervously but he ignored her plea, turning his back on her and beginning to peruse it.

Gerard grinned like a loon, flipping through the pages.

"What is this?" he asked in surprise. " The smuggler spanked the stowaway ?" He turned around to face her, eyebrows raised, "It looks like I have corrupted you. I did not mean for that to happen."

She stopped fighting, staring at him in stupefaction. "You didn't mean to corrupt me?"

Gerard had the grace to look shamefaced. "I apologize. It won't happen again."

"Oh, you apologize ?" Seraphina asked in disbelief. " You apologize?"

His frowned in puzzlement. "Yes. I do. Why is this unbelievable to you?"

She just stared at him, floored by his incomprehension. Then she shook her head. "Forgive me. Perhaps I was blindsided by your apology. I did not expect it."

He nodded graciously. "Of course. Well, I know I have given you no reason to think so, but I am quite a civil gentleman."

She took a step closer to him, lifting her chin so she could keep his gaze on her.

"Of course you are. But I do not mind you… Not being a civil gentleman from time to time."

His eyes darkened.

Her hand landed on his chest, and she pressed against it gently. "Your chest is quite magnificent; do you know that? So hard and…chiseled."

He laughed, his cheeks coloring slightly. "I do exercise."

"Mmhmm. So strong…" she mumbled, looking up at him from her long lashes.

She was encouraged when he did not stop her or move away. So, she splayed her hand over his stomach before trailing downward towards his breeches.

He made a startled sound and then grunted. She paused, staring up at him questioningly.

"Do you wish me to stop?" she asked, unfastening his breeches.

He shook his head.

She could see that he was aroused, his breeches tenting, his skin, flushed. She stared, fascinated to be so close in life to what she had only read about in books.

She took a deep shaky breath and began to lower herself to the floor.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I just want to see…" she said, her voice dreamy as she ran a finger along his cotton covered length.

He shuddered and she looked up, startled by such a reaction.

"May I…?"

He nodded in answer, and she took that as permission to explore further.

She loosened his ties, letting his tumescence hang free.

It was her turn to gasp, and she kneeled down, the better to get a good look at it.

"It's silky to the touch, yet so rigid, so hard," she said in fascination as her hand explored slowly. "Hot too."

He made a sound halfway between a grunt and a moan, and he placed his hand on her head, his fingers running through her hair softly.

"When I touch you…does it feel the same as when I touch myself?"

He moaned, his hips jerking at her words.

Her brow furrowed. "Just my words make your body react," she said thoughtfully.

"Well, they paint a wonderful picture," he said hoarsely, dragging his hand down to her cheek, his thumb grazing her skin.

She stared at him in thought. "I see."

"What is it that you see?" he asked as she stroked him.

She just smiled and squeezed him before resuming the stroking. He threw his head back, mouth open and moaned aloud.

In her hand, his member was hotter, more rigid, the veins standing out. She could see how truly aroused he was. If this was how he was when she stroked him… What would he look like if he was inside her?

With a deep breath, she removed her hand from his member and got to her feet, stepping away from him.

He stared at her wide-eyed. "What are you doing?"

She shrugged. "I just wanted to see how it felt. Now I have."

"You cannot…leave me like this."

"Why not? You did. But I apologize and promise you that it won't happen again," she said, her tongue in her cheek, as she suppressed a grin of triumph.

His eyes narrowed as he growled deep in his throat. "A game? You think this is a game ?" he said in disbelief.

"Absolutely not. Did you think it was a game when you did it to me?" She made sure to keep her face smooth and unexpressive even though her heartbeat accelerated at the look of pure rage on his face.

She whimpered as he grabbed her, pressing her backwards into the wall of books, his eyes sparking as he gazed into hers.

"You seem to be under the mistaken impression that you can toy with me, wife. It seems that once again, I shall have to show you your place ."

She leaned forward so their faces were flush against each other. "Show me my place? I'm not afraid of you."

"Good. I don't want you to be. But you will respect me."

He pushed her against the bookshelves, his large hands scooping up her thighs tightly, lifting her off the ground.

She gasped as their eyes met again, and Gerard wrapped her legs around his waist, his erection pressing right against her wet core.

"What are you doing?" she squirmed trying to get away from him.

His head swooped down and he nipped at her bottom lip, drawing blood.

"Stay still," he ordered.

Her breath was coming in shallow pants. The more he touched her, the hotter her skin felt.

So she obeyed.

