Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

T hey made very convincing gentlemen, if Gwen said so herself. That she’d gone from bride to gentleman in disguise in a few hours amused her greatly. But she would have gone to any lengths to see Lazarus’s speech. And dressing as a man was required, as women were not allowed in the gallery in the House of Lords.

It came as no surprise to her that her friends—Tamsin, Min, Ellis, and Jo—had insisted on joining her in this folly. And now they would wait until whenever it was that Lazarus would deliver his speech. Since Parliament could work well into the night, Gwen hoped it wouldn’t be too late.

“We should at least have put a flower in your lapel,” Min said as they situated themselves behind the bar with a group of members from the House of Commons. “I can’t believe this is how you are spending your wedding day.”

“I can think of no better way,” Gwen said earnestly. Truly, this was perfect, in her mind.

“I wish you’d all seen how pretty Gwen looked,” Tamsin said. As Lazarus’s cousin, she was the only one of Gwen’s friends who had been invited. Gwen’s mother had been insistent that only family be allowed to attend. Gwen was just glad that Lazarus’s mother had arrived in time. His oldest sister, who lived near London, had also been in attendance.

“I understand why we weren’t invited, but I’m still a little sad about it.” Min sniffed.

“My mother is planning a dinner party for next week, and you will all be invited.”

“Including me?” Jo asked with a wry smile. “I will not be offended in the least if I do not receive an invitation.”

“You are most definitely on the list of invitees,” Gwen assured her. “I do hope you will be able to come. I know you are at the Siren’s Call most nights.”

“Yes, but my mother will likely insist I go—if I tell her about it. She thinks I spend too much time at the Siren’s Call.” Jo shrugged.

Ellis leaned around Min to look at Jo. “If you did not, you may not have been so exceptionally equipped to aid Gwen and Somerton with that horrible Worsley situation.”

In the coach on the way to Westminster, Gwen had explained the entire Worsley affair, much to her friends’ outrage and horror. There was no way she would keep the truth from her friends.

“I still can’t believe she shot you,” Tamsin said with a faint grimace. “Or that you got married three days later.”

“Or that they let Mrs. Worsley get away with it,” Jo put in.

“It was the right thing to do for Miss Worsley. She’s been through enough and still has a baby to deliver,” Gwen said.

“How is your arm?” Min asked.

“It’s not bad, actually.” It had hurt quite a bit yesterday, which had made Gwen glad she’d chosen today for the wedding. Today she was feeling a far sight better, however. The wound was bound with a fresh bandage beneath her shirt.

The session started, and they fell silent. There was to be a debate regarding former soldiers, and Lazarus stood to deliver his speech.

A movement to the right drew Gwen’s attention. A few more gentlemen had entered. One of them was her father. She pivoted so he wouldn’t be able to see her, then whispered to Tamsin that she needed to move to Gwen’s other side to block her father from seeing her.

Eyes wide, Tamsin adjusted her position. Then she lifted her hand and appeared to giggle silently behind it. Gwen couldn’t help grinning—this was a terrible risk, but one she was gladly taking.

After addressing the members of Parliament, Lazarus offered a dedication. “I dedicate the speech I am about to make to my lovely new wife, Gwendolen. Yes, as of this morning, I am no longer the reckless rake.” There were murmurs and laughter.

“I am proof that love can transform a man. In meeting Gwen, I have found not only a brilliant spouse, but a true partner in everything. She has given me hope where I had little, for you see, I have struggled to read my entire life.”

Gwen sucked in a breath, but quickly clapped her hand over her mouth. What was he doing?

“Some have discounted me as unserious or unintelligent, and I have been rather absent from this fine chamber. However, today I rededicate myself to my duty and share with you the challenge I have long faced.”

He took a breath and glanced down briefly before continuing. “I have always had trouble reading. I can read, just very slowly and it is a chore. My father did all he could to help me as a child. I made slow but steady progress. After his death, I did not continue to improve in this arena. He was the only person who understood my deficiency. However, he never made me feel deficient.”

Gwen realized tears were streaking down her cheeks. She hastened to wipe them away lest someone notice the odd gentleman crying.

“When I recently became better acquainted with my darling wife, I decided to share my difficulties with her, for you see, she is quite brilliant. She can read multiple books in a day.” He smiled, and Gwen felt as though her heart might burst.

“Unsurprisingly, she came up with a methodology to help me improve my reading and also to ensure I would be able to deliver my speech today. I have memorized it, but if I lost my place and needed to refer to my written copy, it would have been a disaster.”

Over the past few days, they’d written his speech out in small passages on different pieces of parchment so that he could easily find his way. He’d practiced countless times, and Gwen had never been prouder.

