quench the fire. He rolled on top of her and gently nudged her legs apart. She forgot her fears as his mouth covered hers.
As he plunged his tongue inside he raised his hips and drove forward. Somehow her body accommodated him. There was a sharp pain and she stiffened. He paused. When she relaxed he continued his thrusting. An exquisite pressure, that was almost pain, centred on the place they were conjoined. With each surge she rose to meet him. She found release as waves of ecstasy engulfed her. She cried out his name— seconds later he groaned and expelled his seed inside her.
Still intimately linked he rolled sideways taking her with him. She couldn’t speak, could scarcely breathe. How could she have been afraid of something so amazing?
“My darling, I hope I didn’t hurt you. It is always so the first time.”
“The small pain was worth it, my love. I had never imagined anything so wonderful could take place between us. I can’t understand why Mama and Aunt Laura didn’t tell me how it would be.”
He laughed and smoothed back her hair. “They did not tell you, sweetheart, because not everyone experiences what you did.”
Surprised and intrigued by his answer she tried to wriggle away from him in order to converse in a more seemly way. His arm around her hips prevented her. “Surely the process is the same for everyone?”
His answer was to kiss her. She responded willingly and forgot all about her question.
Chapter Five
When Isobel woke she was alone, the trays had vanished and she might almost have thought she’d imagined the whole thing apart from a delicious ache between her legs which told her she was no longer a girl—but a woman.
Today was her wedding day, she had never been so happy in her whole life. To be marrying the man she loved, who had shown her by his actions last night that he felt the same way, was something to celebrate.
The sound of water being poured into her bath meant she must rise immediately. Where was Mary? Her abigail was usually there with her morning chocolate long before this. Isobel leapt out of bed shocked to see the tell-tale blood stain on the sheets. She had pre-empted her wedding night, her relatives would be scandalized but she didn’t care.
Alexander had come to her because he knew how scared she was. By making love to her last night he’d demonstrated his care for her. She was the luckiest girl in England and in two short hours she would be his wife— nothing could spoil her joy in the day.
Impatiently she rang the bell that stood beside the bed. Mary could remove the evidence and keep it out of sight until tomorrow; with luck her secret would remain just that. The dressing room door opened and a strange young woman came in. She had pinched features and sharp knowing eyes.
“You rang, my lady? I’ve your bath ready; his grace said you would not be requiring breakfast this morning.”
“Where is my abigail? I don’t wish to be attended by strangers this morning.”
The woman curtsied stiffly; her lips curled but the smile did not reach her eyes. “Watkins left here first thing with the luggage. I’m now your personal maid. His grace appointed me himself to take care of you in future.”
Isobel turned away too upset to remonstrate with this supercilious intruder. Had everything they’d shared last night meant nothing? The man she thought Alexander to be would not have dismissed Mary without speaking to her first. He had sent away the only familiar face in this barracks of a building. She would be alone with a stranger and she was no longer sure of his feelings.
In frosty silence she allowed this unwanted woman to help her dress. Her joy in the day had gone. She couldn’t bear to think Mary thought this was her decision. This would mean Mary’s husband Sam, who was her personal groom, would have gone as well.
As soon as the last pin was pushed into her hair she stalked from the room and along the wide passageway. She could hear the church bells ringing. Newcomb had its own place of worship in the grounds and she was to be married there.
Her parents were waiting for her in the vast entrance hall. There was no sign of her other relatives. Their presence would have alleviated the tension, lifted her spirits just a little. “Mama, Papa, did you know Rochester has dismissed Mary? She’s gone without even the opportunity to say goodbye and after all she’s been to me these past years.”
“Isobel, we had no idea she was not to remain here. These things are no longer under our control; you must abide by your husband’s decisions in future. I’m sure you’ll soon come to appreciate the superior woman he has appointed for you.”
“I haven’t bothered to ask her name for she’s a stiff and unpleasant person. I shall insist that she is dismissed, but not today. In a week or two I’ll ask my husband to reinstate Mary and Sam as a favour to me.”
Her father scowled at her as if she had no right to criticise the man who’d given him a fortune in exchange for his daughter. “I wish to hear no more of your complaints, miss. You’re tardy and Rochester has been awaiting your appearance in the church for five minutes already.”
He offered his arm and she had no recourse but to take it. Before she had time to object she was being marched firmly down the aisle and standing beside her future husband. A wave of despair engulfed her when he turned to glance at her. This was not the Alexander who had made love to her so passionately— this was the autocratic man she’d hoped never to see again.
Somehow she mumbled through her vows, smiled bravely during the wedding breakfast but far too soon was at his side to wave her parents and relatives away. Without thinking she turned to him imploringly. “My lord, I shall miss my family sorely. May I invite them to stay later in the year?”
He shook his head. “No, not this year, my dear. Perhaps they can come when you have produced a child for them to dote on.” His arm was hard around her waist and she was firmly escorted inside. “Go upstairs and change into your habit, I thought we could ride around the estate this afternoon. I know you explored the park yesterday, but I should like to show the rest to you myself.”
“I should enjoy that above everything, I shan’t be long. Do we expect further visitors today?”
His eyes darkened and he lowered his voice so the ever present butler could not overhear. “I thought you might be tired this afternoon and wish to rest.”
His meaning was unmistakable; there would be little rest involved of that she was quite certain. Despite her sadness at his high-handed actions she could not help smiling at the thought of what was to come. His lips curved and he dropped a light kiss on her brow.
The weeks passed in much the same fashion. During the day he was distant, always aware of his position, never letting down his guard for a second. However, when he came to her room at night he was her darling Alexander, and she lived with these moments. He was assiduous in his attentions and she prayed she would not conceive immediately. If his visits stopped because of her pregnancy she would have nothing to look forward to.
Maynard, the supercilious housekeeper, appeared at noon each day with the menu but Isobel was not required to do more than read it. She had nothing to do apart from playing the pianoforte, painting water-colours of the grounds and reading her novels. Alexander usually rode out with her but during these rides she learnt little about the estate as they stayed within the park. Sometimes he was absent and she didn’t ask where he went. On the days he did not come to her at night he remained in his study drinking heavily.
When her monthly courses appeared for the third time things changed. Even his lovemaking became less passionate as if already he considered her incapable of producing the much wished for child. That this was her fault was indisputable. After all, had he not already fathered two children during his first union?
In October a group of his friends arrived for the shooting and hunting. They were mostly objectionable gentlemen and she did her best to remain aloof from them. She wrote to her aunt and uncle and heard that Petunia had accepted an offer from a young man of impeccable pedigree, deep pockets and unbounded love. Dearly she wished she could change places with her cousin as material possessions were nothing without affection.