And it felt so good to obey him.

Then, his teeth brushed against the rapidly beating pulse at her neck and then he was biting down, suckling a bruise into her neck. She tried not to cry out, her body jolting into life.

His grip on her arm loosened as he worked at her neck, but her knees felt so weak. She could not have moved to save her life.

His hands trailed downwards, tickling her as they traced patterns on her gown between her armpit and waist before tightening around her waist and pulling her into the circle of his arms.

She made a surprised sound, her hands rising to clutch at his massive shoulders, holding on for dear life. He squeezed her bottom, and she squeaked in surprise, flinching away from his hands.

"Tell me to stop," he growled into her neck.

"Don't," she breathed back, "do not stop."

With a hoarse growl, he began to pull her gown up and she hung onto him.

She could feel his hardness, brushing against her bare legs and suddenly, she was hungry to feel him inside of her, where she was dripping wet, her flesh calling out to be filled.

He cupped her bare bottom and then spanked it. She made a sound somewhere between a moan and a cry. He did it again and without thinking, she jumped up, circling his hips with her legs and holding on, her arms around his shoulders. He used the wall of bookshelves to balance her, both hands on her stinging bottom.

"Do you know your place yet?" he growled.

She hesitated a moment. "No…sir," she rasped.

He groaned, hips jerking as he spanked her again, and again. She arched her back, rubbing her dripping wetness against his bare stomach.

He made a moaning growling sound which only spurred her into rubbing against him more.

"Now?" he demanded, staring deep into her eyes.

She nodded rapidly, her body aching with desire.

"Yes. I know my place."

"Say you will not toy with me again," he ordered as his hand found her wetness, circling her sensitive spot.

"I won't toy with you again," she muttered, her eyes shut as pleasure spread all over her body.

"Good girl," he replied and captured her lips with his own, "Now you'll see what you get for being my good girl."

His hand began working between her folds, caressing in the most perfect movements.

Seraphina gasped, tensing up, then moaned into his mouth as the sensation pushed her higher and higher.

Gerard's hand felt so good, just as good as her own hand during those lonely nights, but the way his body was pressed against hers, his lips grazing her skin… The combination catapulted her to new heights.

"That's it. Let go. Come for me," he whispered into her ear, which was the final push.

Her breath caught in her throat, her whole body trembling as she was about to reach the sweetest ecstasy?—

But suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and Gerard stopped, taking her pleasure away with his hand.

"God damn it to hell," he spat before raising his voice and shouting, "What?"

"Your Grace?" a nervous voice replied from the other side of the door, "It's Lord Astor. He's collapsed."

Gerard froze. They both did as they met each other's eyes.

Without further conversation, Seraphina loosened her hold on him, letting her legs fall to the ground and taking her hands from his neck.

He swiftly refastened his breeches and tucked his shirt while she leaned helplessly against the bookshelves, straightening her clothes.

They stared at each other for a single moment and then he nodded, turning to leave the room.

Seraphina simply stayed leaning on the shelves, breathing in and out as she tried to calm her frustration.

When she got herself under control, she took one more breath, she followed Gerard downstairs to the parlor.

She found him leaning over his uncle, looking concerned.

Lord Astor had his eyes closed, his face pale and pasty looking.

"Gerard?" she asked.

"Have the physician called. Do it right away," he sounded urgent and Seraphina hastened to summon a footman and send him off.

Luckily Mr. Freeman—her usual physician—did not live too far away.

"Go with a carriage so you can come back faster," she told the footman.

She hurried back to the parlor to find Gerard gently lifting Lord Astor's head so he could put a pillow beneath him and hurried over to help.

"Is there anything else I can do to help?" she asked.

Gerard shook his head slowly, looking lost. "No. The physician will do the rest."

Seraphina's heart squeezed as she saw the fear in his eyes and remembered that Gerard had endured much loss in his life. Despite his general unpleasantness, Lord Astor was Gerard's only relative. He was his family. And, surely, after Gerard had taken him in, they had grown closed. To see him that way… It had to cost her husband deeply.

She nodded, swallowing hard. "All right. I'll just…ring the bell so that the housekeeper can bring some water to us for when he wakes."

He gave no response, so she leaned away from him to pick up the bell.

His hand was still tight around her wrist. She wasn't sure he was even aware of how tightly he was holding on to her.

Keeping her eyes on him, as he stared helplessly at his uncle, she rang the bell.

