Epilogue
Glenhaven Park, one month later
After the long trip home from Brighton, their coach reached Jack’s estate in the afternoon and stopped outside the mansion, the groom hastening to put the steps down and open the door.
“How lovely, and it is not so very old. The timbers won’t creak and groan in a high wind like at Gramma’s.” Prue had been admiring the trees in the park and now studied the handsome, golden stone building with a white pediment and six magnificent columns across the facade.
“Built in the eighteenth century on the foundations of the old mansion that hailed from Queen Elizabeth’s reign,” Jack said as he helped her down.
The staff had assembled on the porch to greet them. “My goodness,” Prue murmured.
They passed along the line from the new butler, Hackett, to the scullery maid, as Jack introduced her. Prudence smiled and promised to remember all their names.
“Is there anything you wish, my lord?” their new butler asked.
“No, thank you, Hackett. Her ladyship and I will rest after the journey.”
When they approached the front door, Jack swept Prudence up into his arms. As he carried her away from the whispering servants, her cheeks grew hot, and she giggled, hanging on to his coat. “Jack, put me down!”
“A bride must be carried over the threshold the first time,” he said, his arms tightening around her. “We cannot have you tripping on the step. Back in Roman times, they considered it bad luck.”
She raised her brows, laughter bubbling up at the sheer joy of being here with Jack to begin their lives together. “You are foolish. Do you think I am clumsy?”
He put her on her feet, and he led her through the great hall. “No, but no sense in taking chances.”
“Oh, you. If we were not watched by the entire staff…”
He chuckled and took her hand. “It was an excuse to take you in my arms, sweetheart.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Then I forgive you.”
“Come to your suite, where you can do what you like with me.”
Prue’s cheeks grew even hotter as they climbed the stairs, glad they were now unobserved.
Memories of their passionate honeymoon at the Old Ship Hotel in Brighton, with the perfect view of the sea through their suite’s bay window, made her blissfully happy.
They had rarely left their rooms for the first few days.
When they had ventured out, they’d walked along the seafront hand in hand and roamed the Lanes, where she’d bought Gramma a pair of black, lace gloves.
They’d dined at the best restaurants. The town had been quiet, as the Regent had not been in residence at the Royal Pavilion. And now she was home.
Jack threw open the bedchamber door, the room sweetly scented by a vase of gardenias on a table. “This is your suite, my love.”
Prue saw the dainty, French furniture, the gold-and-blue Chinese wallpaper, the swags of silk curtains at the tall windows and the wide, fourposter bed with its royal-blue silk bed hangings. She ran in and, with delight, spun around.
“I take it you approve of it, my sweet?” Jack asked, an amused gleam in his eyes.
“How could I not?” She ran back to him and hugged him.
He pulled her close, nudging her neck and pressing a kiss beneath her ear. “I’ve been thinking of this all the way from Brighton,” he said, his voice husky and low.
“You are greedy,” she teased, then she lost her breath at the demanding tug in her lower body when his lips sought hers.
“You make me so,” he said, drawing away.
“What will the servants think?”
“They are well trained.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Oh, you’ve had ladies here before?”
“Never! I’ve never loved anyone as I do you, Prue.”
“Never?” she asked, delighted.
“I’ve been thinking of this the whole journey.
” With a hand between her legs, he stroked her with exquisite slowness and slipped two fingers inside.
She cried out at the exquisite tremors making her lose all sense of herself as she clung to his coat.
When her legs trembled at the onslaught of pleasure, he backed her toward the bed.
With a soft moan, his hands on her bottom, Jack fell back with her onto the bed.
He rolled over and undid the buttons on her bodice and eased her gown and underclothes down to expose her breasts.
Cupping them, he lightly pinched her nipples, then drew first one and then the other into his mouth.
Prue cried out again with the sheer pleasure of it, her restless hands raking his hair.
Jack moved on top of her, settling between her legs. Prue held her breath as he entered her, his slow thrusts quickening. With the exquisite tension in her body seeking relief, she lost herself, raising her hips to meet each thrust as he brought them both to climax.
Jack lay beside her, his leg still resting over hers.
Prue took deep breaths as a pleasant lassitude weighed her down.
She raised herself up on an elbow and gazed down at his handsome mouth, his heavy-lidded gray eyes.
“I’d like to visit the stables before dark.
Tomorrow, can we ride over the estate? You must introduce me to your tenant farmers. ”
Jack groaned. “You are indefatigable, Prue. Wouldn’t you prefer to rest after the journey? Enjoy afternoon tea and a walk in the gardens before a leisurely dinner?”
She laughed. “I am not in my dotage. But are you tired, darling?”
He bent over her. “I’ll show you how much I’m not, my lady.”
An hour later, sated, they walked hand in hand to the stables. It was a beautiful property, although she could see areas that required improvement. “You promised I could assist you in making changes here,” she said, looking up at him.
“I believe I did.”
She huffed and lightly punched his arm. “It was a condition of our marriage vows.” Jack grinned. “Was it? I can’t recall…”
“Oh, Jack, what a teaser you are.”
“I love your passionate nature…” He nuzzled her neck. “In bed and out of it.”
With his arm around her shoulder, he hugged her to him, and they walked on. “I promise that whatever makes you happy will make me so, too.”
She glanced up and sighed at his male strength, the cleanliness and beauty of him. “I will hold you to that, darling.”
They walked into the stable courtyard.
“I wonder what that promise will cost me? Whatever it is, I will gladly pay it.”
“Oh, darling, I shall try to be an obedient wife,” she said, wrinkling her nose.
“Don’t you dare!” He laughed and kissed her cheek as the stable staff hurried out to greet them.