Romance: REGENCY ROMANCE: A Duchess in Distress (Historical Regency Romance Duke) (Rake Duke Arranged Marriage Short Stories) (11 page)

It was a dance called The Eighth of August. Isabella was pleased because it would give her the opportunity to speak to the Duke as there were moments when partner changes were called for. She stood opposite Lord Falconbury as they bowed to each other. On her right stood Lady Victoria, and opposite her, the Duke. The dance began. As she stood in line she noticed the Duke looking at her. It didn't seem to be her masque that was attracting his attention, though.

When it was Isabella's turn she set off and met Lord Falconbury in the middle. They danced around each other and spun off to the next partner. Isabella crossed to the Duke. As she rounded him, she said, ''My Lord, that is a most beautiful waistcoat. Silver compliments your hair color so well.''

The Duke looked at her and smiled. ''I don't believe we have been introduced,'' he said, before he spun off to the next partner.

When their paths crossed again, he said,'' My children's governess helped me choose it.''

As quickly as she could before they had to part again, she said,'' Miss Isabella?''

The Duke raised an eyebrow. ''Do you know Isabella?'' He had to dance away again, but she had awoken his curiosity.

When he came back to her, she answered him. ''Yes, I know her, very well in fact. And prey my Lord, how do you find her?''

Again the Duke spun off and continued the dance around Lady Victoria. Before he could answer, the dance ended. The Duke walked to Isabella. ''She is a very agreeable young woman.''

''Agreeable?'' Isabella asked.

''My lady, I don't know who you are. As I don't know who you are, it is perhaps easier for me to speak of my torment. Miss Isabella is the most beautiful woman I know. I am in love with her. I am tortured daily that I will never be able to take her for my wife.''

Isabella was delighted and devastated at the same time. ''Why on earth could you never marry her?''

''I fear society would frown upon it. Miss Isabella is from a family that has fallen on hard times and her father is in prison. I am a Duke. I have to think of my reputation. In addition, Miss Isabella wears some very unbecoming clothes. If she dressed like you, perhaps I could find my way to ignoring society and marry her nonetheless.''

''My Lord, if I may say so, you are being foolish. You are in love with a beautiful woman. Would you let her go because of what society thinks of her? I can tell you what Miss Isabella thinks of you.''

''Yes, what does she think of me?'' he asked curiously.

Isabella didn't answer but walked away from him. She walked out of the hall and into the fresh air. She had just one hope: that the Duke would be so curious as to the answer, he would follow her.

The Duke didn't see Isabella leave the ballroom. She had woven her way between guests and he'd lost sight of her. He walked around frantically trying to find the lady in the red gown. After ten minutes Isabella had the blackest thoughts she had had since her mother had died. He hadn't followed her. He didn't really care to know what Isabella felt. Her dream was really over.

She took the path that circled the castle and began to walk the lonely route to a side door where she could slip inside unnoticed, and go to her room.

''Stop. Please stop.''  The Duke. Isabella didn't turn around. She listened to him trying to catch his breath.

''Dear Lady. Why did you run away from me?''

''I didn't run my Lord.''

''And?''

''And what, my Lord?''

''What does Isabella think of me?''

Isabella still with her back to him, turned around. She looked at him. She saw a desperation in his eyes. His hair was disheveled and there were beads of sweat on his forehead.

Slowly, she put her hand to her masque. She hesitated, but then drew in a long breath. She removed the masque.

The Duke gasped when he saw it was her.

''I want to tell you that Isabella loves you very much. More than is good for her. Her life is a daily chore of heartache and pain and will continue to be, unless you free her.''

He looked at her. A beautiful sensual woman, standing in front of him, in a red gown. The same dress he had wanted to rip from her lithe body on the dance floor.

He cleared his throat. ''Will you please relay to Miss Isabella that I love her very much. It pains me to know that she suffers at my hand and I will indeed free her from her misery forthwith. Would you please tell Miss Isabella that I will come and see her in her chamber, as soon as I am able to free myself from the drudgery of Miss Victoria.''