"He'll be fine. The physician is on the way," she tried to be as reassuring as possible, but she could not help but notice the blue tinge to Lord Astor's skin.

Not to mention that he lay so still… It was terrifying.

Half an hour later, the door flew open, and Mr. Freeman strode in, much to Seraphina's relief. He marched straight to the patient, without taking notice of anyone else in the room.

"Now," he began quietly, opening his briefcase, "what do we have here?"

As the physician examined Lord Astor, Seraphina explained what happened to the best of her knowledge. Mr. Freeman made sounds of acknowledgement but didn't turn to face her or Gerard as he palpated Lord Astor's belly and then listened to his heart.

He reached into his bag as Mrs. Anderson, the housekeeper knocked on the door and then came in. "You called, Madame?"

Mr. Freeman looked up. "Just in time. I need you to steep this." He handed the housekeeper a muslin drawstring bag filled with herbs. "Hurry."

Mrs. Anderson curtsied and waddled quickly out of the room. Mr. Freeman resumed his ministrations, loosening the cravat around Lord Astor's neck and unbuttoning his shirt before he began to massage his chest.

Seraphina watched anxiously, wanting to ask questions but not wanting to interrupt the physician in his work. Mrs. Anderson returned with a steaming kettle exuding fragrant steam.

Mr. Freeman took the kettle and poured some of the liquid into a cup. He ran it past Lord Astor's nose, once, twice, three times.

Lord Astor coughed, a startled look in his eyes as they opened.

"Wha…?" he said, looking around in confusion.

Gerard was immediately by his side. "Uncle Erasmus?"

Lord Astor's eyes latched onto his nephew's. "What…happened?"

"You collapsed," Gerard's words were almost accusing.

Lord Astor blinked in surprise. "I did?" he asked.

"Yes," Gerard stared at him with a furrowed brow.

Mr. Freeman nudged Gerard, putting the cup of herbal tea in his hands. "Make sure he finishes this."

Gerard nodded, as the physician began to put his instruments away. "I believe this is a long-standing condition is it not, Lord Astor?" he asked as he worked.

The earl coughed, and then cleared his throat as Gerard made him drink. "Uh…well…"

"Do you occasionally experience shortness of breath?" Mr. Freeman asked.

Lord Astor seemed stumped. "Well, if I walk too far, of course. Doesn't everyone?"

The physician just smiled. "And do you sometimes find it difficult to breathe, especially if you have exerted yourself?"

"Er…"

"I'll take that as a yes."

Seraphina bit her inner cheek to suppress an amused smirk. To see the arrogant earl put in his place was rather refreshing; though she knew it was not the time or place for smugness and she truly felt for the duke. It was clear how worried he was about his uncle.

"I shall leave you with some herbs. You will drink these every night. It will help you feel better. But you have to slow down and be vigilant about your health. Do you understand?"

Lord Astor hmphed, looking annoyed. "I am not a child to be chastised this way."

The physician gave him a serious look. "I am not chastising you. I am simply advising you on how you can maintain good health."

"Do not worry, sir," Gerard cut in, giving his uncle a strict look, "I shall make sure he complies."

Mr. Freeman nodded. "Then my work here is done."

Gerard turned to face him, "Thank you for your help, Mr. Freeman."

The physician bowed. "It was my pleasure."

He took up his case and Seraphina walked him out. "Thank you, Mr. Freeman. You know where to send the invoice."

The physician bowed, taking his leave. "Your Grace." He tipped his hat at Seraphina before turning towards the door.

Seraphina returned to the parlor, to find that Gerard and Lord Astor were having a discussion about how well the earl felt.

"I am perfectly all right. No need for this fuss," he muttered.

Seraphina stepped forward, reaching out to help the earl sit up. "Let me help you…" she said as she touched his shoulder.

He brushed her hand off sharply. "I do not need your help woman. Did you not hear me say I'm fine?"

Seraphina stepped away, taken aback by the hostility in his tone. She folded her arms, looking to Gerard for guidance. But he was still watching his uncle with concern.

"Finish your tea," he said, "then we can get you to bed."

"Hmph," he said but took the cup and drained it. Again, Seraphina stepped forward to help him up and he pushed her.

"Did you not hear me, woman? I do not need your help."

"Uncle Erasmus…" Gerard mildly chastised but his uncle looked unrepentant.

"Very well. I shall leave you two then. You know where to find me if you need me."

Seraphina wheeled around and left the room, closing the door extra quietly.