Chapter Fourteen
Charity lay awake in her bed in her bedchamber at the top of the stairs and knew that it was approaching sunrise, she could hear the birds beginning to awaken in the trees, their songs heralding a new day. Or maybe even now the sun had crept over the horizon to mock her sleepless night. She had laid beneath the bed sheet listening to the night sounds, insects buzzing against the window, an owl softly hooting to its mate in the distance and the gentle sigh of the breeze.
Here in this obscure cottage hidden away on god only knows where, cliffs above some busy port town she had never heard of that stank of whale blubber and alum, the nights were quiet and peaceful. Only tonight it wasn’t peaceful for Charity as she laid there listening to Dane move around the cottage as he prepared to retire. Try as she might Charity could not expel their conversation from her thoughts.
Now that she had time to think over what Dane had told her she grudgingly admitted that he was right, her reputation was completely ruined. She knew of girls who had been given the cut for far less than the infractions she committed by spending all these days and nights alone with a man that she was not betrothed to. The circumstances requiring her to do so would not matter in the least, she would be seen as guilty. A wanton hussy no better than the harlots found in the houses of ill repute or selling themselves on the streets.
She would be a pariah shunned by everyone who mattered, everyone who could help her realize her dream of opening a school for the blind. She would have to move out of Violet’s house less she be tainted by her association with Charity. But where would she go. Back to Dr. Phillips? No, she could see now that she never belonged there, that something had not been quite right about the whole arrangement. There was a tenseness, a wariness that always seemed to hang in the air that kept her anxious most times. She did not want to go back to that.
Could marriage to Dane truly be her only option? Despite her earlier bravado she did not have the means to travel elsewhere on her own and she certainly couldn’t ask Violet to uproot her life. To go where? Paris? That had been such a head strong and foolish thing to say.
But to marry Dane when she knew he did not care for her, that he saw her as a cripple that would only be a burden was too much to ask. Oh she had no illusions that by marrying Dane, a man she was willing to admit she had come to love, would be an empty painful experience when he was not capable of returning that love. There would be no affection between them, no tender moments shared, he would go back to his life as if nothing had changed. His work for the home office would continue and his connection with beautiful women such as Maria Benavidez would not end just because he was married. While she languished in some far off estate forgotten, her school a distant dream and her love for him dying a slow and anguished death.
Dane had said he would help establish the school, but would he really? He had never seemed very encouraging when she spoke to him about her aspirations, there was always a ring of doubt in his voice when he questioned her about her plans. Even if he did she highly suspected that he would not give her free reign to run the school the way she desired. After all how could a cripple understand the myriad complexities of running a business.
She wondered too how he would explain to his family how he managed to be leg shackled to a blind lady that had nothing to offer the family, no dowry, no connections to titles other than Violet’s through marriage and no grand properties. Charity didn’t know much about his family other than he had a younger brother that was overseeing all his business while he performed his duties for the home office and that his mother was alive and residing at the dukal home on his estate in Wiltshire. She couldn’t imagine they would be pleased with his choice of wife and possible mother to the heir, if there were to be children that is. No, she would not be a welcome addition to his family.
Charity knew that children were a possibility, they did have a certain attraction and had proven twice now that there could be passion between them. But would Dane want a child with her, a blind cripple. If there was a child would he or she be taken away from her to be raised by nursery maids and governesses because he found her inept and incompetent, to much of a failure to be a good mother to their child and heir.
Charity flopped over in her bed slamming her fist into the pillow, exasperated with her churning thoughts that were getting her nowhere, least of all to sleep. She was no closer to finding a solution than she had been when she walked away from Dane in the garden last night.
With compunction she threw off the bed linens and sat on the edge of her bed for a few minutes before dressing. At home she would know what time it was by the chiming of the hall clock and by reading the hands on the mantle clock that sat above the fireplace in her chamber but here she had nothing to gauge what time of day it was. Except for the bustling sounds of the birds outside or when Dane began moving around in his room directly below hers. Since the birds were awake and she was awake Charity decided that there was no sense remaining confined to her room.