''Yes. my Lord, I will ask Isabella to wait for you.''

****

Isabella had the longest, most nerve racking wait of her life. More than two hours passed. She sat in the same chair and stared at the door, the whole time. Her thoughts rolled between moments of thorough ecstasy and deep depression. He had declared his love for her just moments ago, but where was he? Why was he taking so long? Had he changed his mind?

Then, there was a knock at the door.

Isabella jumped up and threw it open. She watched as he stepped towards her. ''I am sorry I have been so long. That awful woman wouldn't take no for an answer.''

''Well, my Lord, I am pleased you are here now.''

''You will have to stop calling me, my Lord.” The Duke placed his hands on Isabella’s shoulders. “Isabella, I love you and I have loved you from the minute I saw you.''

''Then why didn't you come to me? You could have saved us so much misery.''

''I was torn between two worlds. I was worried what society would think. Now I realize that was a big mistake.''

He reached for her and pulled her to him. He bent to her and kissed her passionately. Isabella almost fainted. It was what she had wanted for so long. In one movement he had taken her to another happier place.

As they kissed she could feel his desire pushing against her. His hands reached behind her and started to unfasten the buttons of her gown. One by one he snapped them open. Isabella wanted him and now she wasn't going to be shy anymore. He gasped as she felt for his bulge and found it. She felt him and found his balls, then the line of his shaft. She felt him shiver when she traced the full length of him and let her finger rest at his tip.

He put his hands inside her décolleté and pushed the gown from her shoulders, down past her thighs and onto the floor. He stroked her back with his strong hands. It made her thrust her pelvis against him.

He was insatiable now. He dropped to his knees and pulled down her underwear. Without stopping to admire her sex, he thrust his tongue between her legs and raked it over her soft lips. Isabella gasped, pulled his hair and opened her legs wider. His tongue made strong movements over the whole of her wetness, and she moaned with each movement of it. Her desire for him was so strong, it took every ounce of air out of her body and made her feel like a woman. She felt her legs beginning to shake and was grateful when he stood up and gathered her in his arms.

He put her gently down onto the bed and pulled her underwear from her. When he stared at her, she wasn't shy, she was proud of her body and the effect it was having on him. He bent down, pushed her legs apart and put his mouth to her pussy again. Again his tongue began its onslaught. He licked every inch of her folds and then latched onto her clitoris. Her belly heaved as she felt her first orgasm coming. She screamed, squeezed her legs against his head and came over his mouth. He gratefully lapped her juices while her back fell to the bed again and her breathing returned to normality.

He stood up and smiled at her as he undressed. When he took off his shirt, Isabella looked at the hard muscles on his chest and stomach. His biceps bulged as he moved his arms down to his trousers and began to open them. Isabella wasn't content to just lie and watch him. He was amazed when she sat up and pushed his hands away. She wanted to unpack and discover him herself. She hungrily opened each button, reached inside and grasped his hard shaft. He threw his head back as her delicate hand stroked his tip. Now she wanted to see him as well as feel him. Her fingers hooked into the material and pulled it down. His trousers came with her hands and she gasped as his penis sprang up in front of her face. She took hold of him and looked him in the eyes as she stroked it. When she looked at his cock again she could see droplets of his excitement glistening at her.

Keeping hold of his shaft she leaned back and pulled him down on top of her. He slid his trousers down to his ankles and kicked them of. With her hand, she guided him carefully to her vagina and urged him to enter her. When he did, he did so with one hard thrust. It made her gasp as she had never done before.

Being filled by him was all she had wanted for as long as she cared to remember. Now he was finally inside her. She held onto him as her made love to her. Each time he thrust into her, he rubbed against her clitoris and, before long, she felt another orgasm rising up in her. She put her hands onto his hard buttocks and pulled him into her. Then she began to push her pelvis to meet his shaft, as it parted her. When her orgasm came, Isabella bit into his shoulder, drawing blood. He ignored it and thrust faster. Again Isabella felt another wave rising and crashing onto her. She was a wreck now, shaking, open and used.

