One True Love (30 page)

He fell on top of her, then voiced a concern that crept into his mind. "I am not hurting you, am I? The baby, I mean."

She laughed. "No. The baby is fine."

"I hope she has your hair and eyes." He pulled out of her and reached to kiss a tempting nipple.

"I hope
he
has
your
hair and eyes," she said.

"I am such a fool. I know without a doubt this child is mine. I let my envy get the best of me. How will I ever make it up to you?"

"I can think of a few ideas," she said she kissed him sweetly on the cheek.

They laughed and wrapped their arms around each other, embracing and savoring the moment.
This is how it should be.

"But first, I am hungry," she declared.

"I thought I was the only food you needed." He kissed her again to remind her of the feast he offered.

"Yes, well, I might have spoken too soon. The baby needs to eat too, you know."

William kissed his wife's pert little nose, then her mouth, and breast, and stomach before finally getting up and pulling on his breeches. "I shall endeavor to see what I can forage from the kitchens."

"You are my knight in shining armor," she sighed.

He kissed her again before he wrangled into his shirt and padded on bare feet out the door, and down the corridor to the stairs. He made his way through the dark house until he came to the cook's pantry. There he gathered an assortment of ham and biscuits, and fruit and cakes onto a tray. Suddenly hungry himself, he piled the plates high with more food than either could probably eat.

He grabbed two goblets and a bottle of wine. This was how he imagined his life: a home of his own with his wife upstairs in his bed, and his child on the way.

As he made his way back upstairs to the woman he loved, to his future, he believed he almost had everything. Perhaps one day she would come to love him. She desired him, of that, he was sure, but for her to give herself completely, it would mean giving her heart as well.

He debated as to whether or not he should confess his feelings, but by the time he reached the door to his bedchamber, he decided against it. If she rejected his heart, he could never survive it. Better to keep it locked away, and to accept whatever his wife could give.

***

Cassie awoke the next morning and found her husband snoring beside her. She covered her mouth with her hand to keep the laughter at bay. He was so masculine, but in his sleep, he reminded her of an adorable little boy. Cassie touched her stomach with her hand and thought of the child growing inside of her.

She imagined a little boy with thick dark hair and chocolate eyes like his father. Warmed all over from their night of lovemaking, and her imagination, she studied the man beside her. She wanted to reach over and kiss the lean planes of his face and the hard line of his jaw, then move to the smooth full lips of his mouth. The very mouth that spent the night torturing her body with pleasure.

Moisture pooled in her heat, and she had to squeeze her thighs to contain the sensation.
Oh dear.
Just a couple of months ago, she never would have imagined such things. Her naivety struck a chord in her as she wondered what else she did not know or understand. Cassie had the distinct feeling there was more.

William moved and the covers slipped revealing the tops of his legs. His hard cock thrust upward. She jumped back in surprise. The man was sound asleep, yet as hard as a rock, just as he was before coming into her. She now knew what he looked like when he deflated, and fought the giggles that rose at the sight of him in such a shocking state while asleep.

She studied his manhood and wondered if she could get him inside of her by climbing on top of him. The very idea made her wiggle her sensitive spot across the sheets. She contemplated it, and tried to decide if the position would work. On a wild impulse she climbed above him, then sank her warm depths over his shaft.

William's eyes snapped open and a lustful smile greeted her. "Well, good morning."

"Good morning to you, my lord." She moved her body up and down as blissful sensations rolled through her. He groaned and she watched him as he closed his eyes, then gritted his teeth as if he were in pain.

She reveled in her own power as she threw back her head and rode him. Their thrusts met and her bottom slammed against him. She held her breasts and pinched her nipples the way he taught her the night before. Overcome with her own release, she battled upward then broke apart and shuddered until her breasts met his chest. He thrust inside of her once more to release his seed.

Cassie lay across him, with his body still inside of hers. She fought to gain her breath, and she decided she liked the wonders of the marriage bed.

"I do not believe I have ever experienced such a pleasurable morning. You can wake me like that every day of my life and I would never tire of it."

"Truly?" she asked as she climbed off and sank down beside him.

"Truly."

They lay together in the quiet of the morning, as the sun rose and lit the room in the dawning light. He pulled the covers over them and held her, and she fell into a half sleep, content like a kitten rolled into a ball by the hearth.

A knock at the door broke through Cassie's consciousness. Embarrassed at being caught naked in William's bed, she yanked the covers over her head. They were married, but the knowledge of what they had done made her want to hide under the covers.

"Stay here." William got out of the bed and put his breeches on before cracking open the door.

She heard the housekeeper speak. "I am sorry to bother you, my lord, but there is footman from Camberley House downstairs who insists he must see you in person. He says it is a family emergency."

Cassie sat up in bed, and held the covers over her naked body as a sense of dread slithered down her spine.

Chapter Seventeen

A rumble of thunder echoed in the distance. The wind picked up during the morning, and the sky darkened as ominous clouds moved over the estate. The weather change from bright to dark over the past hour, and Cassie tried desperately to shake the bad feeling that twisted inside her stomach.