There were more murmurs and a bit of laughter, and Lazarus smiled once more. “What is most remarkable about my wife, however, was the risk she took in tutoring me. She’d agreed to meet with me at my cousin, Lady Droxford’s, house.”

Gwen heard Tamsin gasp softly beside her and reached over to touch her arm. She would have held her hand, but couldn’t very well do that in their current disguises.

“During those meetings, she helped me become better at reading and ensured I would not make a fool of myself today. We were not having an affair as that idiot I shall not name has alleged. He was merely seeking vengeance against Lady Somerton after she accidentally spilled orgeat on him at Almack’s. It was a hideous waistcoat, and honestly, can you think of a better use for that drink?”

This was met with a loud burst of laughter. Moving her head back slightly to peer behind Tamsin, Gwen looked toward her father. He was smiling, and the man beside him was guffawing.

Straightening, she refocused on her magnificent husband. How he’d found the courage to say all this was astounding. She could hardly wait to see him later tonight.

“But as it happened, I fell in love with Gwen as she so generously gave me her kindness, her cleverness, and her trust. Without her, I would not be the man I am today. And now, I suppose I shall deliver my actual speech, though I guarantee you this bit was far more interesting.” He flashed his signature roguish grin, and Gwen fell in love with him all over again.

Tamsin quickly put her arm around Gwen’s waist and gave her a gentle squeeze. “Thank you for helping my cousin. I had no idea he struggled or that you were meeting for such a noble and wonderful purpose.”

“It was a secret,” Gwen whispered. “Indeed, I am in shock that he would share it like this.”

“But perhaps it will help someone else,” Tamsin noted.

“I hope it does.” Again, Gwen felt a swell of pride. And love. Both of which only grew as Lazarus delivered his speech nearly perfectly. She watched as he carefully moved the paper in his hands as he spoke so that he always had the part he was saying within sight. He only had to check the parchment once, and he barely faltered.

When he was finished, there was a resounding round of applause. And then the debate began. Unsurprisingly, his advocacy was not as popular here as in the Commons.

Gwen and her friends listened for a while, but then decided to depart. Outside, they all laughed and congratulated Gwen, marveling at what Lazarus had revealed.

“How wonderful that he was able to take down Eberforce too,” Ellis said with a laugh.

Jo smiled. “That was my favorite part.”

Gwen looked around at her dearest friends. “Thank you all for your support. I could not imagine how I would have navigated the past few weeks without you.”

“We will always be here for one another, and that includes Persey and Pandora. Though they are not here in person, they are in spirit,” Min said. “And I did visit Persey a couple of days ago to inform her of all that was happening. She was agog.”

“I hope I’ll get to see her soon,” Gwen said. And Pandora would certainly write—Gwen had written to her about the wedding. She’d also painstakingly recalled the events of the past several days, which she realized would read like a scandalous novel penned by some anonymous lady.

“Shall we remove ourselves from these clothes?” Tamsin asked. “I do think my breeches are rather tight.” She giggled, and they made their way to the coach.

Gwen had never been more grateful. Her heart was full.

I t was after midnight when Lazarus practically raced up the stairs to his bedchamber. He was so eager to see his wife that he’d thrown off his hat and gloves without a care. Presumably, the efficient footman would retrieve them from wherever they’d landed in the entrance hall.

The debate had lasted hours, and then there’d been other business. Lazarus had resolved to skip tomorrow’s session in favor of bestowing all the attention his wife deserved and didn’t receive today. He felt horrible for arriving so late on their wedding night.

He threw open the door to his chamber and closed it firmly, then began disrobing immediately. He scanned the chamber, but didn’t see Gwen. It was awfully late. Had she fallen asleep? Would she be disgruntled if he woke her? He’d no idea what sort of sleeper she was.

Wearing just his breeches and shirt, he padded toward the bed on his bare feet. Then he stopped cold at the sight that awaited him.

Gwen lay amidst the rumpled bedclothes wearing nothing but a…cravat? Had she donned that because of how she’d been dressed the other day when they’d first shared a bed together?

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” Lazarus said, his body tight with desire.

Her lips curved in a seductive smile that made his cock jump. “I expected that.”

“And why the cravat?” he asked, taking his shirt off.

Eyes widening slightly as she fixed on his chest for a moment, she stroked the end of her cravat. “I was wearing this earlier today when I visited the House of Lords. I thought you might like to see how I looked in it.”

He goggled at her. “You were there today?”

“I was. Along with Tamsin, Min, Ellis, and Jo.”

“All dressed like men. Because you had to be, of course.” He shook his head. “I’d no idea. I did see your father, however.”

“I wasn’t too far to the left of him—from your perspective.” She continued to stroke the silk of the cravat, and Lazarus was becoming most distracted. His cock somehow grew harder.

