A Bride for Lord Esher Page 6

  Given her skill with her mouth, Tom seriously doubted the truth of this statement. Still, there was only one real way to be sure and her wickedness had piqued his interest. If nothing else, he was about to make his mother a very happy woman.

  Tom Warren got down on one knee, and picked up the cameo from the desk. What a sinfully delicious twist, he thought. “Lady Sudbrooke, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” he said.

  “Oh Tom! How unexpected,” she cried.

  They both laughed.

  “Well, will you?”

  The lady accepted the brooch in lieu of a ring, and then clasped his hand in her own. “Oh Tom, I accept gladly, and trust you will furnish me with something better than this gaudy bauble as soon as you are able.”

  “I do swear it.”

  Tom got up from his knees and went to kiss her again. There was no restraint this time. Virgin or no, he planned to have her now, here on the desk in his morning room, before the others returned from the meadow. He slipped the silken neckerchief away from his neck and caressed his fiancée’s cheek with it. “My love, if you want me, you must give yourself to me now. I am not a man to be kept waiting.”

  Lady Sudbrooke thought it unwise to give herself so freely before the contracts were drawn up, but her blood was on fire, and Tom was so devilishly wicked. “I give you my consent, so take me now if you want me. I am yours to command.”

  “You will be obedient, and do as I say without comment?”

  “I will.”

  “I want you silent,” he commanded. He swirled the neckerchief around his her head, then tied it tightly behind her, just below the set of her wig. He could see a giddy mix of confusion and resolution in her eyes, she had, after all, agreed to be obedient. For this woman—one who loved to hear her own voice—a silk gag was perhaps the cruelest punishment of all. Once secured, his hands went straight down to hips and he turned her around, so her back was to him. He nudged her down, till her face collided with the highly polished wooden deck, then raised her skirts and threw them over her head.

  She had long, well-shaped legs and a tight, boyish backside which pleased him. He pulled down her pantaloons, exposing the soft, virginal flesh beneath.

  “Very nice,” he murmured. “You will take your first lesson in wifely obedience now. Tom raised his hand high in the air, and then spanked her raw skin. Lady Sudbrooke groaned, but the sound was muffled by the silk in her mouth, and though she looked truly startled, she closed her eyes and resolutely braced herself by holding onto the rim of the desk.

  He hit her again and again, till at last her cheeks were blushed and bruised. Tom stood back to admire his handiwork. To him, her red and blue skin shone like precious jewels, and he was pleased with the result. He quickly undid his breeches, and slipped himself between her buttocks.

  “Your maidenhood you can keep for our wedding night. It wouldn’t do for my first son and heir to come into the world scandalously early. I can take my pleasure a different way.” He caressed the heat of her backside, his finger sliding against her cleft, coming to rest against the space he intended. “Do you give me your consent?”

  Caroline startled as he touched her there. She had never heard of such a thing and curiosity won her over.

  He wasted no further words. He aligned himself and thrust.

  Lady Sudbrooke might have cried out from the sudden shock of sensations had Tom not gagged her. Hot tears shocked her as she squeezed her eyes shut.

  “Marriage is pain, my Lady, you should know this now if you want to spend your life with me.” His hand gripped her tightly on the shoulder as he worked himself up into a steady rhythm. The thought of the others returning at any moment spurred him on, and he thrust deeper and deeper. She was tight, which pleased him, and at the moment of climax he pressed harder still, thrusting his orgasm against her.

  Tom paused for a moment to catch his breath, and while still inside her whipped the neckerchief from her mouth and used it to wipe himself clean. “You were certainly a virgin there, my love,” he said. “But we must hurry back, so hide the brooch and dress yourself quickly.”

  Lady Sudbrooke rose slowly from the table. She was a little shaken but not displeased. Though the initial shock had been more than she could handle, in the end it hadn’t been entirely dissatisfactory. She recovered her undergarments and smoothed down the front of her dress. Her small wig was a little disordered, so she straightened that, and then checked herself in a nearby mirror.

