Her mouth opened up slowly, as it had dried up. The air was suddenly not enough for her to breathe. She licked her lips. His words, they set her heart and her body in motion, returning the ache with an even greater force. The weight on her lower abdomen dropped further. Her knees buckled and Lord Carlisle caught her waist, his hand pressing her to himself.Her hands fell on his muscled chest and she pressed her legs together. She could feel him, all of him. Beth was on fire and rightly so. She let her eyes linger again on his perfect lips and it was all she could do not to reach out. He kissed her.He did not regret it. He did not regret her. She was glad. And he desired her! He wanted her as much as she wanted him and his vulgar explanation was enough to make her want him even more. They could have the night; they could own the night. It would be filled with desire, illicit pleasure and wanton satisfaction. It would be theirs as the hill they stood on.But, the morning would be empty

He pulled out immediately and reared up over her, kissing her body, all the way to her wide-opened legs. "I want to make love to you, Beth." He kissed her centre. She exhaled and tried to move her legs, but he held her in place. "I desperately want to come inside you." He wanted to make her his. "But I fear I will hurt you."Shaking her head, she urged. "No, you won't. I once read that it hurts, but only for a moment. I am not scared, Lord Carlisle."He nodded to himself, promising to replace her book knowledge with true experience. He lifted his eyes. "Call me by my given name." He commanded; demanded. Then, he moved to lie by her, rubbing his throbbing head over her wet sex, knowing that she was his. He would make sure of that. "Call me as you did earlier."Beth obliged. "Charles."He covered her with his body and pushed in through the pressure. Looking deeply into the eyes, he drove in. He drove home.* * *The starless sky covered them with its dark cloak so no one would be privy

"Did you force your thoughts on her?" He heard from a distance.Charles was disgusted and he couldn't hide it. "She asserted." He held back. "She was a mutual participant.""Which is why you still live. If you had forced yourself on her," they held their glares. "we would not be having this conversation."Through clenched teeth and controlled anger, he said. "I am not a monster.""But one you most certainly will be, if you marry without the littlest of affections. Our parents were proof enough." Brand said."Father loved your mother." Alexander countered.Brand returned. "And hated yours who was his wife and Queen.""Father never shared any emotions whatsoever with my mother, but Carlisle is friends with the Lady in question here. Unlike Lady Cossington who he has not spoken to since the marriage contracts were drawn." The annoying smile returned.Silence reigned.A knock. Then the door opened. "Your Grace, your cigars have arrived." Thomas strode into the room and placed the box of c

"What?!" Her skirt dropped as her eyes popped; he feared they might about fall out of their sockets.A harsh sound escaped him. "And I did fraternize with her."She grabbed hold of the table. "I beg your pardon!""And she could be with my child." He finally added."Charles!" Lady Marjorie collapsed into her chair, then held up her hand to stay whatever he was to say next, but Charles was done. He was now more scared of Beth's reaction. His mother supported her head with her hand and massaged gently on her temple. "If you intend to humour, this is not funny." He made no movement. "You couldn't possibly be serious?! How can you sit still after telling me so much in so little time?!" She exhaled, fanning herself with her hand.There was a storm inside him, but he would be damned if he let anyone see it. He rose and walked to the other side of the table, only to sit on the edge of it, his hands resting on it. "Mother_"She put her hand up to stop him. "Let me a minute, would you?" She tap

They had better stop before things got out of hand, they had agreed. No good would come of this, he had said. But still…Beth could not, for the life of her, contain the joy. She went about the house, prancing like an achieved leopard; like a deer who had finally learnt to walk right. There was never enough for her to do. She was bursting with energy, helping out everywhere, going about her chores without delay, fulfilling them perfectly, and carrying about her day with gusto.Their parents had been glad to have them back. Grace too, she said she needed assistance to keep the manor running, but the girls knew she missed them as much as she was unwilling to tell.Grace was the only household servant they could keep in their employ. She was the butler, cook, cleaner and everything else for the Fitzgeralds. She was any and all things they needed, as hers was the only service they could afford, so they aided her in almost everything.She was a waspishly, strong and sometimes, nastily beha