Chapter Eleven
Lost in her own thoughts, when the door to her chamber closed, she jumped. Turning quickly, she was relieved to find William coming toward her with a warm smile on his beautiful face.
“I did not mean to startle you, wife,” he said in a quiet tone.
“I was merely lost in my thoughts,” she said. She hoped he wouldn’t pry, because she didn’t want to seem like a constant worrier, but she couldn’t shake her dark thoughts, and that had never happened to her before.
“Well then let us put different thoughts in that beautiful head of yours.”
William took the brush from her hand and lifted her hair so he could brush it. She watched as he drew it to his face and inhaled.
“You smell like a fresh meadow,” he whispered. “I will never tire of this.”
His words warmed her heart. She was convinced what they had was rare and beautiful, which was what made it all the more precious to protect.
“And I shall never tire of the way you look at me.”
William cupped her face in his hands and kissed her lips with the lightest touch. Even that light joining was enough for her to want him again. The bath had done its job quite well. Where her body had been stiff and sore from their passionate night, she was now relaxed and limber once again.
Once her hair had dried, she put it into a loose braid and donned a mesh cap.
She chose one of her own woolen gowns for the day and would spend some time later finding an appropriate one for the evening.
The queen’s gifts seemed a wee bit overdone for here, but she was grateful for them just the same.
As she smoothed her skirts into place, she noticed William had become quiet as he stared out her window at the sea.
“’Tis a beautiful view, is it not?”
“Aye, I can see how it would stir the imagination.”
She liked that he could appreciate her home and all that which made her who she was. Now more than ever she was curious about his home. The story he’d told her, while false, must have stemmed from somewhere.
“Come,” he said before she could ask him anything, “we must go to the hall. Your father has promised me a tour of his lands today and I am quite interested to learn more about this area.”
She took his hand and they left the chamber to make their way to the great hall.
It remained as it was the evening before with beautiful flowers everywhere, and what had been an evening feast prior was now set for the morning meal.
Platters of breads and pastries and Connor’s famous buns were laid out on a side table so guests could choose their own preference.
She took three buns and some cheese, bread, and poured a goblet of warm mead.
Once they were all seated her mother asked, “How does my daughter fare this morn?”
“I am well, mother,” Agnes said.
“I am pleased to hear that,” her father said chiming in. “There’d be hell to pay if it were otherwise.” He then raised his goblet to William who took the words in stride.
The meal continued on with some small talk about the night before and the one to come.
Agnes understood that their presence was to be expected, but she was fast forming the opinion that she did not want to share her new husband, rather keep him all to herself.
For her parents’ sake, however, she would go along with their wishes and partake in the festivities as long as they wanted.
The norm was three days, so that was hopefully what they had in mind.
This evening would be the biggest of the feasts as it was custom the bride and groom did not stay late on their wedding night.
But the night after was something different, and William had mentioned a surprise for her as if the toy creatures were not enough.
God had been kind to her. Despite the circumstances that had brought them together, it was in her mind a perfect match. In all ways.
Once the meal was over, her father announced he would take William away for the remainder of the day. “Kiss your wife,” he said and William didn’t hesitate.
One swift kiss later and he was gone.
She turned to her mother. “Well, what are we doing today?”
“We,” she said reaching for Agnes’s hands, “are going to do what proper ladies do, which is be doted on and gossip. I want to hear all about the ladies at court and how you plan to conduct yourself now you are a countess.”
While the title was not unfamiliar to her, she had not really given much thought to what that actually meant.
She’d always been treated with the proper respect at home, but theirs was a far less formal existence than what she’d seen at court.
Save for Fin, all servants were firmly in their place with the divide clearly visible.
And that was one more thing she wondered about with William’s home. There was no indication he was a firm laird, but folks were known to put on airs in company and behave far different at home.
She and her mother passed the afternoon with their needlepoint near the hearth in the hall chatting about things of little importance.
Agnes time and again looked toward the door when she heard a noise, hoping the men had returned.
