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He thrust wildly like a wild thing, a mad thing claiming its mate. He surged into her again and again while she rippled around him, flooding with hot liquid. His long drawn-out groan mingled with her own cries as ecstasy over took him and he spilled his seed into her body. He tried to draw out and spill outside of her, but she clenched in a rigid hold and demanded his surrender, increasing his pleasure wi
ldly. “Amelia, my Amelia.”
The darkness swallowed her and she could faintly hear him calling her with a degree of urgency. He slumped between her breasts and fell into heavy sleep.
A while later he woke and moved off her, hoping not to wake her. She barely stirred and he rolled her onto him and covered her bare flesh with the coat. He hardened and tried to move out of her but she protested, murmuring in her sleep. Even sleeping his woman was of a strong opinion!
He shifted, capturing her murmur in a sleepy kiss before surrendering to sleep again.
Chapter Nine
Amelia woke in a state of peace and pleasure that turned into momentary confusion. Someone had just called her name, a hand insistent on her arm.
She blinked once, then again before she looked up to see Lord Windon, Robert.
Just like that, the events of the night before flooded through her and she smiled, lifting her hands up.
Her enthusiastic lover of the night before was gone, a cool mannered man replaced him. This man thrust her clothes into her outstretched hands. “Your clothes are dry. The rain has stopped for awhile now,” he told her with a touch of asperity.
“It must be dreadfully cold outside.” What perfectly boring conversation to be having after such a night as they had both shared.
“It is, but the wood lasted through the night and we are quite warm. In any case we should be getting ready to return to your hall,” he advised quietly.
He made perfect sense. His logic was undeniable, but she would have loved a kiss, a kind word. Some sign that the night before was not an obvious regret. Maybe she had been unsatisfactory. She bit her lips at that. “Of course, Your Grace.”
“Robert.” He answered her shortly. “I am sure the horses will want to be returned to their stables.” He could not believe himself, grasping at excuses to cover his guilt. Horses?
“Of course, Robert.” She was appropriately chastened. She had failed to take the needs of the horses to heart, and maybe the man wanted his meal after a night in a place not suitable to his needs at all.
She stood up from the bed. Her covering of his coat rolled off and the colder air pebbled her nipples. She looked up, but his attention was stoically focused elsewhere. She dragged on the chemise herself and found her stays. She tried to tie the laces in the back. Her fingers fumbled for awhile before his hands stopped them and tied the laces expertly.
She should be grateful for his help but she could not help but think that he must have a lot of experience undressing and redressing women. The moment passed in silence. She stood stiff and immobile as possible with him fastening the garments she donned with an economy of motions.
She sat on the bed and tied her garters. Her dry shoe sat near her feet. His hand flashed by her. For a moment she thought he wanted to touch her and she stilled, but he only plucked his coat off the bed before turning smartly and walking out of the room.
She kept her shoulders high and her manners aloof until he left the room, but as soon as his back faded from sight she wilted. She propped her head on her open hands. She was consumed with regrets and not a little amount of shame.
In the light of the moment he had been willing, happy and, she dared to think, driven with something more than mere lust, but in the light of day it was another matter. It didn’t matter. There was no reason to follow their night of intimacies with his cold manner and the silence that cut her.
The neighing of the horses brought her away from her dark reverie. She would bear his censure but as soon as they returned she would avoid him unless it was strictly necessary.
The second shoe was pulled on. She stood up from the bed. One hand brushed against the fabric of her ridding gown but it was wrinkled beyond care. Not that it mattered, speculations would be rife. If they were caught, their options were being forced into marriage or she would be completely ruined.
His initial proposal was the only tether that stopped her mind from succumbing to the rush of guilt, but that consolation was no salve. From his manners now, how could she never bear to be married to him? Marriage would be hell. Truly she had wanted to marry for love. Something that a more practical mind would shun, something that was the reason her London Seasons had failed. It was the best protection if she was to live in the shadow of her husband without rights. Now she would be married with her rights intact and no love.
The long ride was accomplished with heavy tension. Even the animals were aware of it. They shied and were a bit difficult, but that could be because of the night in the rain. Amelia rode with her spine and her chin raised in challenge. Robert rode at her side in a similar pose. The horse responded to the expert handling by eating the ground in eager bursts, but that could easily be attributed to the lure of the stables and warm hay.
When the stone walls of the hall were suddenly looming over the horizon she breathed a sigh of relief and doubled her speed. At the stables, she caught the grooms in a group, obviously going to search for her. Mary was among them, fretting heavily and afraid. She was assailed, no doubt, with images of her lady in a ravine somewhere.
When Lady Amelia appeared a cry of relief came up and she alighted smartly.
“My lady, we were all afraid,” Simmons called out above the din of concerned voices.
“As you can see Simmons, I am in good health.” She turned to her maid who was waiting to be addressed. “Mary?”
“We were so worried. The storm blew in so quickly and lasted through the night.” The lady’s maid clenched her hands to her side in obvious effort.
“We were quite safe. We found shelter with one of the tenant families,” she finished curtly and as airily as possible to dispel the concern and the fear. It had the desired effect of taking their minds off the matter and to other more present situations.