In the kitchen she carefully lit a fire in the cook stove where she put coffee on to brew, the room quickly filling with the dark rich aroma. She was cracking eggs into a bowl to whip for scrambled when Dane walked in. Her pulse immediately increased and she felt a fluttering in her stomach that had nothing to do with hunger. Listening as he moved to pour himself a cup she swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry and her hand shook as she took up another egg. When he spoke her name with such longing right next to her ear she startled and dropped the fragile egg onto the floor where it landed with a splat.
“Oh dear,” she cried reaching for the towel she knew was on the counter beside where she was working. Squatting she searched for the mess only to end up running her hand through the entire thing. Flustered and embarrassed Charity struggled to clean up the broken egg, fearing that she was only making a shambles of the job. She felt Dane drop down beside her and when he stilled her hand with his she gave up her attempts.
“Let me do this,” he told her with a softness to his voice.
Shaking her head she replied, “No I can do this.”
He squeezed her hand preventing her from pulling it away, “I know you can but let me do this for you.” Seconds stretched by before he added, “Please.” He wanting nothing more than to be able to help her, protect her and be there for her.
Charity stood her heart racing in her chest. Why did he want to help her, what did it mean? Except for a select few people there were not many who voluntarily helped her and yet Dane seemed to do so every day since they met. Last night she had the impression that he resented her for it but now he seemed so willing.
Dane disposed of the slimy remains and towel, rinsed his hand and coming to stand in front of her again as he dried them on a clean towel.
“Why did you do that?” Charity wanted to know. “After last night I thought...I thought you…” She didn’t know for sure what she thought. She was startled when he reached out and took her hand in his, raising it to his mouth where he gently grazed her knuckles with his soft lips, his breath warming her cool skin.
“I owe you an apology Miss Price,” she could hear humor in his voice when he said her name. “For marriage proposals I believe mine will go down as one of the worst recorded in history.”
“Oh,” what more could she say, his apology was so unexpected.
“My only excuse is that I have never asked a lady to be my wife before but I truly did not mean to offend you with my inept mishandling of a moment that is meant to be unforgettable.”
He sounded so sincere that Charity found herself believing him, “Well, it was unforgettable.” She tried not smiling but the corners of her lips twitched upwards.
Laughter rumbled up Dane’s chest and passed his lips, “Indeed it was. Though not a story I would want to relate to our grandchildren.”
Grandchildren! Goodness, Charity barely got passed the notion of being married much less look so far ahead as to envision grandbabies.
“You are getting ahead of yourself Your Grace.”
“Yes, I suppose I am,” he lowered her hand but did not relinquish it, instead he ran the back of his fingers slowly up her arm.
Gooseflesh broke out all over her skin, his touch was barely a whisper but she felt it stronger than had he gripped her with force. A shiver of fire raced into her belly to pool hot and heavy in the apex of her thighs. Her heart raced and she felt skin heat and was sure it must be flushed. She remembered their time in the piano room and wondered what else his hands could do to her body. Dane’s warm as honey voice broke her out of her thoughts.
“Last night you told me reasons why you would not marry, are there any reasons which you would?”
“I am no different from other young ladies. I once dreamt of my prince coming to whisk me away to the land of happily ever after and though I do not hold to those childish fantasies any longer I do at times hope for at least someone I can share a mutual affection with. A man that respects me for who I am, one who can look passed my infliction and see the real me.”
“That is more than what most marriages among the ton have.”
She heard the hint of cynicism, “Yes, Violet’s marriage was one such example. But I would also require that the gentleman be willing to give me my independance to do the things I have dreamed of. A music school for the blind is only the start.”
“What else?”
“My parents had wanted me to go to Paris to study under the masters there. I know the war with France will not last forever and I would so very much like to see their dream for me fulfilled.” Violet was the only person she had expressed her wish to but telling Dane seem natural and right. As if she instinctively knew that he would not laugh at her ambitions.
“Those are admirable goals Charity and if you would let me I can help you achieve them.” He lifted her face to him with a finger under her chin. “Let me help you,” he whispered just before his lips touched hers.
His lips were warm and soft, the kiss gentle and sweet, not demanding or domineering forcing her to comply but full of promise. Charity wanted to give into that promise, wanted to lose herself in the sweet sensation of his lips and hands on her body but she feared if she gave in even a little she would lose herself to him completely. Just like that night in the piano room when he had taken to her such rapturous delights and she had not once thought to stop him. She had lost all sense of propriety and allowed him to control her response to him and oh how she reveled in bliss but she could not give up her dreams just for a few moments of euphoria.
