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The sun had given her little freckles across her nose, which he decided he adored, and brought out golden highlights in her coppery hair. The violet was a stain of purple against that sunset background.
"Of course not!" Irene said, sounding surprised.
Hugh just laughed. He'd already learned that she didn't always understand when she was being teased and it made his heart ache when he wondered what kind of childhood she must have had. So he took every chance he could to make up for it. Sliding his hands down her waist, he reached down and gripped her bottom before his lips descended again.
This time his kiss was much firmer, his lips parting hers as she opened for him to thrust his tongue into her willing mouth. Irene groaned.
Although she had become less intimidated by Hugh and her reactions to him, she still couldn't do anything about the physical disturbance that he caused within her. The little flirtations, the teasing kisses, those she could handle. Then he was like a different, gentler man, the way she'd always imagined herself kissing Alex. But then Hugh would become something more wild, less contained, and she was always shocked to find herself responding so ardently.
The most frightening part was that she was beginning to enjoy the strangeness that he created within her, as if there was a wildness inside of her that he called forth. Something untamed, uninhibited. It frightened her even as much as it excited her. Especially because when he did that, she completely forgot about Alex. Her entire body, her entire world, became about Hugh and what he was doing to her.
Surely that wasn't supposed to happen.
She was still confused about marital relations and the very large differences between what she had been told to expect and what she was actually experiencing. It made her long for a woman to confide in, but she didn't know her maid that well even if it hadn't been drilled into her that she should never trust the servants with her personal secrets, and all the other women she might confide in were back in London. Yesterday she'd tried to write a letter to Eleanor, thinking that perhaps her new sister might have some insight or understanding, but it was impossible to put her emotions and fears into words without sounding quite crazed. She'd ended up putting the letter in the fireplace rather than sending it.
No, she was on her own. And on her own meant trembling and needy in Hugh's arms as he tightened them around her, kissing her the way he did in their bedroom.
/> When he pulled his mouth away she was left gasping.
Hugh considered taking his wife down to the ground right there in the glen, but he didn't want to offend her sensibilities. Or risk having someone come looking for them, as it was almost time for luncheon. Although she was as passionate in the bedroom as any man could ask for, Irene still blushed when they made love in the light of day. It was too much to ask to have her do so outside. Not yet, at least.
"Perhaps we should continue on," he murmured, controlling himself as he brushed one last kiss over her swollen lips. "I will show you to the creek before we return to the house."
"If it pleases you." It was Irene's standard response, one which she had said many times to her mother, but with Hugh she found herself wanting to please him in order to see him smile. With her mother it had been to avoid an unpleasant scene.
"It does not please me," he said, pressing his thumb to her lips. "I would be much more pleased by a return to the house and our bed, but I wish to show you the creek and as we have already saddled the horses and ridden them out it would not be fair to return to soon." Irene blushed as he referenced their bed, confirming that his modest wife was not yet ready for the outdoor activities he would best like to engage in currently.
"We do not have to go to the creek..." Her voice trailed off, and to his delight she truly did look rather torn.
"No, we will go to the creek," he said, releasing her. But he put his lips by her ear to whisper: "But after lunch I hope you will be in the mood for a nap." The little wink he gave her as he escorted her back to Liberty gave Irene no doubt as to exactly what he meant by 'nap' and the blush rose in her face again.
Hugh helped her up onto her saddle, settling her in, before he pulled himself up onto Rex. Watching his athletic ability as he swung up into the saddle always made Irene a little breathless. He was just so strong and sure of himself, in the saddle, as a man and as a husband. Sometimes she wished she were like that.
"Do you think I might be able to ride Rex one day?" she asked, thinking that she'd like to show Hugh how strong she could be in certain situations. "I would love to try his paces."
"Absolutely not," Hugh said in a tone that brooked no argument, it was almost harsh and she looked at him in surprise. "Rex behaves well enough for me but he is not a safe ride, especially for a lady in a side saddle."
Although his words were not particularly surprising or unkind, his tone was harsher than he'd ever used with her before. She was surprised to feel a little spark of rebellion deep inside her chest. Hugh knew that she was a bruising rider, otherwise he never would have gotten her a spirited filly like Liberty.
"I've ridden stallions before," she argued. Hugh was so good at everything, she rather desperately wanted to show herself to be on his level. "In a side saddle."
"Other stallions, but not Rex," her husband said, his voice still stern although his expression had gentled as if he realized that he had hurt her feelings by declaring her riding skills not up to his stallion. Sidling his horse closer he reached out with his hand; Irene reached back and took it although she was still feeling put out with him. "I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you, especially on my horse, Irene. I would never get over the guilt." He studied the disappointment that was clearly etched on her face. "Perhaps sometime you might ride double with me on Rex."
"It's not the same," Irene surprised herself by grumbling. Something about being married to Hugh must be stiffening her spine, because a month ago she never would have thought to argue with anyone, much less him. Then again she'd always been more bold in the country than she had ever felt in London, and she'd become comfortable with the fact that Hugh enjoyed hearing her thoughts even when they were contrary to what he wanted. It was a relief to be able to let them out, rather than keeping them bottled up like she'd always had to do at home.
Indeed, he just laughed and squeezed her hand, not at all distressed by her impertinence.
"No it's not, but it's the only way you will be allowed on Rex's back," he said firmly. Just the idea of her trying to ride the horse made his chest tighten in fear.
As he led the way to the creek, Irene watched his posture and the movement of his body as he rode the stallion. Although Rex was spirited and much heavier than Liberty, she was still convinced that she could ride him given the chance.
She thought of Eleanor and wondered if Hugh's bold sister had ever ridden the stallion. Somehow she couldn't see the other woman being stymied by her brother's orders.
Chapter 8
In the afternoon, the tables at Whites were half-filled with various gentlemen, some talking, drinking, smoking or some combination of the three, others reading newspapers, a few indulging in a late lunch. It was a gentleman's retreat, a haven away from the burdens of the world, and Edwin appreciated it as such. This particular afternoon he'd decided to reward himself for the hard work he'd been putting in on behalf of his father in London. Not just matters of the estates, but also the various political issues that his father was interested in despite his abhorrence for actually coming to London and becoming involved in them. Instead he did this vicariously through Edwin, who appreciated the experience he was gaining even as he occasionally wished he didn't have the burden on his shoulders.
Since Eleanor was out at some afternoon tea, doing the social rounds and being his eyes and ears when it came to the latest reform bill (it was amazing how much information she was able to pick up through the wives and daughters of his peers once she knew what interested him), there had been nothing to entertain himself with at home. So he'd headed off to Whites, knowing that Wesley and Alex were there almost every afternoon of the week. If Wesley was awake that is. Despite Wesley's own responsibilities as Earl, somehow he managed to continue to live the life of a dissolute rake.
