Surrender Your Grace (8 page)

“But I can’t go without a corset, Andrew. It’s indecent. People will think I’m a three penny upright, or worse.”

Shocked that she knew the dock worker slang for a prostitute, he paused to frown down at his young bride. “Such language Cecilia, where did a lady of your breeding hear such low class cant?”

“Excuse me? Weren’t you the one giving me a vulgarity lesson just a few short hours ago?”

“Mind your tone and guard your tongue, woman. What’s tolerable for a gentleman is not suitable for a lady. I’ll have to watch what I say if you’re going to pick up such vulgar dialect. Now be still, I won’t warn you again.” He pulled her blouse off and then began to work on the tightly laced corset. He had to also loosen her skirt to remove it. The knots in the lacings confounded him and he cursed under his breath. “Damn women’s trappings.” Bending he pulled his knife from his boot and efficiently cut the lacings before pulling the steel and linen from her torso and throwing it on the straw covered floor.

“That was one of my best corsets I’ll have you know. It was quite expensive, too.” She huffed at him under her breath.

“Stop grumbling or I’ll take you over my knee right now. Just look around wife, there are plenty of interesting implements I could use to help you regain your composure.” He watched her look around the dimly lit tack room. After staring wide-eyed at the sight of the straps, crops and long handle brushes, she instantly took on a more demure demeanor. “Smart girl; now stand still while I set your clothing to rights.”

Once he’d tied, buttoned and straightened her riding costume, he set both hands on her narrow waist. “You’re a tiny thing and don’t need that contraption at all. My hands can span your waist without it.” He demonstrated that fact as his big hands wrapped around her.

“I will be mortified if we come across a neighbor or acquaintance, husband.”

He chuckled, his earlier pique quickly evaporating. “We are riding the grounds of our estate, not the fashionable hour in Hyde Park.”

“But surely in London…”

“Cici, I would never subject you to gossip or ridicule, although I might push forward a proposal to outlaw these ridiculous garments next session in the Lords. No matter what the physicians say that can’t be at all healthful.” Pulling her close he placed a kiss upon her forehead as his hands continued to hold and caress her unbound body. One big hand rose to cup a full breast and his thumb slid over the nipple. Smiling as it peaked instantly with the caress, he was convinced. “Yes, I can definitely see the merits of ditching those manky contraptions.”

She eyed him with a quirked eyebrow, silently challenging his own use of what he called low class cant. Unable to resist she challenged, “Manky husband?”

“Point taken, I shall guard my tongue as well.” Turning, he grabbed her hand and led her back to the stable yard. “You can tell me later where you learned so much.”

The next moment she was mounted with a stable hand holding her horse's bridle. A precaution he said, in case his lordship’s stallion got out of hand. Everyone turned to watch, admiring the sheer beauty of the animal as he was led out. Standing at least sixteen hands high, his stallion dwarfed her mare. He was in high spirits and pulled against the handler. Andrew approached and taking the reins murmured something in a low voice that immediately calmed the big animal. He patted his neck firmly then mounted up without further incident.

As he came abreast of Cici, she admired him up close. “He is magnificent, My Lord. Will Daisy and I be able to keep up?”

“It's doubtful. Obsidian is a thoroughbred, but a groom is going to follow and stay with you while I exercise him in the valley. Until then he will be a gentleman. Ready?”

They had a wonderful ride. Daisy had a soft mouth and responded easily. Obsidian was as Andrew said, a gentleman. She could tell Andrew used skill and exerted enormous control over the animal as they toured the extensive grounds, walking, galloping and even getting up to a brisk canter. As they approached the valley Andrew had spoken of, he signaled the groom to move forward. When he pulled abreast Andrew informed her, “This poor fellow hasn’t had a good run in days because of all the rain. I’ll wear him out then we can continue the tour. William will stay with you. Rest or walk your mare, but stay in this general area.” He looked at the groom who nodded in silent male communication. He was handing over the safety of his wife to the groom and the expectation was clear - don’t let her out of your sight.

