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“No.”

William’s brows rose and he could not suppress a slight smile at his determined wife. “No?” he asked expectantly.

“No,” she said firmly. “I have waited so long William ... dreamed of this so many nights ... I do not intend to wait a second more—no conversation, no wine, no food. In spite of what dear Mrs. Barnwell said, we leave early in the morning, so let us not waste a moment of our wedding night in a misguided attempt to be proper.”

With this daring pronouncement, William was lost. He captured her mouth with such intensity that she could barely breathe, and not quitting the kiss, he began to make his way through the open door to the bedchamber, almost stumbling in his haste. Once inside, he set her down on the thick Oriental carpet, and both of their heads turned as they gaped at the large, ornate bed that took up the greater part of the room. A roaring fire glowed in the hearth, revealing an upholstered chair, an elegant bedside table and a lamp that completed the furnishings.

As each turned back to the other, smiling a little nervously, it was only a moment until they were engaged in another sensuous kiss, hands freely exploring previously forbidden places and before long, both were engaged in frantic attempts to remove what clothing separated them. William, however, found his fingers quite ineffective as he fumbled with the small buttons on the back of Elizabeth’s dress, while Elizabeth’s delicate fingers were almost as useless on the heavier buttons that held William’s waistcoat.

With subdued laughter, Elizabeth broke their kiss, her eyes crinkling and her lips lifting in a crooked smile as she looked up at William. “I do believe, Husband, that we shall accomplish our tasks much more quickly if we each undress ourselves.”

“Indeed!” William replied smiling broadly, dimples flashing. “I knew I married a very wise and accomplished woman!”

William continued to coax her lips with his as they simultaneously shed layers of clothing, thrilling at the feelings created and at her responses. Once down to her thin chemise and his breeches, they broke apart, both taking great gasps of air. Quickly William lifted her, setting her on the side of the bed, where he immediately dispatched her shoes, tossing first one then the other over his shoulder to her lilting laughter. Then he methodically began rolling one silky stocking after the other down her slender legs—all the while willing himself to control his ardour, even as he devoured her with his eyes.

Satisfied with his progress, William promptly pulled her to her feet and tight against his body. Mesmerized, she felt one large hand begin a slow journey down her body, the heat of it burning through the thin fabric of the chemise as it moved over her breast, down her toned stomach, still further to her thigh where he grasped the hem of the garment. In one fluid motion, he lifted it up and over her head, leaving her completely exposed. Entranced, he took a step back to drink in the magnificence that was his wife, her body bathed in the soft glow of the fire. She heard his slow, deep intake of breath as his eyes travelled from her generous breasts to her slim waist, flat stomach and still further. She found herself blushing in spite of her resolve not to do so.

However, emboldened by his continued inspection, Elizabeth slowly removed the flowerlike pins from her hair and shook her head, allowing untamed dark curls to fall down around her shoulders, her breasts now peeking through the silky curtain. William stood spellbound, so she stepped forward to take his hands and pull him back to her. As their bodies met, his hands slid from her waist to her breasts, where he began to slowly palm and then cup each soft mound. She sighed, closing her eyes and leaning into him as he ran a thumb over the dark centres until they hardened, causing his arousal to harden in response.

Driven from his spell by her soft sighs and his growing need, William picked her up and moved to the bed where the dark blue and gold counterpane and the silk sheets were already turned back, awaiting them. Laying her down gently, he placed one tender kiss on her lips before turning to perch on the end of the bed to remove his boots. Once accomplished, he hastily shucked off his breeches and lay down beside her.

Murmuring words of adoration, he placed wet kisses over every trace of her softly scented skin, the evidence of his passion leaving red marks on her fair complexion. “My love, my only love, you taste so sweet.” He gently nipped, then kissed the place at the curve of her neck causing her to writhe and pleased by her response, spread more kisses across her collarbone before continuing down the valley between her breasts. “I have longed for you so long,” he whispered, his voice rough.

Elizabeth moaned as a fire rushed through her, and she entwined her fingers in his hair. “I have loved you so long, my darling. Make me yours. Love me.”

Without another word, William rolled atop her—a groan of pleasure escaping his throat as their bodies melded one into the other. He had felt her flinch the moment they became one, however, and opening his eyes in concern for her comfort, he found her dark eyes swimming with unshed tears, as well as unfathomable love.

“I love you so,” she whispered, cupping his face and bringing his lips back to hers. Breathlessly, they continued their kiss as he made her his own.

Though he was determined to be gentle, William found it progressively difficult to concentrate on anything but the pleasure of being inside the woman he loved—to know that, from this moment on, every part of her was his to touch, to love. As he began to feel as though he had left his body, Elizabeth’s responses brought him back to the present as a quivering deep inside her assured him that she had reached fulfilment. All else was forgotten then as he pursued his own release and found himself falling off a precipice into an ocean of exquisite waves of bliss, and from somewhere afar, he called her name.

For some time afterward, they lay joined together, neither willing to sever the connection as their breathing returned to normal and they floated slowly down from the pinnacle of their lovemaking.

At length, he bestowed a soft kiss on her swollen lips, very tenderly whispering, “You are everything to me, Elizabeth—my friend, my wife, my lover, the very air that I breathe. And from this day forward, we are one—husband and wife. Come what may, we shall face the future together.”

Elizabeth wept, too overcome by his words and what they had just shared to form an answer. He understood the depth of her emotions as, without saying a word, her fingers dug into his back, straining to pull him closer still while she clung to him as though she would never let him go. He felt exactly the same.

Being fatigued from the events of the last few days, they were in the arms of Morpheus in a short while, despite both their wishes to remain awake. Each was soon lost in dreams of the other.

In a Coach on the road to Derbyshire

“What do you think Darce will do when he finds we have left them to come home alone?” Richard asked, leaning across to address Evan while trying not to awaken a now sleeping Mr. Williamson who sat next to him.

Evan smiled. “I think he will be delighted. After all, what man wants to spend the first day of his marriage in the company of a coach full of people—especially other men?”

Glancing out the window to make sure the coach he hired for his servants was still following along behind, Evan relaxed and trained his eyes on his cousin. “I think your idea to hire another coach and for you and Williamson to ride back with me was a splendid wedding present. They may have to travel back to Pemberley on their wedding trip, but they can certainly have the coach to themselves. I hope that we are able to have the inn hold their best rooms for them tonight.”

Richard chuckled to himself. “The only thing I dislike is that I missed my chance to tease Darce this morning. I suppose I shall be forced to wait until he gets home. What a shame! I have waited almost ten years for this day to come, and I was not there to confront him after his wedding night! I would dearly love to have made him blush!”

“William blush? I do not know that I have even seen him do that. Scowl perhaps, but not blush.”

“Oh, he has many times, believe me. Once I stood nearby at a ball when a young woman, newly widowed, made my poor cousin one of the most obscene offers I have ever overheard. And I am used to hearing all manner of talk in the army! It embarrassed even me!”

“And he blushed?”

“As red as my regimentals! Naturally, he had to leave the ballroom, and of course, he was angry, which always makes him even redder. But I have seen him blush on many occasions.”

“My word! I would never have believed it.”