“Ignore it. It simply wants to join in on the action,” he said when Ellen jumped at his member poking her in the belly. His erection was now plainly obvious and a bit painful in his tight breeches, but he would not admit it. Gerard kissed his way down to the nape of her neck and soon dipped his head in the cleavage of her breasts. Ellen arched her back with a moan as he bit softly on the exposed skin. He gave, and she took. Her sounds were the music they danced to, and he soon used his knees to spread her legs apart.
“Gerard please—” Ellen moaned. She craved more and more of his touch. And she ached to touch him too. To give him as much pleasure as he did her. She almost wept for joy as his hand finally caressed the folds of her center in a steady rhythm. She could feel something building up within her, and she urged him to continue faster and faster until she came apart in his arms with a loud cry.
It took Gerard a moment to realize that Ellen had gone almost completely still in his arms. Her body trembled slightly, but her eyes were closed with an unreadable expression. He embraced her tightly as the final waves of her ecstasy washed over her.
“Are you all right?” he asked after a moment. Ellen buried her face in his neck in response.
Laughing silently, Gerard realized that she was shy. “There is nothing to be shy or ashamed about, Ellen. Or have I hurt you in any way?”
“No,” came the response, but Ellen said nothing more.
Gerard held her in his arms until Ellen finally mustered enough courage to look up at him. They had arrived back at Grant Manor. Gerard helped her out of the carriage, but not until he had kissed her thoroughly with a promise to see her the next day.
* * *
“Ellen!” her mother screeched early the next morning, flinging the doors to her chamber open.
“Mama, it is still too early for me to get out of bed,” Ellen groaned. She had a terrible headache, no doubt caused by her lack of sufficient sleep.
“Oh, you disobedient child,” Lady Grant replied, pulling the covers from Ellen’s body. “The Earl of Ridlington and his grandmother have invited us to Ridlington.”
Ellen’s eyes snapped open. “When did this happen, Mama?” she asked.
“Of what consequence is that? We have been invited, and so we must go. Now, get out of bed.”
Ellen dragged herself out of bed. As she had her bath, her grogginess was replaced by a gnawing sense of concern. She enjoyed being with Gerard very much, enough for her to begin to nurture feelings for him, but he had not shown any inclination of changing their earlier agreement to pretend to court her, so she could be courted by other suitors as well.
Despite her concern, Ellen was thrilled. It would be refreshing to step outside London to see Ridlington. Gerard spoke highly of the place and of its small folk, and she wanted to see if everything was as beautiful as he’d described.
A servant approached Lady Grant. “A letter for you, Your Grace.” Ellen’s mother opened the letter and immediately went pale.
“What is the matter, Mama?” Ellen asked. “Who has written to you?”
Lady Grant collapsed on the sofa. “I have just received word. Your grandfather…he is very ill. I have been summoned to attend to him before…before—”
“Oh, Mama! I am so very sorry. I shall call Andrew to write to the Earl to humbly decline his invitation.”
Lady Grant’s head snapped up. “You will do no such thing, Ellen. You and Andrew will go. Take Clarisse with you. The Earl has also invited Marjorie, so you will have someone to speak with while you are there,” her mother ordered, her earlier shock obviously forgotten. “But take care to remember that I do not approve of you spending so much time with that girl. I expect you to be on your best behavior.”
“Yes Mama,” Ellen replied.
“Good. Now I must hurry. Do not disgrace us, Ellen. Hopefully, this invitation is a prelude to a proposal,” her mother said and left the room.
Ellen was secretly pleased that her mother would not be accompanying them on the journey. As her lady’s maid helped her pick out dresses, Ellen rushed through her breakfast. Her mother would have a fit if she saw how undignifiedly Ellen was eating, but she did not care.
Clarisse had selected a silky blue gown that emphasized Ellen’s figure. “Oh, Clarisse,” she beamed. “You are the best lady’s maid anyone could ever have.”
The gown had a low-cut bodice that did not expose too much but was tempting enough to anyone who looked. Clarisse also helped her style her hair in the latest fashion, and her smile of approval when she was done told Ellen that she was finally ready to go on her journey.
As she walked downstairs, she could hear Andrew and Marjorie squabbling again. She shook her head, wondering if the two of them would ever change. The room went silent when Ellen appeared, but it was Marjorie who finally broke the silence.
“Oh, Ellen, you look positively stunning. Who needs light for the party when you are there,” she grinned. Marjorie was dressed in a simple but sophisticated rich green gown that was equally breathtaking but then, Marjorie always was, and she knew it too.
“Thank you, Marjorie! Oh, do you think I may have overdressed myself? I do not want to stand out too much.”
“Better stand too much than not make an impression at all,” replied Marjorie.
They both laughed, and Ellen turned to her brother. “Why are you so silent, Brother?”