She would have liked to go with them, but after her night with William, she would not want to be on horseback all day.
The thought made her smile and squirm a little.
“Are you unwell?” her mother asked.
“I am well, mother. Why do you ask?”
“Because you have hardly said a word while I have prattled on all day and you keep looking at the door. Now you are smiling to yourself. Am I even here?”
Her mother was not really mad, rather teasing her and skirting around the questions she obviously really wanted to ask.
Agnes placed her needlework in her lap and her hands on top. “Is there anything you are particularly curious about?”
Her mother shook her head. “Nay, lass. I merely want to be sure you are well. That you—that he was gentle.”
The color of her cheeks must have turned bright crimson for the heat that now burned them. She could not talk to her mother about the rambunctious lovemaking she and her new husband shared the night before. But she was curious about a thing or two.
“Is it normal to—”
Her sentence trailed off as she tried to find the words.
“To what?”
“To like it?”
“Like what? The act?”
She wanted to bury her head beneath the rocks on the shoreline.
“Aye,” she said in a quiet voice. “And to want to do it a lot?”
Through her own pink cheeks, her mother said, “Nay, my wee lassie who is wee no more. That is a rare and beautiful thing that our lord only blesses the most fortunate of couples. Your father and I—”
Agnes put her hands up. Nay. She would not hear anything about her parents in that way. She could not bear to have that discussion in addition to the difficulty she had talking about herself.
“Mother, I do not wish to be a disrespectful daughter, but I do not want to hear about my parents’ activity. ’Tis hard enough talking about my own.”
“Very well, I will not tell you anything other than your father and I are fortunate too.”
“Mother!” Agnes said before placing her hands over her ears. She couldn’t be sure, but she was fairly certain no child wanted to think of their parents that way.
“It is of no real concern, Agnes. But if it bothers you that much, I will not say another word.” She pursed her lips together and with her thumb and forefinger turned an imaginary lock on her lips as if to seal them together forever.
Agnes knew better. Now the topic was broached, her mother would find a way to make her opinions and points known. She always did. God help her.
Not long after, the men returned. Agnes couldn’t help but laugh when her father promptly kissed her mother’s cheek. When she looked toward Agnes and wagged her brows, Agnes couldn’t hold it in any longer. She burst into gales of laughter after which her mother joined.
“What did I miss?” her father asked.
“Nothing you need to worry about,” her mother said. “Let’s say it’s an inside jest.”
That last comment sent Agnes into another fit of laughter. William merely stood by and watched. When she finally settled down, he came to her and kissed her cheek.
“I missed you,” he whispered.
She wasn’t laughing anymore when she saw the heat in his eyes. He took her hand and walked with her out of the hall. The sound of her mother’s laughter followed her.
*
William practically dragged her to their chamber. Once the door was closed firmly behind him, he reached for her. Picking her up, he placed her on the bed and lay on top of her. He kissed her hard and fast and pressed his already erect cock onto her through their clothes.
“I need you now,” he whispered as he gazed into her eyes looking for a reflection of the passion raging through him.
“Aye, William, quickly.”
He stood up by the bed, loving the way her eyes devoured him as he pulled off his tunic and leine then unbuttoned his trews. He reached for her and pulled her to standing. She looked confused as he turned her around and bent her over the bed before him.
“Do you trust me?”
“Aye,” she said without hesitation.
He lifted her skirt up to and over her waist revealing her perfect bottom.
He smoothed his hands over it and pressed his still covered cock onto her.
He then traced his fingers lightly along her inner thighs until he came to her slick heat.
She was more than ready for him, and he would show her yet another way he could pleasure her.
William slid two fingers inside her and stroked. When she moaned, he slipped in a third. She orgasmed around his fingers almost immediately and while still pulsing, he shoved his pants down, positioned his cock, and entered her.
Agnes’s body shook as he slowly entered her and withdrew only to drive himself deeper within her with each thrust. The sight of him moving in and out of her was almost her undoing. His balls tightened as he gripped her hips and quickened the pace.