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“If Papa knew, he would never allow it. I hate being dishonest with him. And I don’t want to upset him, with his health the way it is. We’re going to have to imply that the owner of the cottage will be there. You should explain this to Charley and Paddy,” Lady Josephine said.
“Still, though—you can’t believe your lord father doesn’t know about us yet?”
“I truly don’t believe he does. He’s been kept prisoner while all this has been going on. He doesn’t know the Earl found you in my room; he doesn’t know we love each other. He sees you as just a very faithful, reliable servant to whom he’s grateful.”
“All right,” Ace said dubiously. “If you say so.”
They said goodbye to the others as they left for London. Lady Josephine embraced her father warmly, saying “Please take care of yourself, Papa, till I see you again. I love you.”
The Duke said to Ace, “Are you sure you can make the time to accompany Lady Josephine on such a long trip? Oh, I’d really prefer if she had a female companion here that I could ask to go with her. Still, given that you’re in my employ as her guard, I suppose it makes sense that you go.
“Perhaps this French friend of my daughter’s, Madame What’s-Her-Name, will be in residence when you get there. There must be some servants’ quarters about the place. Or you could stay at a local inn—but then you would not be able to keep an eye on her, round the clock. I just don’t know the right thing to do. Still, I’m glad she’ll have you traveling with her. Keep her out of mischief!”
To Charley, Lady Josephine offered her hand, and thanked him for all the two men had done for her. Charley bowed over her hand like a French gallant.
She then reached up and kissed Paddy on the cheek. “That’s for you to give to Mary for me. Tell her I said congratulations, she’s getting a wonderful man.”
Paddy blushed as red as Mary’s hair. “I hope you and Ace have much happiness together, my lady,” he whispered, too low for the Duke to hear. And then they all parted.
* * *
The next two weeks were the happiest of Josephine’s life.
She and Ace were shy at first to introduce themselves as “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” to Mrs. Trevallian, the neighbor lady. But they soon got over it. And the people of the town left them mostly to themselves, believing them to be a honeymooning couple.
The first night they were there, Ace held Josie on his lap and talked to her. “Josie, you know that, as much as we’ve enjoyed the ways we’ve made love, I still haven’t taken the final step with you.”
“Yes,” Josie said simply. “I wondered why not.”
“It’s because, impossible as it seemed, I always hoped I would marry you. I wanted to protect you till then—protect you from scandal, protect you from having a baby out of wedlock, like my mother did. It was because I love you so much. But, Josie, I can’t wait any longer to go all the way with you. I’m burning for you. It’s agonizing to want someone so much.”
“I don’t want to wait, either,” Josie said. “Life is so unpredictable. Who knows how long we will be allowed to remain together? I want to seize every moment of happiness with you, while I can.”
So he took her hand and led her to the cottage bedroom.
First, he made sure she got her pleasure, making her come again and again with his strong, shapely hands.He can kill men with those hands. And yet he can make love to a woman with them too.For some primitive reason, this thought aroused Lady Josephine all the more.
Then he turned over and straddled her, using his knees to keep her legs apart. He put a pillow under her bottom, so she would be lying at an angle most likely to give them both pleasure. And then, ever so slowly, and never taking his eyes off hers, he slid his member into her.
Ace was not experienced at being in love. But he had plenty of experience in making love to women. He used that experience now, to make Josie’s transition from maidenhood as easy as possible.
At first, he moved inside her in a gentle rhythm. She was already very moist with desire, so getting past her maidenhead was not a problem.
His rhythm speeded up then, and he let himself fully enjoy the sensation of burying himself deep within her body over and over again. He rode her hard, until at last he climaxed with an animal cry of ecstasy.
He almost fell on top of her, his release was so powerful. But he kept his weight on his elbows, so as not to crush her. “I want to stay inside you for a while longer,” he whispered. “Do you mind?”
He finally pulled himself out of her and took her in his arms. “I hope I didn’t hurt you,” he said softly. “They say it gets easier for a woman each time.”
She shook her head. “No. You didn’t hurt me. It was wonderful. It felt like we were one body. I think it was the most wonderful feeling I’ve ever had. Ace, I’ve waited a long time to be with you like this!”
“I’m glad. I wanted you to like it,” he smiled. “Since I plan on doing it with you again and again, for many years.”
“Oh, Ace,” she said.Who could want an earl or a duke, when she could have a man like this?It was her last thought before falling asleep.
* * *
The days fell into a rhythmical pattern. Making love in the morning, then walking through the little seaside town and finding their lunch in the shops there. Eating dinner together—if they didn’t immediately fall into bed and make love again when they returned in the evenings to the cottage.