As he fucked her, she heard him beginning to grunt with the effort. When she wrapped her legs around him and whispered, ''I love you,'' he cried her name and came. Isabella felt his hot seed coating her insides and she was sure life could never get any better.

As they lay in each other’s arms, the Duke said,'' Wait a minute, I have something for you.'' He got out of bed, walked to his jacket and pulled out an envelope. He jumped back into bed, took her in his arms and gave it to her.

''What is it?'' she asked.

''Open it.''

Isabella had never seen three thousand pounds before.

*****

THE END

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****

Here is a FREE bonus 10000 word romance story “In Bed with a Duke” by Sarah Thorn.

In Bed with a Duke –A Regency Romance

It should have been the best day of Sophia's young life. Just three hours earlier, she had stood at the alter with David Marshall. Westminster Abbey had been full and it was supposed to have been a great occasion. However, despite the fact that David was the most handsome officer in the Coldstream Guards, Sophia didn't love him. Neither did he love her.

Their marriage was the idea of their respective fathers. Both men presided over companies of vast wealth. The Marshalls owned the largest tea plantations in the British Empire, and the Moncriefs the largest shipping company. A family liaison of that nature would cement them together and make each family richer still.

Sophia had tried her best. She had made a tremendous effort with her appearance. Tall and slender, she'd looked radiant in her wedding dress. Her blonde hair was bedecked with the finest flowers money could buy, and her jewelry made her sea blue eyes sparkle. As she'd walked down the aisle with her father, she'd reduced many of the women to tears with her beauty. When her father handed her to David, his reaction had been one of total disinterest. From that moment, Sophia's day had been ruined.

Despite a lavish reception and the well wishes of all the guests, Sophia's mood didn't lift. It wasn't until she and David were sitting in their carriage on the way to the Grosvenor Hotel that she began think of her future. David was very attractive and giving herself to him sexually would be a pleasure, but she was worried that they had been forced to marry. She didn't yet have very strong feelings for him. She comforted herself with the thought that her love for him would come in time.

In the hotel, they sat next to each other on the bed and stared into space. To Sophia, David seemed distant and cold. It was as if a ghost was sitting next to her. She wanted to change the mood. Sophia had often dreamed of her wedding night. In fact she had often dreamed of naked men taking her, teaching her erotic things. Now she wanted to do it for real.

She took the initiative and stood up. Once in the middle of the room, she looked at him and began to unfasten her wedding dress. He didn't flinch. Even when she revealed her luscious breasts, he didn't move. When Sophia was naked she stood and looked at him in expectation. Still nothing.

''David please, get up and hold me,'' she pleaded. He did as she wished. He took her in his arms but he didn't touch any place that would lead to her arousal.

Sophia had talked about sex with her married sister. She'd been a fountain of information. Sophia had listened intently, and now she was about to try something she was sure would get David's attention.

When she felt for his bulge she felt no sign of arousal at all. Surely a red blooded man, even one who is not in love, would jump at the opportunity to have sex with a beautiful woman, she thought.

She got to her knees, snapped open the buttons and pulled his penis out. When she took him into her mouth, she'd expected it to swell and begin to throb. That is what her sister had told her. But David's member just remained flaccid. Sophia sucked for many minutes, but eventually gave up. She walked to the bed and got under the covers.

''David, today we stood in front of God and our families and expressed our love for one another. I know that our marriage was an arrangement, but I do hope in time you will come to love me, as I will you. Tomorrow you will go to your regiment and then to France, please come and talk to me.''

''What do you want to talk about?''

''Our marriage and the future.''

David took off his clothes and lay down next to her. When she felt for his penis again, there was still no reaction.

The next morning David left early. Sophia had so wanted to feel her husband naked on her, penetrate her and take her to places of such an erotic nature it would make her gasp. But now she lay frustrated, and as sexually laden as it was possible for a young woman to be.