  “What I wouldn’t do for a dab of powder,” she said. Then without shame or embarrassment, she held her head high, and headed back to join the others.

  A TOUR OF THE HOUSE

  To return the hospitality, the entire assembly had pre-arranged to meet at Lord Esher’s the following evening for a more formal dinner. It was a beautiful evening, so they dined with the patio doors open, and the scent of flowering honeysuckle gently infused the air. Disappointed in the loss of her brooch, Lady Ashworth could talk of little else.

  “I’m sure I can buy you another, dearest,” said her husband.

  “Thank you, my love, but it won’t be the same. That one was special.”

  “I have never understood a woman’s fascination with shiny, cold things,” said her husband. “Yet they all treasure them, anyone would think you lost someone dear to you.”

  “It’s kind of like your dogs, my love, only my darlings appreciate in value as they get older.”

  Lady Sudbrooke stood admiring the paintings that decorated the wall. She seemed rather reluctant to join the others at the table, and delayed for as long as possible before finally taking her seat. Lord Esher thought he saw her wince when she eventually sat down. It was probably nothing.

  “You like the paintings, Lady Sudbrooke?”

  “Er, yes, I suppose so. You have a very lovely house here, quite charming.”

  “After dinner either I or my wife would be happy to show it to you, if you would care to see more.”

  “Yes, I would love that.”

  Lord Esher noted the lady cast a wry leer across the table to Tom Warren, but as he wondered at her meaning, Tom himself rose to his feet, a glass of wine in his hand. “I hope the lady doesn’t think me precipitous, but I have an announcement to make. Yesterday, I asked Lady Sudbrooke to consent to be my wife, and fortune must have been smiling, for she has accepted. This morning I met with her parents and an agreement in principle has been made. So I ask you all to raise your glasses, and drink to the health of my future bride.”

  A sea of chairs scraped the floor as all present rose and held their glasses aloft. “To the future Mrs. Warren,” said Lord Esher, and the others all followed.

  “Thank you, thank you,” said Lady Sudbrooke. “The formal announcement will be made shortly but we wanted you all to be the first to know.”

  After that announcement the dinner party became very animated, it was clear both Lady Sudbrooke and Tom Warren relished being the center of attention, and though the cause of Lady Sudbrooke’s excitement was transparent, Robert wondered at the announcement, for he had always suspected Tom’s tastes ran an entirely different course. Still, they would both no doubt have their reasons, and after all, it was none of his business what they did.

  “That was a fine dessert,” said Chastity. “Please send my compliments to cook, she outdid herself today.”

  The servant bowed and then continued to remove the left over syllabub glasses from the tables.

  “Gentlemen, cigars I think,” said Lord Ashworth.

  “Here here,” said the other men.

  Lord Esher rose and stepped over to the end of the table where his wife sat talking quietly with her female guests. He smiled, throughout the entire meal he had completely forgotten her origins, and had observe with pride her natural grace and charm. Perhaps fortune had not mistreated him after all. Chastity looked up, and seeing her husband before her, she rewarded him with the sweetest smile he had ever seen. At that moment he wished he could dismiss their guests
to be alone with his wife. But it was not the thing to do, so he took her hand instead and smiled at the other ladies.

  “My dear, would you show Lady Sudbrooke the house when you are finished with your gossip. I would do it myself but the men will have their one hour alone. Can’t be helped.”

  “Of course, my Lord, I’d be delighted.”

  “Very good.”

  As the men left the dining room for the library, he thought how blessed he was, and wondered if Tom Warren would be as fortunate in his choice of wife. He doubted it, and smiled.

  ***

  The Esher manor had a great oak stair case, built by John Mortimer, a noted architect of his day. Though Chastity did not know this herself, her sister-in-law, Lady Ashworth, was more than happy to point out the architectural attributes of the house, and both Chastity and Lady Sudbrooke listened intently. One to know her home better, the other determined to go one better and outshine them all.