Dragging her mouth away she put her hands on his chest to push him away. He would not go. “Of course Violet and I are always looking for financial backing, we accept donations of any size. But that is all I will accept from you. There can not be anything more.”
His arms that had been wrapped around her waist dropped away and he took a step away, the cool morning air filling the space he once warmed.
“Why must you be so stubborn? You know your reputation is ruined, that no one will welcome you into their parlor again much less provide any sort of monetary support for your school.”
She could hear his frustration and annoyance and Charity felt her own temper rise like a rapidly boiling tea kettle.
“I will not marry a man I do not love and one that does not love me in return. Marriage between us would be tantamount to disaster.” She hadn’t meant to sound cold or that she thought he would not be a good husband and wished the words back the instant they flew from her mouth.
“Would it be so horrible married to me?”
She injured his manly pride, insulted his sense of honor with her refusal but she had her own pride. She would not marry a man who did not truly want her, who would not be as totally devoted to her as she would be to him.
“You must admit that we do not rub well together. In the beginning we could barely stand to be in the same room for any length of time how could we possibly tolerate each other as husband and wife?”
“Hasn’t time already shown you that the more time we spend together the more we want to be together?” he demanded. “You can’t deny there is something between us, an attraction, a longing for more.”
His last words came out on a breath that sent shivers racing down her spine and then his lips were on hers. This time his kiss was more demanding as he grasped her with both hands changing the angle to accommodate the assault of his open mouth and tongue. He nipped her bottom lip with his teeth and when she gasped his tongue plunged inside to collide with hers in a seductive glide. He tasted of coffee and mint from his tooth powder, a heady combination that had her lips trembling beneath his. His tongue and lips were a silken bliss that had her reaching for more.
She ran her hands up his ribs and over that solid wall of his chest to cling to his hard shoulders returning his kiss with a fervor of her own. A thrill shot through her when she heard him groan deep in his throat and she had the heady knowledge that he was just as affected by their kiss as she.
Dane turned her, forcing her against the counter, the strength of his well formed body holding her captive. He nudged closer, his thigh forcing its way between hers. She could feel the hardness of his arousal press against her hip and she push against him drawing another moan from him. He tipped her head back dragging his mouth across her jaw to her ear where he took the soft delicate lobe in his mouth and sucked. His rapid shallow breaths washed hot over her skin and bolts of hot desire shot down her spine with each flick of his tongue. Who knew that such a small insignificant part of her body could be so arousing once stimulated?
Wetness pooled between her thighs and she clenched them together trying to relieve the pressure that was building but it only seemed to intensify. She moaned in frustration, needing something that she only knew Dane could give her. He answered by pressing the hard firm length of his thigh against her mound, the exquisiteness causing her to gasp. The sensation sent bolts of heat shooting into her core and she pressed against him harder, her hips rubbing back and forth, building the fire that burned in her quim.
Dane tilted her head to the side exposing the delicate line of her throat. Trailing hot wet open mouth kisses down to lay his tongue over the spot where her pulse hammered against her skin. He rested there as if he was trying to absorb the energy from deep inside her. She could feel the warmth from his quickened breath heating her skin as it moved down her chest and settle on her nipples that puckered into tight little rose buds. Suddenly Charity wanted to rip their clothing off, the need to feel his skin against her was stronger than she could resist. Frustration echoed again when her hands found his shirt, the thin lawyer a boundary between her hands and the flesh she so desired to feel.
Charity felt the lose when Dane raised his head, his breathing deep and harsh.
“Do you see how it is between us Charity? If you would but consent to be my wife we could have this always.”
Could what he said be true, could they have something more than the usual cold passionless marriage so prevalent amongst the higher classed. It definitely seemed that way judging from the way her body responded to his touch.
She pushed her fingers through his hair pulling his mouth toward hers as she rose up to meet him stopping just before their lips touched. Whispering a heated request, “Show me. Show me how it can be.”
