Chapter 25
The journey to Gretna was like Prinny’s damned procession to Brighton for the summer months. Four carriages with horses, seven children, a bride and groom, a sister and brother-in-law and three ten-week old puppies that Eleanor and Ben had insisted be brought along.
Looking into the little girl’s blue eyes, bright with hope, his cynical old heart had melted, and he could deny her nothing, not when he was going to turn her world upside down in a couple of days. He patted the two pups she was holding in her arms and nodded. Little had he realised the pups would be in the carriage with him and Beattie, the ladies opting to travel together.
Robert was not amused. It was only a two-hour ride to Gretna, but he would rather be teasing Lucy with suggestions of pre-empting their wedding vows—something he would not do at this point—than listening to Beattie’s droll jokes.
“Now are you sure you know what to do on the wedding night, Whitsnow? Do you need any advice?”
“I think I have it all up here.” He tapped his head.
“You need it lower down, old fellow,” Beattie chortled.
“I know to plant my brother-in-law a facer then remove myself to my bedchamber to make sweet love to my wife. Does that about cover it?”
“I do believe you are nervous, old boy. Should we stop the carriage and check she has not made a run for it. She could be lying injured at the side of the road, having decided certain death is a better prospect that being married to your miserable countenance for the next forty years.”
“God, my sister must have been desperate. Should have convinced Prinny to divorce and marry her instead.”
“I am better looking than Prinny.”
“Not once I have rearranged your face with my fists.”
“You and whose army? You may need to see if they will release old Boney from exile on Saint Helena to help you out.”
“I am an excellent pugilist.”
“Mayhap you were, but you have long been in the country. No matter. When you take your wife for her curtsey to the Queen, we shall settle the matter with a friendly bout at Gentleman Jackson’s.”
“The Queen. Oh no. I had forgotten about that. Do you think she knows?”
“She is a well-bred young lady. Her brother is a baron. I am sure she knows.”
“I did mention it once before when she first arrived but perhaps she has forgotten.”
“Are you any further along in finding out who is blackmailing her?”
“No. Though that old witch, Dick’s mother does not think highly of Lucy. She called her some ugly names. Had she been a man, she would be facing the wrong end of my pistol in a duel. It also occurs to me that the asylum he is in must cost a fair amount of money. It is a far cry from Bedlam.”
“Emily told me. Lucy was quite upset and Emily spent a lot of time with her last evening.”
“Aye. I suspected they were not just sewing lace onto gowns.”
“I think they were doing that too. You know Emily. Not the best at needlework. Her fingers were a little tender. She stabs herself with the needle more than the fabric.”
“She now knows that I know about Eleanor so if it is her then the blackmail should stop. It also depends on how much the woman gossips as to whether other people find out that I know about Eleanor. We shall see. There are five days to go until May Day.”
“Aye and then this shall be over, hopefully.”
They arrived at the church. Robert had sent a letter ahead when he had arrived back home, and the minister had responded, agreeing to hold the nuptials. He believed that Lucy would prefer a church wedding. This seemed to impress Beattie.
“You old romantic,” Beattie whispered as he stood at the alter waiting for Lucy to make her way down the aisle.
Six orphans and his soon-to-be-daughter sat with perfect manners watching the minister. He could see the confusion on their little faces as they were used to the vicar’s white vestments as opposed to the minister’s austere black robes. There was also no incense burning and no candles. Perhaps they should have explained the differences, but he had wanted the church to be a surprise for Lucy.
He had seen her, of course, when they had walked out to the carriages but now, walking down the aisle, a small bunch of flowers, picked from his own gardens, clutched in her gloved hands, she looked radiant. Her simple blue dress showed off the rich red of her hair and the freckles at her décolletage. The small amount that could be seen where her fichu gaped slightly. Small curls escaped her bonnet, which was tied with a blue ribbon that matched her gown perfectly.
Now, he could not believe it had taken him so long to seek out a wife. And why had he not noticed Lucy Butterworth until now? She had been right under his nose. Beautiful, caring, perfect and just right for him. She took his hand and the service began.
∞ ∞ ∞
Lucy waved her handkerchief at the coaches and turned to her husband. Her husband. After giving birth to Eleanor, she had never thought this day would come. The soiled, silly young chit had become a respectable married lady. A countess, no less.
“I cannot believe Gideon booked us a room here and paid for our wedding lunch. It is odd not having a wedding breakfast. For all the children too. And now they are looking after the children for the whole night, so we shall be undisturbed.”
“He is not a bad sort, I suppose.” Robert’s hand which was around her waist was sneaking up towards her breast.
“Shall we look around for a little while? Go for a walk perhaps?”
“I can think of a better way to exercise off our meal. Besides, we’re in the country near the Scottish border. There is grass, sheep and hills. I have two other mounds I would prefer to inspect at close quarters.” He looked directly at her bosom and she flushed. Then he tugged on the fichu and pulled it from her gown, tucking it into his pocket. He smiled then. “Much better.” He ran a finger along the neckline of her dress. “Tell me you do not want me inside you.”