He then turned the black beauty and they sped across the small valley which was actually more of an open field among the rolling hills of the countryside. “Does his Lordship race him, William?”

“That he does, My Lady. He is undefeated in over twenty races. He is truly a powerful and majestic animal. Only his lordship and Old Robbie can handle him.”

“I think Daisy would prefer to walk, William.” As she moved her mare forward, William kept pace. While chatting with the young groom she found out his family had served the estate for over a century. He was a pleasant young man who spoke glowingly about his home, family and his responsibilities to the Manor and his lordship. The respect for her husband rang clearly in his voice.

He had just started to chat about his young bride-to-be when Andrew came galloping back about thirty minutes later. His horse was winded and sweating, but not overly so. Andrew slowed him to a walk and signaled them to follow as he led them to a nearby lake. He dismounted and led his stallion to the water, only allowing the animal to drink when it was sufficiently cool. Once Obsidian had drunk his fill, he tied him to a nearby tree and returned to lift Cici down from her saddle. “You may head back, William. I’m certain Obsidian will be well behaved since I’ve let him run. Tell Cook we will be on time for the midday meal.”

“Yes, My Lord,” he answered then nodded to his mistress before heading back toward the stables.

“I thought you might like to stretch your legs since it's been a while since you rode.” He had seen a slight grimace as he pulled her from her saddle. “Are you too sore to continue?”

Blushing furiously she chided, “You say the most outrageous things. I am in a constant state of embarrassment.” She opened her fan and began to work it in front of her face rapidly.

“That wasn’t an answer. If you are too sore, I’ll take you up with me and we can head back and get you in a nice warm bath.”

“There’s no need, although a ride with you on Obsidian sounds very appealing. I’m a little tender, but am fine to continue the tour. Everything I’ve seen about your home is splendid.”

“It’s our home now, sweetheart.”

She beamed up at him as if she had just realized that fact. As they approached the water, she spotted a punt tied to a small dock that reached about ten feet into the water. “Oh, you have a boat; can we take it out tomorrow? And the dock, it looks like a perfect fishing spot. Can we fish? I haven’t done so since I was a girl. Andrew, the estate is like a dream.”

She practically bounced in her excitement like an eager young girl on her first outing. “We may do whatever you wish. This is our time, our honeymoon if you will. I spent the past few days after the wedding tying up loose ends just so we could spend this time together. I am at your command.” He said this with a courtly bow and a twinkle in his eye.

Reaching out to touch his cheek she whispered earnestly, “I am so very happy here Andrew. Let’s never go back to town.”

Laughing, he led her to a clearing where a stone bench had been placed. It was a tempting spot for folks to sit and enjoy the small lake while watching the swans, ducks and other wildlife as well as the beautiful scenery. Sitting beside her he held her hand as he looked at her. She was beautiful as always, but in this setting with nature around her and the gleam of excitement in her eyes, she looked even more stunning. The green of the surrounding foliage and the dark green of her riding habit enhanced the deeper color of her eyes. The sunlight filtering through the trees made the golden highlights in her auburn hair glimmer and shine. And her cheeks had taken on a faint rosy hue from the sunshine. He stroked her cheek with his free hand hating to disappoint her.

“I’d love to hide away from the world, just you and I. But unfortunately that is not practical. We both have family and friends in town and there is my seat in the Lords. If you want to stay here I will only be able to come back at the weeks end occasionally. The Kippford and Brighton properties are both out of the question. They are just too far away for routine visits. When we return to London, we will stay until the end of the season. So we have plenty of time before making any decisions.”

She frowned. She didn’t want to be like so many other couples living separate lives. The custom for the men to attend to business and pleasure in town while the women languished in the country raising the children, just didn’t sit right with her. How would she ever get to really know Andrew if she only saw him on occasional visits between seasons? The whole idea seemed old-fashioned and foolish to her and she didn’t like it at all.

“I can tell those options don’t hold much appeal. Would you dislike living in town so much then?”

“No, but you didn’t say that was an option. I’d love to stay in town with you.” Cici’s thoughts about men’s business and pleasure brought up a concern that she had been trying to ignore. But she needed to know the answer. “May I ask a very intimate question, Andrew?”