As soon as William heard the housekeeper's message, he dressed and ran downstairs to hear what the footman had to say. When he returned it was only long enough to hand her a missive. kiss her, and run out the door to get on his horse.

She read the message several times, but something seemed amiss.

Return to Camberley House immediately. Mary is hurt.

The message came unsigned, and William mentioned the footman must be a new hire, for he never saw him before. She asked him to wait, to allow her to dress so she could go with him, but he did not want to lose any time. The fear in his eyes and panic in his voice unsettled her.

Mary was William's twin, and she knew, and understood, that nothing in the world could keep him from riding as fast as he could to be at his sister's side. She would do the same if the message brought news to her of Jocelyn.

"Excuse me, my lady, but I thought you might like some luncheon. I brought you a tray." Cassie did not hear the housekeeper enter, but was grateful for the consideration. Worry caused her to forget about food, but once she saw the sandwiches and fruit laid out before her, her stomach rumbled.

The crack of thunder startled her. Her hand jolted and splashed the liquid onto the new carpet as she poured a cup of tea. She cursed her clumsiness then went over to the bell pull.

A young maid entered the room. "You rang, my lady?"

"Yes, I am afraid I have made a small mess."

"I will take care of it right away." She curtsied and left the room.

Cassie nibbled on a cucumber sandwich and sipped her tea. She feared for Mary, but also for William, who was riding on horseback in this weather. Her imagination ran wild, too wild, and it left her anxious and worried.

What if William's horse caught his foot in a pothole in the road? What if he caught lung fever after riding in the wet weather? What if Mary was badly injured?

Guilt gripped Cassie. Her relationship with Mary was strained at best. There was a wall between Mary and herself, and no matter how hard she tried, her sister-in-law gave her little wiggle room. Mary did not trust her.

For that matter, Cassie never understood why her husband did not trust her. She never did anything improper since she married William. She thought of the night Winnington attempted to have his way with her. She did not encourage or want his advances. Her former betrothed's behavior shocked and frightened her.

Half an hour later the clouds burst and the rain came down in a glass sheet. It pounded the roof, and turned the silence to a deafening roar. So loud was the rain, she did not hear the knock on the drawing room door, or notice the door creak open until the housekeeper stood before her.

"My lady, you have a visitor." The housekeeper wrung her hands.

A knot in Cassie's stomach tightened. "In this weather? Who is it, Margie?"

"Lord Winnington."

Oh dear God.
She instructed Margie to send him away, but manners he pushed past the housekeeper. He had the uncanny ability to show up at the most crucial moments.

Margie curtsied and left. She did not like his sudden appearance. The timeliness of Lord Winnington's arrival was odd. How did he know she was at Rosehill Manor?

Cassie remembered the unsigned missive, but it was brought to William by a footman from Camberley House. Or was it? William had not recognized the man, but the man claimed to be newly hired. Surely, she was allowing her vivid imagination to run away with her.

She took a deep breath and prepared herself for the unwelcome confrontation with Lord Winnington. A small part of her sunk into sadness. She had once dreamed of a life with this man, and now, she must to turn him away forever. She fought off the rising guilt and stiffened her spine. Mr. Parker, now Lord Winnington, was a girlhood dream. She loved William, her husband. She would put Winnington firmly in the past where he belonged.

Cassie did not stand when he entered the room, but instead, sat and gaped at his clothes. At one time she thought his taste in clothing adorable, but now he appeared silly, dressed in bright yellow breeches and an orange jacket. The colors clashed and blinded her senses. Lord Winnington looked positively ridiculous.

"I am glad you are pleased to see me, my darling." Winnington bowed in front her as if she were the Queen of England.

She schooled her features, then stood and lifted her chin. "I cannot imagine why you would think I am glad to see you, Lord Winnington."

"You are angry with me. I understand. I got carried away and took liberties. I apologize, darling."

"Do not call me
darling
." Thunder rumbled and lighting cracked at the end of her command.

"My, my, you are quite snarly today. No matter. All will be well soon." Winnington sat down in the chair across from her and crossed his legs.

Cassie's discomfiture wore on her like itchy fabric. She did not know what to make of him.

"Why are you here?" she asked.

His pearly white teeth set against a handsome face with blue eyes. For a moment, Cassie almost lost her resolve. He captured her attention with his handsome smile. The memory of their first encounter flooded her mind. At one time she thought him the most handsome man in England, but in truth, he compared poorly to William. She supposed she would always carry a small tendre for Lord Winnington since he was her first girlhood love
.

Cassie understood the difference between girlish dreams and those first fluttering feelings of romance. There was a powerful, all-consuming love which blossomed in her heart when she thought of her husband. The bold line she crossed caused her to never turn back. It was time to convince her former betrothed things were over between them.

"Do not worry, Cassie. I have worked everything out. It is a great sacrifice on my part, but truly, the end result is all that matters."