“I do. Of course, I do. I should just like to spend half an hour getting used to being your wife and contemplating what has already happened before you ravish me.”
“Ravish suggests I would take you against your will, my love. I would never…”
She waved a dismissive hand. “I did not mean that. I know you are the consummate gentleman. I just mean… Please Robert, it has been a busy day so far and I need just a short while.”
“I am sorry. I just want to make you my wife in all ways as quickly as possible. I like order and until it is done, then you are not completely my wife.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you afraid I shall abscond and run off to London to seek an annulment, My Lord.”
“I am if you insist on calling me ‘My Lord.’”
She chuckled and moved closer to him, running her hand up the falls of his breeches. “You are not hard, My Lord.”
“Your lack of desire for me has dampened my ardour. But if you keep pressing in on me like that, I am sure I shall be hard very quickly. I am responding already.”
“Ah yes, you are.” She pushed her hand into his coat pocket and found his money purse. She closed her fingers around it and withdrew it slowly as her other fingers stroked his burgeoning erection. Once she had it out of his pocket and he was uttering a deep-throated groan and leaning forward for a kiss she danced out of his way.
“I believe the stagecoach to London stops off at this inn. Now I have coin, I can be on it and arrange that annulment.”
A flash of concern crossed his features, but she grinned at him and danced in the opposite direction of the inn. He seemed to realise she was teasing.
“What about Eleanor.”
“You can have her. Such an expense. Feed her three times a day and perhaps consider giving her a pony and she shall be faithful to you forever. She likes the colour blue.”
He started the charge after her and Lucy lifted her skirts and started running. It was difficult to run over the grass in her slippers and she could hear him easily gaining ground.
When her foot caught on a tuft of moss everything seemed to slow down. She instinctively rolled as she landed and ended up on her back.
“Lucy!” Robert’s voice was a mixture of panic and terror as coins scatter over and around her. She started to giggle almost hysterically. “Christ. Are you hurt.”
“No!” she managed. “Your coin purse has burst open though. I fear some of the money may be lost.”
“Damn the money are you well?”
She giggled some more at the severe expression on his face. She reached a hand up and cupped his jaw, as he was now kneeling beside her.
“Nothing is bruised or broken. The grass is soft. Stop looking so concerned.” She raised her head and drew his face down to meet hers. Then she opened her mouth and kissed him. He gathered her into his arms, causing her to sit up more and a coin rolled down her décolletage and between her breasts. She chuckled into the kiss.
“What now?” he grumbled.
“I believe I now have a sovereign between my breasts.”
“Lucky sovereign.”
“I can give it back to you when we undress later.”
“God’s teeth, Lucy. The sovereign is yours. Keep it. Have it made into a necklace. Keep it in your jewel box. Buy a hat with it. Give it to a beggar. I have more money than I know what to do with. I can afford to lose a few sovereigns.
“A sovereign would buy shoes for the children,” she objected.
“I promised if you married me the children—all of them would be cared for. I do not go back on my word.”
“I did not marry you to have the children taken care of, Robert.”
“I am aware of that.” He bent his head and pressed her back on the grass, running his tongue along the neckline of her gown.
“Robert, just kisses. I do not wish to be caught doing… things in the open air. It would be so lowering.”
“Things, hmm? Oh, I have things for you to do Lucy, but they shall be in private.” He straddled her but bore his weight down on her partially opened legs allowing her to feel the hard bulge pressing against her mound. Lucy gasped. “You are too much temptation, Lucy Beresford, Countess of Whitsnow, Viscountess Sedghill, Baroness Oldsville.”
“I have three titles?”
“Yes. Though when we have a son, our son shall take Viscount Sedghill as his courtesy title.”
“When we have a son? Oh Robert. I should very much like to give you a son.”
“I think Eleanor would like another brother.”
“I think with all the boys in the house she would prefer a sister.”
“We can work on both.”
“Not at the same time.”
“No. Twins are dangerous. I should hate you to be in any danger. Mayhap Emily will give her a girl cousin.”
He kissed her then, slowly and deeply, his tongue exploring. Lucy could not help running her hands under his coat and over his buttock to urge him to rock against her so his hard length would send desire snaking through her. She moaned into the kiss.
“Robert,” she whispered when he broke the kiss and nibbled on her ear.
“You are seducing me, wench. Your hands on my backside are driving me to Bedlam.” He ran one hand over her still covered breast, but he found her nipple, even under three layers of clothing. “There shall be hours of daylight left once we have satisfied our need. I promise that if you wish to leave our bed once I have made love to you I shall walk as far as you wish.” He thrust his hips against her and she knew she could deny him no longer.
“I am tempted to lift my skirts for you in the grass here at the side of the inn, but I already have a reputation.”
“You do not, Lady Whitsnow. Come, let us retire. I am looking forward to becoming your husband in every sense.”