“It’s alright. They are tears of utter relief and happiness. I cannot believe that it is you and I here tonight as husband and wife. I swear I wouldn’t change places with anyone else in the whole world right now. This is where you and I were always meant to be, James Radley,” she said.
He climbed off the bed before quickly divesting himself of his trousers and returning. He rose over her, placing a hand on either side of the pillow on which Leah rested her head. “With me is where you belong, Mrs. Radley,” he said.
The firm resolve in his voice had more tears springing to her eyes. She knew she shouldn’t be crying on her wedding night. James was not the sort of man who made women cry, but happiness threatened to overwhelm her.
He kissed away the tears on her cheeks and when he was done, he came searching once more for her mouth. The sensation of their tongues tangling in a sensual dance made Leah’s toes curl. She would never get enough of him.
His fingers slid down her hip and to her thigh. They settled at her knees before he pushed her legs farther apart. James moved into the space in between her legs. His thumb slipped into her wet heat and he began to stroke once more.
If she had thought that her ardor for him had cooled, Leah was quickly disproved of that notion. Within seconds, James had filled her body once more with aching and urgent need. Every stoke of his thumb across her sensitive nib sent shudders throughout her body. Slowly, his skilled caresses brought her back to the edge of madness.
“You are ready for me, Leah, ready for us to become one,” he said, releasing his hand. He set the head of his cock to her entrance, then slowly pushed inside. A slight sting as he broke through her maidenhead was all she felt. He held her gaze the entire time. When she flinched, he stopped, only continuing when she gave him a small nod.
“Good?” he asked.
“Yes,” she whispered.
He withdrew slightly, then entered her deeply once more. James began to flex his hips, thrusting in and out. Leah silently pleaded for him to take her harder and deeper with his every thrust.
She came in a blinding roar of light. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear herself cry out his name. Then, before she could return fully to the world, he increased the tempo of his strokes, until finally stilling and softly whispering, “Leah.”
As James collapsed on top of her, Leah held on tight and took his weight. When he tried to roll off, she clung to him and refused to let go. “Stay,” she said.
Sometime later, when she finally, reluctantly released him, James grabbed the bed clothes and threw them over their rapidly cooling bodies. Naked together, they settled under the warm blankets, sharing words of tenderness.
“Sleep, my love. I will wake you when we are ready for a second encounter,” he said.
Leah looked over at her husband; James’s eyelids fluttered as they closed.
“Mrs. James Radley. Who would have thought it?” she whispered.” “Thank god.”
Chapter Forty-Two
Their stay at Mopus Manor had to eventually come to an end. Two weeks after they were married, a reluctant James and Leah packed up their things and made preparations to return to London.
“I shall miss your company. It has been nice having other people at my supper table each night,” said Sir Geoffrey.
James turned from watching the last of his and Leah’s things being packed into the cart for the trip across to Truro. In the morning, they would take the mail coach back to London. The barouche had sadly been returned earlier in the week; he already missed hearing Leah’s giggles as he gripped her arse when he helped her up into the carriage.
“We can never thank you enough for all you have done for us. I understand why Leah chose you as the one person she felt she could trust in all this madness,” he replied.
“But now she has you.” Sir Geoffrey motioned toward the garden and James followed. Once they stood outside the painting studio, Leah’s grandfather stopped. James had spent the previous day packing up his paints and completed works before reluctantly closing the door of the cottage for the last time.
“I don’t know what the two of you will find when you return to London. Knowing my son-in-law, there will be consequences and you must prepare yourselves for them. You must protect Leah,” said Sir Geoffrey.
James was under no illusion that Tobias Shepherd was going to make things easy for his wayward daughter and her new husband, but he would deal with it all in good time. Leah was his wife now, and beyond the direct control of her father.
“My family is not without significant influence in London. I doubt Shepherd will want to wage an all-out war against me,” he replied.
Sir Geoffrey met his gaze. “No, he won’t. Shepherd will find subtle ways to hurt you. Which is why I wanted to talk you. If the two of you decide that London is not for you, I want you to know that you are always welcome to return to Mopus Manor. You and Leah have a home waiting for you here.”
The generous offer took James by surprise. He and Leah both loved the place, but the thought of actually living at Mopus Manor on a permanent basis had not been something he had seriously entertained until now. He offered Sir Geoffrey his hand. “Thank you. I shall keep it in mind. If Leah and I had not married, I expect she would have stayed here for as long as possible.”
“I want you to seriously consider my proposal. You and I could come to an arrangement which would see you become a land owner and therefore eligible to run for office. I have enough influence to help secure your preselection as the candidate for the local seat. From what I have seen of you, James, I know you are someone who would put the interests of his constituents first.”
“Once again, thank you. And yes, I will give your offer some serious thought,” replied James.
Sir Geoffrey headed back into the house, leaving James alone looking out over the water. He had never considered a career as a politician, having found Guy’s machinations not to his taste. If he did take a seat in the House of Commons as the local member for Truro, he would work hard to represent the people. And then, between parliamentary sessions he could still pursue his other career as an artist.