*****

Sophia and David were to live in Netherton Hall, a mansion in the countryside. It was given to them by David's father. It was Sophia's job to decorate and furnish the house, before David returned from military duties in France.

She applied herself busily and soon the house was full of workmen. Sophia spent much of her time looking at their buttocks and the bulges in their trousers. At times the men would wink at each other in the knowledge that she was sneakily looking at them. In their tea breaks they would fantasize about which one of them had the package that would satisfy her the most. Sophia wouldn't have cared, in her state she could easily have taken them all and still been left wanting more.

When the workmen had finished, it was the turn of the merchants. They arrived in a steady stream, one after the other. Sophie sat next to them and looked at curtains and matching bed linen. She had been particularly attracted to one tall merchant who was about her age. He'd spent most of the time they'd been together, looking at her breasts. She, equally interested, had spent most of their meeting looking at the erection hiding in his underwear. When he got up to leave, Sophia looked down at him and noticed how big he was. She was sorely tempted to take him to bed with her, but with great difficulty, she managed to quell her lust.

When the house was finally finished, the men stopped coming to see Sophia, and she was left with her thoughts and frustrations. Instead of men, she had to put up with her female friends.  Alice, Emily and Charlotte.

One fine afternoon, they sat in the garden and looked over the lawn to the flower border beyond. It was June and a wet spring had given way to a beautiful summer. As Sophia poured the tea, her three friends chatted about men. All of them single, and not yet engaged, they looked to Sophia for guidance. Alice was the prettiest of the three. She was a little shorter than Sophia and she had blonde hair. She wore a lovely blue dress, with high waist line and puff sleeves. Her décolleté left absolutely nothing to the imagination.

''Tell me Sophia, what is it like to lie with a man?'' Alice asked.

''Well, it's, er, interesting.''

“Interesting?'' Alice repeated. ''I had hoped it would be more than just interesting.''

''To tell the truth ladies, I don't know what it is like to lie with a man. Well, actually that is not true. I know what it is like to lie next to a man but I don't know what it is like to feel a man lie on me.''

The three ladies gasped. ''But how can that be, you are married?'' said Emily.

''Yes,'' the other two added, in unison.

''I know, and that is the very worst thing. I am married and I don't know what it is like.''

''But surely on your wedding night?'' Alice said.

''No, nothing. My husband was not interested.''

After Sophia's friends had digested this information they felt a good deal of sympathy for her.

''My dearest Sophia, what are you going to do? I mean, if your husband is not interested in you, do you really want to live without a man in the bedroom?'' Alice asked.

''No, I do not. To my friends, I make no secret of the fact that I am utterly frustrated. In fact, to the point where I have been staring at the workmen who built this magnificent house.''

''You should take a lover,'' Charlotte joked.

''That's a good idea,'' Alice remarked. ''Why not? What do you have to lose? If your husband won't make love to you on your wedding night, when on earth will he? Probably never.''

Sophia realized what Alice was saying, wasn't without truth. Indeed, if David didn't want her on their wedding night, when everything was fresh and exciting, he would in all likelihood, never want her. ''Just for arguments sake, say I wanted a lover. How would I go about it?''

The Ladies, not being at all expert in matters of this kind, looked at each other with blank looks on their faces. It was Alice who spoke first. ''A party to which you invite lots of attractive single men.''

''Yes, a party that's it,'' Charlotte gushed. Emily nodded in agreement.

''You just want a party so you can find yourselves a handsome husband,'' Sophia retorted. Each of them shook their head. ''Alright, I will organize a party. I will invite as many unattached men as is possible and take one as a lover.''

Alice now regretted her suggestion. ''Sophia you can't, not really. I said it in jest. You are married, think of the scandal if it were to become known.''

''But I want to feel a man on me. I can't stand it anymore,'' Sophia exclaimed.