  At the top of the staircase was hung a great portrait, painted on a ten foot canvass, which seemed to peer down at the ladies as they climbed.

  “Who is she?” asked Lady Sudbrooke.

  “That was our great grandmother, the first Lady Esher. I recollect her poorly, for she died when I was very young, but by account she was a very formidable lady in her day and a great favorite with the queen.”

  “That is a beautiful pearl necklace she is wearing, I wonder what became of it,” said Lady Sudbrooke.

  “Oh, Robert has it in his keeping. It was part of the estate, so it came to him, along with other items of my grandmother’s jewelry. Not that it matters, for my dear sister-in-law doesn’t seem to care for such baubles, just look at how unadorned as she is.”

  “Oh, I like jewels very much,” said Chastity. “But Robert hasn’t given me and I’ve never really thought to ask.”

  “I intend to have the best jewelry money can buy. I’m sure my fiancé can afford it. One looks so cheap without it.” Feeling she had cut a blow, Lady Sudbrooke climbed to the top of the stairs and waited impatiently for the others to join her. Her hand rose to her breast. She had the cameo lodged at her bosom and was hoping for an opportunity to plant it somewhere in her hostess’s bedchamber.

  She looked down over the banister to where the two women were whispering to each other. The one was no doubt consoling the other, but what did she care? She would not need to court the friendship of Lady Esher for much longer.

  They passed through endless rooms in the upper chamber, but came at last to Lady Esher’s rooms. It was decorated simply and elegantly, not as showy as many great ladies rooms, but it exemplified the great taste of their host nonetheless.

  “I believe Lord Robert redecorated these not too long ago. It’s a very charming room, Chastity, I can only imagine you are very comfortable here.”

  “Yes, very much so, Eliza, it’s very different to what I’m used to.”

  “No doubt,” said Lady Sudbrooke.

  While the sister-in-laws admired the view from the windows, Lady Sudbrooke slipped quietly over to Chastity’s dressing room. Her heart pounding, she recovered the cameo from her bodice and slipped it inside the top drawer of the dressing table, then turned to rejoin the others before her absence was noted.

  “Such a beautiful prospect,” said Lady Ashworth. “It’s almost the same as the view I had from my room when I lived here. Oh, happy days. We had such a happy childhood here, Robert and I.”

  “What was he like as a boy?” asked Chastity.

  “Oh as rough as any other boy, but underneath the Lord of the Manor bravado he’s quite an old softy really. He would chase me relentlessly around the estate, but the moment I fell or hurt myself, he would be so kind and considerate. A girl could not have asked for a better brother.”

  Lady Sudbrooke frowned. This tale of happy childhood made her sick to the core. Her own upbringing had been harsh, duty and obedience had been whipped into her by a cold and unfeeling mother.

  “I think I’ve seen enough of the house, can we go back down?” she said, abruptly interrupting the moment.

  “Of course,” said Chastity. The young woman graciously swept from the room and led her companions back down the stairs to the dining room. They talked of minor things, waiting for the men to return.

  FICKLE FATE

  Once all the guests had left for the evening, Chastity undressed, removed her wig and had her hair combed till it shone. The moment her servant left she rose from the dressing table and returned to the same window they had looked out earlier. It was still light outside, and she imagined her husband as a young boy at play in the gardens. She smiled, for despite their strange beginning she felt a deep affection for the man she had been bought for. How strange, she thought, if she could turn the clock back to the morning of that day, she would never have been able to predict her change in both circumstances and feelings. Yet the gods had smiled on her, and here she was, Lady Esher, in a beautiful home, married to a man she was beginning to adore.

  Her thoughts were disturbed by a knock on her chamber door. Lord Robert opened it. He had stripped out of his jacket and now stood there in plain breeches and a shirt that draped loosely down. He carried an ornate wooden box in his hands. She could see the outline of his body through the flimsy material, and a small flame of desire was kindled in her belly. He had come for her, and she was thankful for it.

