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
"You egocentric, half-witted man in heat!" Alexander cursed."Save it. There is nothing you could possibly say to me that I haven't said to myself." Charles drawled.Alexander scoffed. "I highly doubt that, you self-absorbed heartless bastard.""Enough with the name calling, Alexander." He asked of him, already a room away from rage.Charles was angry. He was beyond angry. There was tranquillity on the surface, but underneath, he was going berserk. How could she leave like that? How could it have easily ended for her? How could it end when he was only beginning? She regretted him when she had told that she didn't want him to regret her. It had been two days.Charles sat opposite the King in the study in his home, whilst Brand leaned against the wall by his brother. They were getting on his nerves, Alexander with his words, and Brand with his smile. Waking to find himself alone was surprising and upsetting enough, he couldn't entertain the patience for Alexander to further taunt and pr
"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
Alexander disdainfully gave him a onceover. "How should I have the knowledge?"He had been played again. Charles grounded his teeth. "Alexander!" He called, getting up, totally enraged. He was being mocked. He stopped breathing, the rage choking him. With a deep exhale, he said. "I am not in the mood to be mocked!" He heaved. "If that is all you are going to do, I would rather you leave."Alexander's head tilted. "Are you asking your King off your Estate?""I am asking my friend, my very annoying friend, off my land."Brand was frozen in place, staring, anticipation in his gaze. He was waiting, bidding the moment they would come to blows, but Charles refused him the entertainment. The latter walked away, wondering why he was enraged. Nothing, no one could faze him so why was the very idea of Beth being ridiculed annoying to him?"Shame. I was expecting a duel." Brand said. Charles turned furious to see Alexander sparing the young Prince a mean look as well. "Alright then. Best we all
"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
Thomas rushed in, bringing light with him. He was surprised. "Why are you sitting in the dark?" He set the lamp down on the centre table. "You should have called for me to attend to you." He walked briskly to the hearth, scurrying around to revive the fire."Let it be." Charles said lowly. He needed the darkness to hide. What from, he could not say.The other man obeyed and stayed. "Yes, Your Grace." He returned to the lamp, and adjusted it. "Is there anything I can do for you?" No one could help him, he alone could aid himself. "Or would you rather I bring Albert?"His valet would prefer to talk, rather than listen, not that he was keen to share his thoughts with him.He lit another cigar and took a drag. Was she really ill, or was it all a ruse to permit her liberty to meet the cad that had been arranged for her? He nearly broke his cigar in half. How dare the Fitzgeralds force a husband upon her when she never wanted to wed? She wanted to be free, why would they not let her be?Why
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
Beth grabbed a basket and proceeded to arrange the linens in it. "I know that, Scholar. I saw the note Mother sent Aunt Marrily." She added a pillow cover, but removed it almost immediately. It needed more washing. "Besides, this intention has come to stay in our household. They have been intending to have me wed for ages." They would soon lay it to rest, like they always did.Gwen joined her. "This time, I think they are determined and I think their decision is final." They finished and Beth picked the basket up, supporting the weight with her waist. Gwen added the pillow cover to the other pile and stood to her full height. She was taller than her older sister. "They hope to have an alliance drawn when we return from Lucy's wedding. You are to be affianced to Mr. Richmond."She stopped immediately. "Mr. Harry Richmond? The travelling merchant?"Gwen shrugged her shoulders. "Apparently he wants a wife and has shown his interest in you." She smiled weakly. "So you can finally lay your