AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“A few weeks, yes. We need to be seen, here in the park, at the theater, and I’ll have to introduce you to my uncle,” he went on.
The thought of that was less than pleasant, and Eloise wondered if she could face such scrutiny. Would he ask her awkward questions?
“Oh… well, I hope I can play my part,” she uttered, and Jackson smiled.
“You’re playing it perfectly now. Do you see the shrubbery up ahead?” he asked.
Eloise looked up. She could see a mass of rhododendron bushes by the water’s edge, with paths leading into shady clearings beyond. She nodded.
“I see it, yes,” she said, and Jackson beckoned to her to follow him.
“These paths are… well known to courting couples. The sort of place one might escape a chaperone for a few moments alone. If we’re seen going in there, well, it’ll do no harm to speculation as to our intentions,” he pointed out.
Eloise was intrigued, and her heart was beating fast as she followed Jackson into the shrubbery. A carriage had just driven past them, and several curious women were staring out of it as the two of them slipped into the mass of rhododendrons. The bushes towered high above them, and the narrow paths created a maze of clearings and dead ends, which now they wandered through until they came to an open part, entirely hidden away from view.
“Goodness, what a place. I never knew of it,” Eloise marveled, and Jackson smiled.
“I’m not surprised. It’s known by courting couples, as I said. We’re well hidden in here,” he reassured her.
Eloise looked around her and smiled. The shrubs grew tall, their leaves arching over, the last of their flowers now drooping. In the distance, she could hear the sounds of boating on the serpentine – men and women calling to one another – but here, all was still and quiet.
“And what do couples do here?” she asked, curious as to the sort of place he had brought her to.
“Well, it’s the implication of it, you see. By being seen slipping in here, we’re sending a message to the ton. They’ll soon all know we’ve been together in the rhododendron shrubbery,” he responded.
“And that’s enough, is it?” She hesitated, her heart beating fast, as he took her hand in his and smiled.
“Enough to be seen and implied. But the pretense might be better if…” he trailed off as he stepped forward and slipped his arms around her, and she gazed up into his eyes with a nervous look.
What happened next was her decision. They had already crossed the line of implied scandal. Why not allow it to be real? He leaned down and kissed her lips. A shiver ran through her, and she felt him stiffen in his breeches as his grip became firmer. He pressed his lips more forcefully against hers.
“Is this what they do? The couples, I mean?” she breathed, as their lips parted.
“Some of them do.” He rested his forehead against hers.
Eloise was unsure of what to do. She had never known such a strong desire before. They were alone, hidden away, without a chaperone or prying eyes. There was nothing to prevent them both from giving in to pleasure, even as that pleasure did not come with emotions or love. Eloise had lived a sheltered life, she knew nothing of such desires, nor had she experienced them. But with Jackson, it seemed this fantasy could play itself out in any way they desired. She pressed her lips against his, desirous of pleasure she knew nothing of, but which now seized her in its hold.
“Then we must show willingness,” she whispered, as their lips parted.
“Only if you truly want to, Eloise,” he whispered in turn and Eloise nodded, with no breath to speak, as she felt the need rise inside her.
He ran his hands down the small of her back, before trailing around her hips and up the front of her bodice. He fondled her breasts, his breaths growing heavy as he kissed her once again. His breeches were bulging out, and he pulled off his belt and exposed himself right there in the shrubbery. Eloise was somewhat taken aback. This was all so new to her, and she did not know how to respond.
“It’s all right, take it in your hand,” he whispered, and Eloise tentatively ran her fingers down his length.
It stiffened even further, and Jackson shuddered, pulling her into his embrace once again. He kissed her, pulling at the sleeves of her dress and exposing her breasts. His lips trailed down her neck, and she arched her back as his tongue encircled her nipple, causing her to gasp.
“Oh… I can hardly…” she stammered, as he pressed himself further against her.
She could feel a heat building inside her. It was the most unusual sensation. She gasped as her whole body was flooded with warmth and she almost fell backwards as Jackson let out a shuddering cry. Her dress was spattered with his seed. He stepped back, grinning at her and shaking his head.
“Goodness me,” was all he could say, as he hastily buttoned up his breeches and straightened his frock coat.
Eloise pulled up the shoulders of her dress. The hem had become muddy, and she glanced down at the damp patch on her skirts, smiling shyly at him and hardly able to believe what had just transpired between them. She had been caught up in her own physical desire. She had wanted him to possess her. It was the strangest feeling, one she had never known before.
“Was that… as it should’ve been?” she asked, for she had no reference by which to compare it.
She thought about her sister. In the absence of a mother, it was surely an elder sister’s role to explain such matters. But Eloise knew nothing of such pleasures, even as she just experienced a carnal touch for the first time. But Jackson’s actions had only been honourable. He had not forced himself on her or persuaded her to do something against her will. Eloise had been only too happy to oblige, and the pleasure was a shared one.