“Of course, as I said last night, there is nothing that can’t be shared between a husband and wife.”

She nodded and nervously brushed at some grass that clung to her skirt. “I was wondering, well… do you, uh-?”

“Go ahead and ask, Cici. I won’t bite.”

Nodding again he watched her take a deep breath. “Do you have a convenient?”

Andrews was surprised at her question. It was unheard-of for well-bred ladies to ask about their husband’s dalliances. But he had said she could ask anything. Careful what you offer old man, he thought. “The answer is no. I don’t currently have a mistress. When I decided to pursue your sister, I broke off with her.”

Cici looked away, sorry she had asked. It hurt to think of him with another woman. But he was a 28-year old man. She knew he wouldn’t have been a monk before marrying. In town, the aristocratic men ran through the subculture of the demimonde easily while their wives were oblivious, or at least acted like they were.

“Let me explain something. My father was a notorious rake before he married my mother. Once he settled down he never looked at another woman. His friends and other male relatives were not so inclined. They kept mistresses in town or visited the brothels thinking they were discrete, but their wives knew. My mother’s sister, Madeleine was so devastated by her husband’s infidelities that she left him and moved in with us. He tried to win her back, but the betrayal was too deep. She was crushed, fell into a deep melancholia and eventually died of a broken heart. Uncle Edward still mourns her. To my knowledge he hasn’t kept another mistress since her death. He is a shell of a man, guilt-ridden and alone. He fell into a trap like many other powerful men, thinking they could do anything, be anything, but without consequences. “

“What a horrid story.”

“Yes, I tell you this because I don’t want that for my marriage. I don’t want to have to sneak around behind your back with a kept lover. I want what my parents had. Theirs was a love match however.” He grasped both of her hands tightly when he saw her flinch at those words. “That doesn’t mean we can’t have the same, Cici. It just means we will need to work harder at it. Believe me when I say there is a special spark between us, both inside and out of the bedchamber. I am optimistic for a very happy marriage between us.”

“I am optimistic too, Andrew. And I don’t want for us to live apart.”

“That is fortunate, because I have no intention of taking another mistress. I have a charming, beautiful woman in my bed to see to my needs, so I have no reason to look elsewhere for affection.

“A lady in the ballroom…” she began, but stopped abruptly before finishing the adage some of her friends had taken to heart in their own marriages.

“… And a harlot in the bedroom?” He chuckled at her chagrin. “You are not quite as naïve as you let on, are you? However the context of the original quote has changed quite a bit as it's made the rounds through the clubs and gossip circles. It is actually from a Yank’s anti-suffrage sermon some years back declaring a woman’s place is in the home. It’s not nearly as sensational as you and your friends thought, I’m sure.” He laughed and pulled her close in an affectionate hug as she blushed prettily.

“You are very well-read, Andrew. Sometimes I feel like such a ninny around you.”

“Nonsense, you undoubtedly spent your time reading gothic thrillers and penny dreadfuls, while I was immersed in philosophy, literature and law books which are full of history.” He was teasing her but she took mild offense.

“Papa educated me in the classics, I’ll have you know. I just can’t spout off quotes as quickly as you can, husband. ”

“I was but teasing, sweetheart.”

“Well then… I may not be worldly or well-travelled, and I am certainly not as old as you are, but I am also well read. I have even read “Arabian Nights.” ”

“And where would a young girl have gotten a copy of that? It is quite erotic in nature as I remember.”

“I hate to say and condemn your sister, dearest husband, but I believe she got it from your library.”

He burst out laughing, as he imagined his wife and sister titillated by some of the racy tales. “Leave it to Maggie to corrupt my wife, before I even had the chance to meet her.” Closing his eyes he shook his head in dismay when he thought of all the trouble the two could get into together. He opened his eyes to see Cici imitate his wink and give him a saucy grin.

Unable to keep from smiling in return, he wondered aloud, “How did we get on this unsuitable topic? Ah yes, we were discussing your inappropriate quote about ladies and harlots, ballrooms and bedrooms.”