Chapter Nineteen
Hecate looked forward to further experimentation on the matter of blissful releases and amazing light manifestations, but it wasn’t to happen that night. She had to admit, after insistent questioning from Finn, that yes, she was a little sore.
Despite her protests that it didn’t matter that much, Finn turned her on her side, tucked himself along her back and thus, neatly spooned, told her they had all the time in the world, and she should go to sleep now.
She wasn’t sure that she could, since her recent experiences whirled in her mind like paintings on the wall of a gallery.
Finn’s face as he loved her, the fever in his eyes when he first entered her, the way his body rocked her and the flush of his cheeks…all imprinted forever as memories to cherish and relive whenever she wanted. And yet they’d not talked very much. And after such an important moment, she knew they probably should.
But the warmth of him, the weight of his arm around her and the sensation of his naked thighs beneath hers as he cuddled her…all took their toll and to her surprise she found herself relaxing into sleep.
It wasn’t until she heard a murmur that she awoke to find it was already daylight.
“I am sorry if this is your spot.” Finn was whispering. “But now it’s mine and you have to get used to it.”
The only response was a mild rumble.
She turned over to see Bub, sitting next to Finn, staring at him with an expression of confused disgust on his furry face.
“It’s all right, Bub. Finn and I are quite all right.”
Bub’s nose twitched once, and he dropped down on his haunches, leaning onto Finn’s chest and crossing his paws elegantly on the firm male bare flesh.
The stare remained in place.
“Er…Hecate? Do you think he likes me? Or is he sizing me up for breakfast?”
She giggled. “I think he is assessing your position in his household.”
“Ah.” The look he gave the cat was a mixture of friendliness and terror. “He’s heavy, you know. A solid lad.”
Bub glanced at Hecate and closed his eyes slowly, opening them again after a moment or two. More rumbling followed.
“I think you’ve been accepted, Finn. But you might want to just rest there a little bit. Let him get used to you being there.”
“Hmm.” Finn tentatively reached out and let Bub sniff his hand, then risked a light stroke around the ears. It was accepted, and the two of them silently enjoyed a moment of companionable petting.
“Perhaps he’s going to not mind me in your bed after all,” Finn observed.
“No, it’s more likely you’ll mind when he sleeps on your feet. As you mentioned, he’s one solid lad.” Hecate grinned.
“If I’m beside you…I shall not worry about Bub.”
She looked at him, his eyes so blue, staring at her with an expression even she could not read. “Good morning, Finn.” She leaned over, obeying an impulse, and kissed him.
Finn’s free hand lifted to her chin and held her in place while he kissed her back most thoroughly. “Good morning to you, Hecate.”
She wanted to stay, to linger over his body, discover all the bits she’d missed last night in the dark. But a glance at the clock showed her that any time soon Winnie would arrive with tea and her day would begin. She sighed.
“Finn…”
“I know.” He sighed too. “Until we have worked everything out, I must leave you.” He gently moved Bub and slipped from the bed, treating Hecate to the sight of a perfect pair of firm male buttocks.
“Oh Finn,” she breathed.
“What?” He recovered his night garments.
“You have the most beautiful bottom.”
To her amazement, he blushed furiously. “Hecate, you…er…I don’t think…”
She chuckled. “My God, you’re embarrassed.”
He shook his head. “I’m about to tiptoe down the hallway to my own room. I hope to do so while avoiding unwanted attention, which will require some level of focus. You have just ripped that completely away. Now all I’ll be doing is thinking of you looking at my arse.”
“Don’t trip. There’s a tear in the carpet fourteen paces away from this door.”
He rolled his eyes, leaned over, kissed her hard and cautiously made his way from the bedchamber.
Hecate rolled onto her back and stretched languorously, ignoring the twinges and aches that she assumed were quite normal in a woman who had finally surrendered her virginity. Bub settled in beside her, curling himself into his preferred circle, and resting his head on his paws, watching his mistress as she yawned and stretched once again.
“Well, Bub. It’s done.” She turned to him, meeting his green-gold gaze. “It’s too late to worry over whether I’ve made a mistake or not. This time my heart was sure, and it led me, not my doubts or my worries.” She sighed. “I’ll tell you a secret, Bub. It was everything I hoped it would be.”
Bub signified his lack of interest by closing his eyes and going to sleep.
“I’ll take that as an endorsement,” she whispered, leaning over and dropping a kiss between his ears. His whiskers twitched, but other than that he didn’t move, obviously accepting the affectionate caress as nothing more than his due.
His presence was a comfort, and she was quite composed by the time Winnie arrived with a cup of tea. Within the hour Hecate was dressed and ready to head down for breakfast.
Lady Augusta, looking relaxed and cheerful, met her as they reached the top of the stairs. She stopped, tilted her head, and stared intensely at Hecate.
“Good morning, Augusta…is everything all right?”
The older woman’s face began to crease into a huge smile. “I think I should be asking you that.”
Hecate, despite her resolution to be quite normally herself this morning, blushed.
“I am so happy for you,” Augusta gave her a huge hug. “Anyone with eyes could see what was happening between you. And, for what it’s worth, I think Finn is just darling, and the perfect man for you.”
“I…er…” Hecate stuttered, trying to say something and failing dismally.