  “Good evening, Lord Robert. I hope you enjoyed this evening.”

  “Oh yes, though Lord Ashworth is a bit of a bore, and these days I treat everything Tom says with suspicion. I wonder at him proposing to Lady Sudbrooke, though. She has neither wealth nor features to recommend her.”

  “Perhaps it’s their mutual disdain for everything he finds attractive.”

  “Perhaps.” He poured himself a glass of wine from a decanter on a small table. “My sister likes you very much. We were just talking of you before she left.”

  “I like her too. What did she say?”

  “That you were a sweet, pretty little thing, and that you were as good for me as I am for you.”

  “She really said that?”

  “That, and she chastised me for not giving you any jewelry. I’m sorry, it just never occurred to me.” Lord Robert lay the box down upon the bed and patted the spot beside him. Chastity sat down, she wondered what jewels would be in the box and she held her breath in excitement.

  “These are for me?”

  “In your lifetime, yes. Do you want to look inside?”

  “Very much.”

  “Then open it.”

  Chastity’s fingers curled in anticipation, and to delay the delicious moment for as long as possible, she opened the lid slowly.

  “Oh Robert!” she gasped. Inside the box was an assembly of jewels including strings of natural pearls, and rings with gems that were deeply colored and transparent. Chastity picked up an emerald ring that caught her eye, and slipped it onto her finger. She also extracted a string of perfect pearls, which she unraveled and opened to admire them better.

  “Are these the pearls from the portrait?”

  “They are indeed,” said Robert. “They are exquisite and extremely valuable. I shall lock these away to keep them safe, but when you wish to wear them let me know and I shall have them brought to you.”

  “You are very generous, my lord. May I wear the ring?”

  “You may, and we shall travel to London shortly to buy another.”

  He took her left hand and kissed it meaningfully.

  Chastity returned the pearls to the box and her husband put the jewels on her bedside table. He turned back to her and kissed her softly on the lips. Robert put his hand onto her curls and let the soft tresses fall through his fingers. She did not object as he pulled off her night shirt and pressed her down so she lay naked on the bed. She felt her curls tumble about her face on the pillow.

  “If I were a painter I would take your likeness now,” Robert said. He removed his shirt, revealing the taut muscles within. He then stood up to a
bandon his breeches, and then she watched as he crawled up from the bottom of the bed to plant himself directly on top of her.

  Chastity loved the way he smelled, his very skin was attractive to her, and she breathed him in deeply while he nibbled at her neck and shoulders. She felt his manhood primed and ready, and she opened herself wide to receive him at his pleasure.

  No words were spoken, but the heat between them was fuelled by their growing bond, and as her husband neared his climax, Chastity gasped as a wave of euphoria coursed through her veins culminating in her very finger tips. She cried out in delight and her husband was fueled on by her excitement and came quickly to release.

  Both sated and exhausted, he withdrew slowly then flopped down beside her, his arm resting languidly over his head.

  “Have you known many women?” Chastity asked.

  “A fair few.”

  “Is it always like this?”

  Lord Robert never answered, but turned and kissed the tip of her shoulder. “Those jewels light you up like a diamond, and I fear I shall lose my fortune lighting you up with more in the years to come.”

  The very thought of a lifetime with Robert made her happy, and Chastity stared mindlessly up at the ceiling, thinking blissfully of very little but basking in her contentment.

  After a moment’s respite, Lord Robert climbed off the bed and retrieved the jewelry box from the bedside table.

  “Will you not sleep with me tonight, my lord?”

  “Yes, I think I shall, but I will feel better when I know these jewels are back under lock and key.” He put the box on the bed beside her. “Select a few baubles for everyday use and I will put the rest away for safekeeping.”

  As Chastity sorted through the box, Lord Robert reached for his breeches and quickly dressed himself. She chose a few of the less expensive items, and he smiled at her selection, clearly approving of her choice.