Her response evoked a thick growl from him as he closed the space between them. His mouth devoured hers as he pressed his thigh tighter against her core, rubbing back and forth causing more moisture to spill forth. With one hand he swept aside the breakfast preparation not caring that some spilt to the floor. He lifted her to sit atop the counter spreading her knees so he could fit in closer to her.
Without taking his lips from her his fingers began releasing the long line of buttons running down the front of her day dress while she worked on the buttons of his shirt. The morning air cooled her heated skin with each button that slipped free but he soon became inpatient and grasping both sides he tore the dress open sending buttons pinging off the counter and floor.
Crying out when he reached inside her stays and chemise and lifted her breast free from their confines to meet his seeking mouth. Aching her back, pressing closer to him as he sucked her hard nipple into his wet hot mouth, his tongue flicking over the sensitive peek. Releasing it with a pop he moved to her other breast to lavish it with the same attentions while his hands reached for the hem of her skirt.
Charity felt his fingers tracing over the silk of her stockings as he pushed her dress higher until skimming over her thighs to find the drawstring on her drawers. Pulling it loose he hooked his fingers in the waistband and pulled them down over her hips, raising her bottom off the counter so he could remove them completely.
She gasped when he suddenly pulled her bottom to sit right at the edge of the counter. He surprised her further by dropping to his knees, his broad shoulders nudging at her knees coaxing her to spread open before him. She thought briefly that she should be embarrassed that he had a perfect view of her womanhood but all she could think was how wonderful he was making her feel. His fingers and mouth stroking, teasing the soft skin of her inner thighs until she could feel his hot breath on her quim.
Did he really intend to kiss her there, was that something even done? She held her breath waiting, anticipating, hoping until finally spreading her lower lips his mouth touched her. The sensation was so exquisite that her body of its own accord curled forward before falling back. Her thighs reflectively clamped around his head as his tongue swept up the entire length of her spreading her moisture as he went. When he reached the top where her tiny little bud resided he flicked over it several times before sucking it into his mouth where he grazed his teeth against it. Her hips flexing against his mouth as he continued to work his tongue up and down her slit and when he stopped at the opening to her sheath and plunged inside Charity could not stop the cry that flew from her lips.
His tongue was soon replace by his finger that he worked in and out of her while his mouth continued to work over her quim. A second finger joined the first, stretching her as he caressed her channel, curling at the end of each stroke to touch an area of high sensitivity inside her. She felt a pressure building until it grew unbearable and then it was like a thousand stars burst forth in her mind and she knew only ecstasy.
The force of her climax causing her body to surge off the counter and curl forward till she clutched his head in both hands pushing him against her core as her body shuddered through the most amazing experience of her life. When she finally relaxed her hold on him Dane stood and leaning forward he told her in a voice thick with desire.
“You are so beautiful when you come, my sweet Cherry.,” and then he kissed her sharing the taste of her still on his lips.
Pulling her from the counter and into his arms Dane carried her out of the kitchen and down the short corridor to his bedchamber. Standing her beside his bed he quickly removed the rest of her clothing letting them drop wherever he tossed them.
“Christ you are gorgeous,” he told her as his hands ran over her, heating her skin everywhere.
He laid her on the bed and she listened as he removed his shirt, heard the thunk of his boots as they hit the floor and then finally the slide of his trousers. A quick little mewling sound escaped when he laid down next to her, his skin gliding over hers sending ripples of wanton desire over every inch of her.
He kissed her long and deep as his hand tracked over her belly to search through the curls till he found her wet entrance plunging two fingers inside her. Swallowing her moan as he stroked then lifting his head she could feel his eye smoldering hot on her.
“I need to be inside you, my sweet Cherry,” he told her his voice almost as if he was in pain.
Reaching between them her small hand found his large shaft and she wrapped around him, amazed that something could be so hard could be as soft as silk. She stroked her hand down to his base and then back to the head where she brushed her thumb over the moisture that had pooled there. It was his turn to moan as he buried his face in the crook of her neck.
Rising above her he used his knee to nudge her legs open and she spread wide for him. He placed his hand over hers and guided the tip of his cock to her opening where he proceeded to rub it against her coating it in her moisture that was flowing from her body.
“Please Dane, please.” She begged him hardly recognizing her own voice.