“Not another word, my dear. I do not judge or care for society’s strictures. I do care that the friends I have are happy. And I can see such happiness on your face this morning. You are glowing. However, I shall say no more, since I’m sure you’d prefer to keep your personal matters to yourself.” She hugged her once more. “Just know that I am here, for as long as you will allow me the honour, and I’m always happy to talk. Woman to woman.”
Rather overwhelmed, Hecate mumbled her thanks and let Augusta take her arm as they walked down the stairs.
“And here’s Dal waiting for us,” laughed Augusta. “I would say that makes us very fortunate ladies, wouldn’t you? Such a handsome sight first thing in the morning.”
Hecate noticed two things. The first was that she hadn’t even thought about her cane, but had come downstairs with only the arm of Lady Augusta to hold her steady.
The second was that Dal’s eyes weren’t on her as she descended.
They were on Lady Augusta.
*~~*~~*
Finn hid a chuckle. It would seem the appreciation of bottoms was rampant at Doireann Vale today.
Winnie had brought up a dish of fresh scones and was now standing next to Frank Worsnop at the sideboard. There was little but casual conversation, as befits servants waiting on the family. But Finn didn’t miss the sight of Frank’s hand sliding down the back of Winnie’s dress and pausing to squeeze what was probably also a very fine bottom.
Hecate and Augusta didn’t notice Winnie’s heightened colour as she left the room, passing them with a shy smile meant for the tall lad.
In fact, Finn barely noticed either, since Hecate had entered. He stood, of course, but his gaze remained on that luminous face smiling at him as if he was the most important thing in the world to her. If Augusta and Frank hadn’t been in the room?
She’d have been flat on her back next to the eggs and bacon, with her skirts up around her waist. He would be eating breakfast. Hecate on toast.
Fighting to control the inevitable result of that mental image, he sat down as they joined him, pulling his napkin over the bulge in his breeches. “Good morning, ladies.”
They nodded, and an appropriate conversation ensued, none of which Finn would have remembered if questioned later.
“Mr. Finn, I knows yer likes the paper. One o’ the lads gave me this last night, at the Inn.” He produced a bit of a tattered copy, bearing the insignia of the Times, and dated only two days before.
“Excellent, Frank. Thank you. Miss Hecate likes to keep as up to date as she can, as do I. This is most welcome.”
Hecate nodded over her teacup. “Thank you, Frank. And please thank your friend. It was very kind of him to think of us.”
Finn picked up the paper, and glanced at the ladies. “If I may?”
“Please do,” said Hecate. “If you’re not worried about finding anything shocking, of course. And you absorb information better than I do.” She turned to Augusta. “I tend to skim the news. Which does result in my missing important things now and again.”
Augusta shrugged. “There was a point in my life when the day began with the Times. I’d read it cover to cover, just to find out who was doing what, with whom, to whom…all things that I find I no longer care about.”
Dal came in, bowing politely and pouring himself tea. Finn suddenly realised that at some point he’d begun to share more meals with them all than usual and his dark eyes drifted to Augusta as she watched the tall Indian approach the table.
So that was the way the wind blew. He hid a grin of amusement.
“I tend to agree, Augusta,” Hecate nodded. “Society news is merely gossip dressed up in literary terms. I do like to keep abreast of politics, but even that is a sad waste of time at the moment. Everyone is talking about how badly the country has suffered this year, but nobody has any solid ideas of how to help.”
Dal pulled out a chair and put his cup on the table, seating himself with a slight smile. “You know what Aesop said, Miss Hecate. After all is said and done, more is said than done. Or something like that.”
“Very astute,” agreed Augusta.
The conversation continued, an easy interaction between friends. Until he read a short paragraph that elicited a loud and explosive oath.
Hecate leaned over and touched his sleeve. “Finn, what on earth is it this time…?”
He put the newspaper down in front of him, and rubbed a hand over his eyes. “Damn Lord Aubrey Faversill to the Devil and back.”
“Again? What’s he been up to now? Bought more winning horses at Newmarket?” Hecate tipped her head to one side as she asked the casual question.
“No,” said Finn, anger thickening his voice. “There’s a legal notice posted here. It caught my eye since it’s about the Faversill estate which has…wait, let me read it.” He picked up the offending sheet. “Here it is. Messrs. Halliwell and Stitchbury are pleased to confirm that the Faversill estate matter has reached a conclusion in favour of the current holder of the title. Lord Aubrey Faversill is now granted free and clear access to all Faversill assets. The suit brought by a Mrs. Sylvia Marchville on behalf of her young son Steven, has been ruled as invalid due to the lack of documentation verifying his position within the entitlement, and the boy’s tender age.”
He took a shaky breath as he raised his head and looked at Hecate, Augusta and Dal. “Do you realise what this means?”
Silence greeted his question.
“It means that Johnny Marchville was the true heir to the Faversill estate. That’s why Aubrey DeWitt shot a brave lad in the back during the battle of Waterloo.” His lips twisted into a moue of disgust. “It was all about the damned money. Johnny lost his life for a bloody title.”
“Dear God,” muttered Augusta. “Sometimes people still have the power to disgust me.”
“Shameful. Just shameful,” murmured Dal.
Hecate folded her napkin and placed it on the table. “So, Finn, what are we going to do about it?”
He looked at her. “What do you mean?”
She raised her eyebrows. “This man, this usurper, has killed, and now apparently defrauded a young man—a child perhaps—of his rightful title. That is not right and must not be allowed. So I ask again. What are we going to do about it?”
He blinked. “I don’t know.”
“Well then,” she continued, “let’s think of something.”