The three suddenly looked away, embarrassed by Sophia's outburst.

Sophia turned to her sister for assistance in the matter. Her sister had been married for several years and was much more of an authority on love and sex than any of her friends. As they sat in the garden, where Sophia had discussed the same problem with her three friends the previous day, she listened intently to Helen.

''I think you should,'' Helen said. “If he didn't consecrate your marriage on your wedding night, of all nights, he never will. You can't go through life without the touch of a man. It is quite impossible.''

''Thank you, dear sister. Then I shall go ahead and find a lover.''

''Make sure it is someone who is discreet, and make it is clear to him that you only want a carnal relationship, nothing more. The last thing you want is your husband finding out, or your lover getting jealous and exposing you to society.''

''I'm having such terrible thoughts all the time. I look at any man I come across, and simply want to bed him, irrespective of class. I feel......''

''Deprived is the word you are looking for. Your husband has denied you the most basic of rights. You are feeling what married ladies call, 'The Urge.' That means your body needs a man. Until a man satisfies you, that feeling won't change. Women have needs, just as much as men. Just remember, make sure it's someone who can be discreet.” Helen patted Sophia on the hand. “Have you had news from your husband? Napoleon is marching on the British and Prussian forces. There will be a battle very soon.''

''No, I have heard nothing from him at all.''

*****

The Ballroom on Tavistok Square was splendid. It was large, and had six enormous chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. On the evening in question, it was filled with the guests Sophia had invited. Sophia had invited three hundred people, and almost all of them had come. There was nobody over the age of thirty five.

Most of the ladies were wearing the latest fashionable high waistline dresses. There was an enormous variety of colors on display.

''What a spectacular ball, Sophia,'' Alice said. ''You really have invited all of young society. There are some very handsome men here.''

''I am pleased you like it. You may find a future husband here if you play your cards right. The number of handsome men really is most overwhelming. The choice is bewildering.''

Alice looked at Sophia. She had known her since they were at boarding school together. Alice was quite jealous of her dress. It was white muslin and decorated with a cross pattern of roses. It had puff sleeves which showed off most of Sophia's arms and a low décolleté which enhanced her ample bust. Her hair was parted in the middle and swept up in a spectacular column of curls. Sophia's facial features were fine and delicate, her smile dainty. She looked sweet and innocent, but this evening her intentions were anything but sweet and innocent.

''Your dress is beautiful,'' Sophia complimented.

''Thank you. Like you, I love white, it is so clean and I think it shows men what they are missing. Wearing white means I am young, untouched and available.''

''Heavens, Alice, you sound as desperate as I.''

''I would very much like to meet a man. It will be this evening, I hope,'' Alice said.

''Look at them. For example, that group of men there.'' Sophia pointed to a group of five young men engaged in conversation close to them. ''They are so handsome in their evening dress. Which one would you choose, Alice?''

''I like tall men, with long slender legs and a strong upper body. I like that man there, the one with the red waist coat.''

''Yes, he is quite dashing. He is handsome. I will have him sent notice that you want to dance with him.''

''Sophia, no. That is quite indelicate. He should ask me''

''Very well, then you should at least stand close to him that he may see you. Go closer and catch his eye. Smile at him.''

''And you, dear Sophia. Have you seen anyone you would like to be your lover?''

''Sssh, not so loud. The fact I am looking for a lover should be a secret. To answer your question, yes. I have seen someone I like. But I have no idea who he is. He was certainly not on my list of invitees.''

''Where is he?'' Alice asked, most curious to find out.

''The man in the blue tailcoat next to the group we have just been talking about.''

''The man with the glass in his hand?''

''Yes, do you know him?''

''Oh Sophia, I hate to disappoint you but please do not involve yourself with that man. He is dangerous. He is one of the richest men in London, the Duke of Beaufort. He came with Charlotte's brother. He is married and a full time philanderer. If you involve yourself with him, you will find it very difficult to end the affair should you want to. He has ruined many a lady.