“You’re going to have to leave that cravat alone if you expect me to carry on a conversation.” He drew a deep breath, but the haze of lust remained. “It’s good I didn’t recognize you. I would have been more distracted than I am right now.”

Her hand stilled, and she sat up. “I can’t believe what you said today.” Her eyes shone with admiration. “I’m so very proud of you.”

“You can’t know how much that means to me,” he said quietly. “When I lost my father, I never thought I’d have someone who would support me as you have. To know that you are proud of me is the most wonderful gift.”

Her gaze met and held his. “I can know. All I wanted with this silly Season was to make my parents proud. Yes, I wanted a marriage, but in large part because that was what they wanted for me. I wanted their approval and praise, but I realize what I wanted more than anything was a love of my own. And you gave me that. Now tell me why you said what you did in the Lords today about your reading problems. You didn’t have to share any of that.”

“I know, but I wanted to. Mostly, because I want the world to know how brilliant you are and how much I adore you. I don’t want anyone to doubt that I would ever dishonor or hurt you.”

“There is little chance of that now, but I would never doubt it. You sounded so wonderful today. Your delivery was outstanding.”

He grinned. “Our scheme with the short passages was the key to my success. And I have you to thank for that. How did I get so lucky to find you? And for you to choose me?”

“I have asked myself the same questions multiple times this past week. Let us lay them to rest. We are both lucky, and we chose each other because we were simply meant to be.”

Lazarus’s heart soared. “I can see you have seduction in mind, and I have no quarrel with that.”

“It is our wedding night,” she said.

“How is your arm? Wedding night or not, I am not going to cause you pain or discomfort.”

She gave him a saucy smile. “You won’t because I am going to be on top. I believe you said I could ride you, is that correct?”

“Yes,” he rasped, quickly unbuttoning the fall of his breeches. He climbed onto the bed and kissed her, gently cupping her face.

Pivoting, she pushed him lightly backward, not that he needed direction or encouragement. “I recall I said I wanted to explore this magnificent chest last time we were together like this.”

“You did,” Lazarus managed despite the need building to a crescendo within him. How had he lasted four days without her? He wasn’t sure he was going to make it through the next four minutes.

He closed his eyes and focused on her hands moving over him, each caress driving him deeper into desire. Then her mouth followed, spreading kisses over his flesh and flicking her tongue to taste him.

When she curled her hand around his cock, he opened his eyes and watched her through slitted lids. As she stroked him, her dark hair fell against his thigh and the ends of her cravat tickled his flesh. He twitched, arching his hips off the bed. In answer, she put her lips to the hood of his cock.

Lazarus groaned, closing his eyes once more, but only briefly for he wanted to watch her suck him. She opened her mouth and drew him inside tentatively, her tongue sliding along his length. Then she released him and met his gaze.

“Am I doing this right?”

“There isn’t really a wrong way.” His voice rose as she moved her hand down his shaft and cupped the balls beneath. “Ah, that is quite perfect.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I do try to be a good student.” She returned her mouth to him, this time sucking him in with more confidence, her tongue swirling around him as she gently played with his sac.

Lazarus dug his fingers into the bedclothes, then fisted them as she began to move more quickly. If he didn’t stop her, he was going to come down her throat.

He clasped her head with one hand. “Gwen, you must stop before I shock you.”

She slowly released him from her mouth, her lips shining as she looked up at him. “How?”

“I will come in your mouth.”

“Is that not done?” she asked, blinking.

“It is , but you should consent to my doing that.”

“I absolutely consent,” she said without hesitation. “And what happens with your seed? Will I swallow it?”

“If you like.” Her curiosity was both adorable and arousing. All this talk of coming in her mouth was making him even more desperate for her.

“I would like.” She made to put her mouth back on him, but he tugged gently on her hair.

“If you don’t mind, I would prefer to come in your pussy tonight. Time for you to ride.”

Rising up, she straddled his hips. Her breasts jutted out, high and proud, the nipples taut. Lazarus reached up with both hands and stroked her, rubbing his thumbs over her nipples.

She grasped the end of her cravat. “I suppose I don’t need this anymore.”

“Leave it,” he said quickly. “I like how it looks, the ends hanging between your breasts. When you move, the silk may caress your flesh. You may find you like that.”

“I do like the sound of it.” She wriggled her hips over his. “Show me what to do.”

Lazarus skimmed one hand down to her sex and rubbed her clitoris. He slid a finger between her folds and found her hot and wet. “Put my cock inside you. You’ll need to lift up slightly.”

Her hips rose, and she grasped his sex, guiding it to her sheath. He used both hands to part her folds as she took him inside herself.

