Chapter 22
By luncheon the next afternoon, Marianne and Drew had met with Mick Smith and come to an acceptable, mutual understanding. Mick was eager to take charge of the bailiff duties and highly interested in the proposals of the varied changes Marianne planned in the sowing and fertilizing of crops. He was most excited about the idea of reutilizing the manure to fertilize the fields and changing the crop rotation with the addition of legumes, wheat, barley and turnips.
Mick was also grateful for the move to the bailiff’s cottage which offered more room for his growing family. He knew his wife, Sally, would be happy as a lark with the added income and larger accommodations.
Having finished their meal, they retired from the breakfast room and strolled down the hallway coming across Wellingford, who prepared a silver salver in the front foyer.
Walking over to Marianne he presented the tray. “A note for you, my lady.”
“Thank you.” She reached for the neatly folded foolscap and studied the penmanship. A frown kicked the corners of her lips down. Her brow furrowed.
“What is it, my love?” Drew could think of nothing that could bode badly unless something had happened to her parents or her brother.
“It’s from Robert. I do hope all is well in town.” She turned toward the marble steps leading to the first floor, her mind now engaged elsewhere.
Drew stood and watched as she drifted up the staircase totally preoccupied and oblivious of him.
What could this person, this man who seemed determined to replace him in his wife’s affections, possibly want so badly that he would write to her now?
~ ~ ~
Marianne walked up the magnificent staircase studying the paper as if she could divine the message without opening it. She reached the door to her room and let herself in. She moved to the window overlooking the back gardens, paused and leaned against the frame. Sliding her nail beneath the black sealing wax, she popped the message open.
My dearest Marianne,
How could you leave without a note? I came by your house just this morning to take you for a ride in the park. The weather is lovely here and I thought we could enjoy the warmth of the season and our company together for a short time. I expect you’d welcome a few moments to be away from him. He’s done nothing but come between us since his return.
As I said, I stopped by your town house only to find you had left days ago without a by your leave.
I am so disappointed, Marianne. I expected better of you. Has the prodigal turned you against me so very quickly? Have we so rapidly lost what we had gained over these last two years?
Write me, my dearest, and tell me when you will return. I wait anxiously for you. We must move forward with our plans though of course they must be modified since the earl has returned from the dead. No matter. This, too, can be rectified.
Yours,
Robert
Marianne’s knees grew weak. She stretched her hand out behind her and felt for the chair by her escritoire. Finding it, she collapsed into the seat, the missive dangling from her fingers.
She had not let Robert know her plans. She should have. After all, he was her friend. A good friend who had been there for her these last two years. She had been insensitive to leave without some notification to tell him their plans.
Preceded only by a staccato rap on the door, Drew entered, hesitating in the portal. “Is everything all right? Your parents? Your brother? He hasn’t gotten himself into a duel, has he? Can I do anything?”
Marianne firmed her hand around Robert’s letter and stood to face her husband. What would he think of all of this? He had said nothing of her relationship with Robert. He did not, however, seem to be enamored with their friendship. But, Robert had been there for her. And they had planned to marry. They would have had Drew declared dead since nearly four years had passed without word of him. They needed only three more, possibly less if they could have the case heard before the magistrate and prove a lack of evidence that he survived.
Then Drew arrived unexpected, unannounced, and uninvited. And her world, so carefully organized over these last many years, descended into chaos once again.
Her thumb worried her ruby-studded wedding ring.
If that were not enough, when Drew smiled at her, touched her, kissed her, she lost all her senses to him. Lost thought of what she was doing, where she was going and, most seriously, what she currently wanted in life.
She withdrew from her contemplation. “Everything is well, my lord. It is from Robert. He was surprised to find us gone. He writes to ensure that I am well. I will jot a quick note to tell him so. I am afraid I have been an unappreciative friend by not sharing our plans.” When she turned, she found her husband studying her with an intensity that made her breath catch in her throat.
“Marianne, should I be concerned? Have you made a decision and not informed me?” He approached her as if she were a lioness protecting her cub, his hand stretched toward her, palm open. His gaze fixed on hers with unanswered questions floating among the sapphirine blue that always drew her to him.
She looked away, not ready to make her decision, much less confide it to him. “No, not yet. I have been occupied with thoughts of this estate and resolving the challenges here.”
He slid the letter from her hand. She let it go without demur. His gaze turned from her as he scanned the words Robert had scrawled across the page. When finished, he crumpled the paper with one hand and tossed it onto her escritoire.
He took her hand in his, lifted her palm to press a simple kiss. She felt the warmth, the energy, unfurl up her arm and wrap her heart in heat. She raised her eyes to gaze into his.
“It’s not difficult, my love.” He pressed yet another kiss to her palm. “You may leave me at any time. You have just to say the word, tell me you are leaving. I will endeavor to make our divorce as amicable as possible. I will not contest or deny you. It has been years and you have made a life for yourself. I understand.” He placed his other hand against her cheek. She felt the warmth and heat renew, the desire for his touch spring to her mind, to her body. “But, Marianne, please be sure about what you choose. There will be no going back once your decision is made. And before you make this life-altering choice, I sincerely ask you to give me a full chance, a whole chance, to show you what our marriage can be before you toss it away with both hands and run to Gentilly.”
