AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Better not risk anything at all with Mr. Carter," Eleanor observed. "Unless you think you might want to marry him? Wesley absolutely won't allow you to be ruined on his watch, but Mr. Carter doesn't sound look good husband material."
"No, I suppose not." Cynthia sighed. "But he is a very good kisser."
"I'm sure that if you do have a preference, Wesley would be reasonable. He was always stubborn, but very considerate."
Smiling, Cynthia allowed Eleanor to turn the subject back to the Earl of Spencer. After all, she wasn't loathe to hear more about her intriguingly confusing guardian, especially from someone who’d known him as long as Eleanor had and could provide so much insight. Besides, when it came to relations between men and women, Eleanor’s answers to her questions had already given her plenty to think on.
******
That evening Eleanor and Edwin dined with friends of their parents, Lord and Lady Montgomery and a small assembly of their guests. Since the Season was coming to an end in London there were some younger guests that were closer to Eleanor and Edwin’s age. Eleanor had noticed that, other than Cynthia, Bath was quite bereft of anyone that could be considered her or Edwin’s “crowd.” In some ways, that was a relief, because there was also less competition for her husband’s attention and for hers.
She hadn’t realized, until they’d left the ballrooms of London, how much of a strain it was for both of them to be constantly importuned by others. There were always women hovering around Edwin, and Eleanor realized that, with his reputation, more than one of them probably had rather intimate knowledge of her husband. But by the same token, there were always men hovering around Eleanor, disappointed that they hadn’t seen her before Edwin had snapped her up, and now wondering if she might be amenable to some intimacies.
It had only been their stalwort attention to each other that had deflected the others, but now they could relax and enjoy themselves in this very different company. Which gave Eleanor some time to think and ponder other things, such as some of the revelations she’d had during her afternoon with Cynthia.
While Eleanor knew she’d been considered headstrong and that some of her actions, especially at her coming out ball, would have been seen as brazen, she had nothing on Cynthia. It was a good thing that they weren’t in London or the girl’s reputation would probably already be shredded. For her part, Eleanor didn’t see anything particularly wrong with Cynthia wanting to know the same things that Eleanor had wanted to know before she’d married Edwin. So she’d shared what she could with the young woman.
But Cynthia’d had a few things to share with Eleanor too.
Such as the very astonishing idea of taking Edwin’s cock into her mouth. He'd done the reverse to her, but somehow it had never occurred to her that Edwin might enjoy it as well. After all, he was so very dictatorial, so very demanding in their love making, that she assumed he would initiate anything that he desired.
What would it be like to surprise him with something pleasurable?
She rather liked the idea.
In the past few days their relationship felt as though it had done more than relax, away from the bustle of London, it felt as though it had become something softer, sweeter. Although she didn't doubt that he would still spank the dickens out of her if she were to misbehave. But honestly, Eleanor didn't feel like misbehaving as much. She was too busy trying to get her husband to admit his feelings for her, because she was becoming more and more hopeful
that they existed even if he didn't say so.
Perhaps surprising him with something new and different would also motivate a new verbal admission from him. At the very least, it would be fascinating to see his reaction when she wanted to take control. Would he let her?
"Nell, your mind is wandering," Edwin murmured, his finger stroking lightly down the back of her neck and making her shiver. She very nearly glared at him, right in front of Lady Montgomery, who was watching their amusement with interaction.
"I'm sorry Lady Montgomery," she said instead. "What did you say?"
"I was just declaring how glad your mother must be, having both you and Hugh make such brilliant matches. And your father as well, I know he's hated the necessity of spending so much time apart from your mother, but she really cannot tolerate London for any length of time."
"Yes, I don't believe I've ever seen her happier," said Eleanor, smiling. "Although I don't think she realized that Lord Hyde would come up to scratch quite so quickly." That was a little nudge at Edwin. Even though she didn't throw any larger temper tantrums, hadn't since he'd caught her trying to leave London without him, she couldn't help but twit him a little. It was just part of her personality. And for the most part he didn't seem to mind too much. His fingers exerted just the slightest bit more pressure on the back of her neck, a warning. It made her skin tingle.
To her surprise, Lady Montgomery waved her hand dismissively. "Pish. Of course he came up to scratch immediately." The older woman smiled at both of them, her sharp eyes piercing. "It's obvious that you'd be a Diamond of the First Water given a full Season, and with your antecedents and dowry, the competition would be fierce. I can't imagine an intelligent man letting any time waste, especially not one that's practically been waiting for you to step onto the Marriage Mart."
Eleanor gaped. "Waiting for me?"
Beside her, she could feel Edwin stiffen. She didn't dare look at his face.
"The two of you were inseparable as children. It was obvious to all of us that knew both of you that it was only a matter of time," Lady Montgomery said, smiling benignly.
That was a new viewpoint, one that Eleanor had never considered before. She rather liked the idea of Edwin waiting for her. The only question was, was Lady Montgomery correct? Eleanor finally snuck a look at Edwin's face, but his expression was blandly impassive.
Maybe she could ask him about it later. She'd found it easier to coax tender words and memories from him while they were in bed. It was all part of her latest plan to get him to confess his feelings for her. Because she wanted a marriage based on love, and when she'd first wed Edwin she didn't know if he had those feelings for her. Indeed, she'd thought that it was clear that he didn't, although she had fallen in love with him far too quickly for comfort.
While he hadn't yet said the words, many of his actions seemed to indicate something deeper than the affection of a childhood friend. But she wanted the words, the acknowledgment... the security. And she was determined to get them. In fact, the more days that passed without that declaration, the less certain she was of her perceptions.
******
Waving off his valet, Edwin finished shucking off the rest of his clothes by himself and strode into the bedroom. Eleanor had gone to bed about an hour before him, as he'd had a few matters to attend to when they'd returned home from the Montgomery's dinner. Hopefully she was still awake, not that waking her up for his amorous desires was a chore, but he always did feel a little guilty about disrupting her slumber. Even if he did enjoy it when she was all soft and languid, an entirely different Eleanor than the rest of the world ever got to see.
Fortunately, she was still awake, sitting up in bed reading a book and wearing a gossamer thin nightgown that clung to her curves. The faintest blush of her nipples was visible through the material in the flickering candlelight. Edwin grinned and strode forward, his erection hard and ready against his belly. It had been that way since he'd begun undressing, anticipating joining his wife in their bed.