Gripping her hips as she worked herself down over him, Lazarus moaned with pleasure. When her thighs met his and he was fully embedded within her, he met her gaze. “Take your time to become accustomed, but then you will set the pace.”

She rocked forward slightly, pressing her clitoris against his pelvis. “Oh, that’s lovely.”

“When you move faster, the friction there will be exquisite.”

He guided her movements—up and down—holding her hips as she quickly learned. She ground down hard, and ecstasy shot through Lazarus. He cried out her name as he dug his fingers into her. “Ride me, Gwen. Hard.”

She complied, increasing her speed and grinding on him so her clitoris was receiving the attention it deserved. Lazarus managed to keep his eyes open and watched her breasts jostle, the white silk swaying against her nipples as she pitched slightly forward. It was the most erotic sight he’d ever beheld.

Then she began to ride him with such a sharp precision that he could no longer focus on anything but the rapture building inside him. Together, they bucked and panted, their bodies straining for release.

She began making high-pitched, nonsensical sounds, and her movements became more frenzied. Lazarus slid one hand between them and rubbed her clitoris with hard, fast strokes. The muscles of her sex clenched around him, and he felt her thighs tense.

She cried out his name over and over as her body shuddered around him with her climax. Lazarus pumped up into her a handful of times before he too was swept away.

When their bodies slowed, he carefully guided her away from him, easing her onto the bed while cautious with her injured arm. She was breathing rapidly, her breasts rising and falling heavily. Now, she tore the cravat away and flung it to the floor.

Smiling, she looked over at him. “How did I do?”

“You were spectacular. Top marks.” He kissed her shoulder, then bounded off the bed to fetch a cloth to tidy her.

As he approached her from the other side of the bed, he cleaned his seed from her, then deposited the cloth in the basin. Then he tidied himself and rejoined her in their bed.

Their bed. No longer just his. Everything he had he would share with her. Gladly. Eagerly. For all their days.

He helped her into the bedclothes. She lay on her back, and he pressed himself to her side. “I’m not going to Westminster tomorrow.”

“Is that all right?”

“I have rarely spent much time there,” he said drily. “No one will miss me.”

“They will after today. I daresay you made quite an impression on everyone with that speech. You certainly impressed me. And my father, I think. He laughed at your jest regarding Almack’s orgeat.”

Lazarus smiled. “Did he? That’s good to hear. I know he has his reservations about me, but I will prove to him every day that I deserve to be your husband, that I will make you the happiest woman in the world.”

“Already accomplished,” she said with a sigh. “I am curious to know what Eberforce thought of your speech. I presume someone will have told him of it. You have ruined his plans to ruin me.”

“If he does anything untoward regarding you, I will put an immediate stop to it. Indeed, at the first opportunity, I plan to inform him that if he causes you any distress or maligns you in any way, I will ensure he’s never able to purchase a fashionable waistcoat in London again. He’ll have to learn to make them himself.”

Gwen laughed. “You can’t have that much power.”

He arched a brow at her. “I’m willing to find out.”

She leaned over to kiss him, her eyes glowing. “Thank you for being my champion, from that night at Almack’s to today at Westminster. There can be no woman luckier than me.”

“We’ve already established our luck as fact,” he said soberly. “I thank you for also being my champion, for reminding me of my worth. I am only sorry my father isn’t here to meet you. I do think he would love you nearly as much as I do.”

“He lives on in you, my love,” she said with a brilliant smile that encapsulated every delightful aspect of who she was. “And he will live on in our children, should we be blessed with them.”

“I should hope so. You will be an excellent mother.” He kissed her again, and his body began to stir once more.

“And you will be a magnificent father.” She kissed him back, her tongue sliding along his as she caressed his chest.

“We should go to sleep,” he said.

“What if I prefer to take another ride?” she asked.

“It’s rather soon, and you are new to the sport. Perhaps I will wake you with another method of lovemaking that will not put pressure on your arm.”

Her brow puckered as she looked at him with rampant curiosity. “And how is that?”

“You’ll lie on your uninjured arm.”

She rolled to her left arm, presenting her back to him. “Like this?”

Blast, now she was going to tempt him sorely. “Yes. And I will bend your top leg like this.” He moved her leg into position, opening her sex. He dragged his fingertips along the back of her thigh and stroked them across her folds. She was wet again, and now he would be lost.

“I was going to wake you this way, but now it seems this is how I will say good night,” he said softly as he worked his fingers into her eager sheath.

“I can think of no better way to welcome sleep.” She moved her hips with his thrusts.

Lazarus kissed her neck and whispered, “Are you ready for me, my love?”

“Always.” He entered her from behind and rocked into her, thrusting deep as he clasped her thigh.

“I love you,” she moaned, as they raced for ecstasy once more.