And there it was. He wanted to bed her. She had no doubts about his purpose now. Could that be the reason he had imposed his presence so often at balls and soirees? Could that also be why he had so readily left London and escaped to the country? No one to share her with here except their daughter, who would always be their united and first priority.
And what would happen to Andrea should she choose to leave him for Robert? She knew Vanessa was right. As the earl, a peer of the realm, he would have sole custody of her. Marianne knew Drew would let her be with their child as often as she wished but they would not live together. She would not be there to raise her beautiful daughter.
Her reverie shattered as a smooth touch stroked down her arm, his fingers intertwined with hers.
“It will not be like the last time, the first time, my love. I am schooled now in the art of lovemaking. Give yourself over to me and let me share what I know, what we can experience . . . together.” His voice, a whisper in her ear, sent thrills, shivers coursing through her inflaming her, inciting her.
“Yes . . .” she whispered back instinctively.
~ ~ ~
He took her mouth with a kiss and a passion that would have brought her to her knees if his arms had not swept around her and crushed her to his chest.
And she was lost.
Lost as his strong hands firmed and slid up and down her back, then gently pulled her against him, making it obvious to her, even through their clothing, he was ready to take her.
Lost as his mouth devoured hers, his tongue sweeping in to tangle, tease, and taste every corner and enticing her to return the heat into his own mouth. Which she did as her hands slid over his shoulders, her fingers raked through his thick, rich hair, and held on for dear life. She knew without a doubt that her life would change once again after this encounter, this tryst, this conflagration.
His hands returned to her back and she felt tapes tug and release, felt heat escape, and cool air caress her back as her longcloth petticoats fell to the floor. Her chemise slid up her hips, then, shortly thereafter, her pantalettes followed her petticoats to the carpet.
Warm hands splayed across her derrière. As he squeezed and fondled, his mouth made its way down her throat where he lavished his tongue and wet kisses on her pulse points, making her breath catch and inciting her heart to beat even faster.
When he took her earlobe gently between his teeth and tugged, she thought she would faint from the intensity of the sensation. She tingled from there down through all of the very private places of her body, those places she had shared with him that one time, on their wedding night.
“We must be rid of these clothes.” Drew’s voice was a low, gruff whisper in her ear.
His hands released the heated flesh of her backside as he brushed the fabric down off her shoulders to sweep her gown over her hips to the floor.
She stood there only in her chemise, corset, stockings and shoes.
He stepped back.
Marianne lifted her hands to try to hide her déshabillé.
“No, don’t. I’ve waited years for this. Years to see you, touch you, make love to you. Here, let me relieve you of the corset. Surely, you’d welcome a deep breath. Please, turn around.”
She looked at him, his gaze intent, his body still fully clothed. “No. I shall not stand here almost naked while you are fully dressed.”
His lips twitched into a half smile. “As you wish, madam.”
Drew proceeded to remove his jacket, his waistcoat, and throw them negligently over a nearby chair. He toed off one shiny leather boot, then the other, pulled his shirt tails from his trousers and started to pull his shirt over his head.
“Wait!” Marianne raised both hands to stop him.
“For what? I want you fully undressed. I am more than prepared to do the same. If I need to do so first for you to feel more at ease, so be it.”
She felt herself flush. “Drew, I’m nervous. I’m scared. I haven’t . . . I haven’t . . . since that first time, that one time.”
Drew released his shirt to fall over his hips and approached her cautiously. “I do not wish to rush you. However, you were just as heated as I. I took that as a sign to . . . continue.”
Taking a deep breath, Marianne turned away. “I know nothing more than the first time. My friends talk. I listen but I know nothing more of what to do, how to do it. I don’t want to disappoint.”
She felt him come up behind her. Felt the heat of him against her back. He placed gentle kisses on her nape and whispered, “We’ll go slower. I’ll take the lead. Stop me if I go too fast or you are afraid or uncomfortable. I only want to give you pleasure. To share it with you.
“First, let’s rid you of this corset. How do women breathe in such things?” Drew pulled the ribbons, loosened the lacings. Marianne took in a deep breath and sighed it out. “See, that’s better, isn’t it?”
“Yes. It’s a challenge every day.” Marianne rubbed the chemise around her middle.
“You don’t have to wear one for me. When we are at home why not go without it? I won’t tell.” Drew tossed the contraption on to a nearby chair.
“Oh, I couldn’t. What would people say?”
“Marianne, who would possibly know unless you told them?”
She cast him a thoughtful look over her shoulder, her brow furrowing.
“Come. Let’s sit on the rug in front of the hearth. Take off your shoes and stockings so you can fully relax. I’ll remove my socks and trousers.”
“Wait!” She felt herself flush.
“Don’t worry, I’ll remain covered for now.”
Marianne bent to her task but watched Drew out of the corner of her eye. He removed both socks, then unbuttoned his trousers and slid them off, all the while taking a glimpse at her progress every now and then. When finished, she sat on the rug before the fireplace.
