Chapter Twenty-Two
The morning trip into Thorney village was a pleasant one.Eve sat quietly in the carriage while her mother and Lady Rosemount discussed suitable menus for a wedding breakfast.Lady Rosemount was all for a large spread of various roast meats, while Adelaide gently pushed for dainty hors d’oeuvre such as Will and Hattie had served guests at their wedding.
Eve frowned as the conversation continued.Freddie had not yet asked her to marry him.It was encouraging, however, that everyone else considered the deal all but sealed.From Freddie’s look of hunger when he caught sight of her at Rosemount Abbey a little while earlier, Eve sensed it wouldn’t take much to push him into proposing.
When they finally returned to the abbey, it was late afternoon.Eve was itching to get inside and hunt down Freddie.Another semi-formal dinner had been agreed upon by the two mothers for the evening and if she played her cards right, it might be a night for champagne and toasts to the newly engaged couple.
“Have you seen Master Frederick?”she enquired of one of the household footmen.
“Yes, Miss Saunders.I believe he is working in the stables.He has been there most of the day cleaning out the stalls,” he replied.
Freddie had never struck her as someone who would be working in the stables, but if that was where he was, then she would seek him out.
The stables were in a long stone building situated some way from the main house.Lord Rosemount had an extensive stud of horses both within the stables and in the nearby fields.His breeding program was well known throughout thetonand his horses came with both an expensive price tag and a long waiting list for prospective buyers.
Her father owned several horses which had been bred at Rosemount Abbey, and he was at pains to make sure his investments were properly looked after by his stable staff.Francis had been working hard to put together enough funds to buy his own Rosemount horse.
Eve walked inside the stables and immediately felt the stillness in the air.The horses were all in their stalls.The only sound to be heard was the soft crunch of hay being chewed.There were no stable hands to be seen.
She walked the length of the stables looking for Freddie.She was about to give up and go back to the house in search of him when she came across an empty stall.
Seated on the floor was her quarry.
“There you are.I was beginning to think you had returned to the main house and I had missed you,” she said.
Freddie looked up and smiled.He patted the straw next to him.
“Come sit with me.The staff have finished for the day.It’s all clean and dry straw; I was just having a rest before I went back to the house.I shall need a bath after this afternoon’s exertions,” he said.
Eve happily plopped down beside him.“I have missed you.I thought when Mama and I came away to the country you and I would get time together, but it’s actually harder here than when we are in London.”
He nodded.“I know what you mean.I was going to grab you this morning and drag you into a room for a thorough kissing, but my mother and Adelaide had already got a hold of you.This visit has been frustrating to say the least.”
She leant over to him and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.When she went to pull away, he grabbed a hold of her head and drew her back to him.“All the stable hands have finished up for the day and gone back to their cottages.You and I are the only ones here,” he said.
When their lips met a second time, Freddie gave her no quarter.He took her mouth with a kiss that had her praying it would never end.Their tongues tangled in a sensual dance.She groaned, knowing it would make him hard.
“Eve,” he murmured.
She had been waiting for this opportunity.To show him she was serious about moving matters to their logical conclusion.
“I’m not leaving here until you and I have lain together.The announcement of our betrothal would only then be a mere formality.My mother could send word to my family with the morning mail carriage.I have already penned a note to Caroline, I just need to date and seal it,” said Eve.
With her intent made clear, Eve put her thoughts into action.Her hand slid down and rested on his crotch.She exalted in feeling how hard his manhood had become.She gave a gentle squeeze and was rewarded as Freddie deepened the kiss.
The buttons on the front of his trousers were an easy task for her nimble fingers.With the placket of his trousers open, she slid a hand inside and took a hold of him.She began to stroke him slowly.
“Oh god, Eve, you know how to tease a man,” he said through gritted teeth.
Eve rose onto her knees and bent down before him.She had heard enough talk amongst her married friends to know the basics of pleasuring a man with her mouth.Hopefully she had a good enough understanding.
“Tell me if I am doing it wrong,” she said.
“Just bow down and take the tip of it in your mouth.Then take as much of it as you can and slide it in and out.Mind you don’t use your teeth,” he instructed.
With his cock in her mouth, she ministered slow, long strokes of him.The salty taste of his essence sat on her tongue.
Freddie lay back and his fingers speared into her hair as she continued to pleasure him.The tension in his breathing gave her all the encouragement she needed.From his soft gasps and groans she knew the moment when the rhythm was just right.