Drew walked over and sat next to her, drawing her close, splaying his legs open and slipping them around her. “Now, slide nearer to me and place your legs over mine.”
Marianne did as she was told, getting close enough to his chest that she could feel the heat radiating from him.
Drew laid his right hand face up on her left thigh. “Excellent. Lay your right hand face up on your right thigh and your left hand face down on my right hand.”
She followed his instructions and felt relieved when he placed his left hand in her right but did not grasp or hold on to her.
“Close your eyes, Marianne. Remember what we did back at the town house under the tree? Remember how quiet and restful that was? We’re going to do something similar here.”
“Yes, I can do that.” Her eyes fluttered shut and she concentrated on her breathing, felt the ease and relaxation roll over her. She could hear Drew’s breathing as well, soft and even and seemingly in time with hers.
She felt herself leaning forward as if drawn by some irresistible force. Closer. Closer.
His lips were a whisper against hers. A touch without expectation. A brush of heat without pressure.
She sighed and leaned farther forward, enticed by him.
He pressed his lips more firmly against hers, kissing ever so lightly, promising without demanding.
She leaned in again, the warmth of his body, the scent of his maleness, the feel of his lips on hers, too much to deny.
She wanted more . . .
She released her hands to slide them up his arms, over his shoulders, back into the hair at his nape, and pulled him closer to her.
Drew slid his arms around her waist and enfolded her, their bodies now touching, fitting together. He deepened his kiss, his tongue teasing her mouth until she opened for him.
She welcomed him by tasting, teasing, and moving her tongue against his.
He pulled her even closer, her legs slipping further around his hips, the moist heat of her womanhood pressing against the solidity of his male member, the batiste of her chemise and the white cotton drill of his smalls doing little to mask the intimacy of their touching bodies.
Her breathing came faster as his arms tightened and his lips moved from hers down her throat, nibbled on her earlobe, circled the tender flesh there with his tongue. He leaned her back to tease down the front of her décolleté until he took one taut nipple between his teeth right through her chemise to arouse it into hardness.
Her body ignited, her breathing out of control. She held onto him as if her life depended on it, for surely it must at this very moment when he held her in thrall wanting him, needing him.
“Drew . . .” she sighed out as his mouth moved to her other breast where her nipple, already tight, begged for his attention.
“Yes, my love? Do you want me to stop?” he whispered back.
“No. No. Please don’t stop. I . . . I’m . . . I can’t . . .”
“Don’t do anything. Just let me love you. Let me take you all in. Let me give you everything.” He released her nipple, pulled the ribbon on her chemise, then slid it down her arms baring her totally. He lifted her arms, drew it over her head, and tossed it away.
She felt bereft without his touch. Her eyes fluttered open to see him shift to draw his own shirt over his head, uncovering the warm expanse of his chest, the hairs there crisply curled and inviting her to touch them.
She reached out her hand.
“Yes,” Drew purred. “Touch me. Anywhere you wish.”
Marianne stroked the hard muscles of his chest threading her fingers through the hairs, tugging gently.
Drew growled low and deep, then moved to pull the string on his drawers.
Marianne looked down to see his manhood uncovered and more than ready.
She swallowed hard.
“Marianne,” Drew leaned forward to whisper in her ear as he embraced her once again. “Shall I stop here?”
“Can you stop? Would it not hurt you?” Her voice sounded small and shy even to her own ears.
“Of course. I don’t want to but I would never force you.”
“No. Don’t stop. I want to know. I want to know what all the other women know. I want to know what you know.” She slid her arms back around his neck and pressed her chest against his, feeling the mantle of fur across his chest rub and incite the sensitivity of her breasts.
“Very well.” Drew took her mouth again and as he did so, he placed his hands on her hips lifting her, shifting her, then settling her on his shaft.
She felt him slide in slowly, deliberately, but completely as her body seemed to open and welcome him without any effort on her part.
Drew growled again, releasing her mouth.
“Am I hurting you?” she whispered.
“Lord, no. I think I’m in heaven. Wait a moment. Don’t move or I’ll embarrass myself by releasing too quickly.”
“You can control it?” she wondered aloud.
Drew gently squeezed and massaged her derrière. “Yes, if I pay attention. But, I’ve wanted this for so very long, these past years, I’m having difficulty staying.”
“What should I do?”
“Just hold on to me.”
She pulled him in then, took what she had learned and played it against him. She kissed him down his jawline, nibbled on one ear, then the other. She caressed each ear with her tongue, then drew the wetness down his throat across his pulse point.
She was satisfied to hear his breath quicken, feel his heat rise.
She rocked her hips against him.
“Yes . . .” he growled and grabbed her hips, rolling and rocking them against his, then sliding them up and down so that his shaft impaled her again and again.
Her body flew apart. She gasped for air but he did not stop. She clutched for purchase, digging her nails into his back as the ride continued and Drew pumped deep inside her, his heat and force making her whole body shiver, shake, and convulse.
“Drew . . . Drew . . . Drew!” She shattered again.
And then he stiffened and clutched her so tightly she thought she might break as he roared, “Marianne!”