Chapter Ten
The drive and house were lit up the evening they arrived at the estate in York. Word had been sent to the staff to expect them. Never had Charles been so glad to put his feet on solid ground. The first thing Cathryn wanted was a long, hot bath before she did anything else.
The housekeeper led them through the house to the duchess’s suite, showing Charles the door separating his suite and his wife’s. He kissed Cathryn, telling her to come to his suite when she finished, and they would see about dinner.
Cathryn followed the older woman to the bathing chamber where a young chambermaid was preparing the bath. The maid picked up a bottle of bath salts and poured it into the water. It was vanilla and orange.
As Charles stepped into the hot, steaming water, he wondered if his wife was enjoying her bath. He certainly was. He submerged himself up to his neck and lay against the back of the tub and closed his eyes for what he thought were a few minutes.
He woke up when Frazier threw a bath cloth, hitting him on the side of the head. “How long have I been asleep?”
“Long enough for your bath water to begin cooling,” the valet replied.
Grunting, he picked the cloth out of the water, found the soap, and began scrubbing the dirt off his body.
His hair was next, and he submerged himself to wet it.
Once that was taken care of, he stepped out of the tub and took the towel Frazier passed him and began to dry his body.
He then sat through Frazier shaving his beard.
He then dressed and went to sit in the drawing room.
Dinner would be served, and Cathryn would enter at any minute.
He was looking forward to spending some private time with his bride.
If they weren’t too tired, he intended to have her stay the night with him.
The marriage needed to be consummated. Thinking about that brought a hum through his body.
Especially his cock which had a mind of its own whenever she was around, or when he thought of her.
When Cathryn entered the drawing room minutes later, she literally took his breath away. Dressed in an emerald-green silk gown, she showed poise and confidence like he hadn’t seen in her before.
Charles immediately rose and walked across the room where he took her outstretched hands and kissed the back of them. He drew her closer to him and, taking one hand, he tipped her head up and kissed her. Gently at first but demanding as they continued.
“You look exquisite,” he said when their lips parted.
“Am I overdressed?”
“Not at all. Let me see if dinner is ready.”
“Wouldn’t they come and announce that it’s ready?”
“Yes, ordinarily they would, but if we continue what we just did, there will be no dinner.”
She giggled. A sound he would never tire of. “Then you had better check because I’m quite ravenous.”
“I’ll be back momentarily.”
Finding a footman approaching him as he closed the drawing room door, the young man informed him dinner would be ready momentarily. He took that as good. Returning to the drawing room, he found Cathryn sitting in a chair near the hearth. Their eyes locked as she looked up at him as he neared.
“Dinner is served, madam,” he announced. Extending a hand, he helped her rise from her chair.
“Excellent,” she replied, placing her hand in his and letting him lead the way.
Two place settings were at the end of the long, mahogany dining room.
A crystal vase, filled with fresh flowers, greeted them midway down the table.
Charles stood and waited for Cathryn to sit before he did.
A footman poured them each a glass of red wine as the crab bisque soup was served with bread.
“This is lovely,” Cathryn said, picking up her spoon. She delicately tasted the liquid, closing her eyes as the taste invaded her senses.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had this before.”
The main course of Scottish salmon followed.
It was served with a dill sauce and asparagus spears.
Charles had asked that a nice dinner be served for their first official night in the house, but he wasn’t expecting this.
This would have taken longer prep time to gather the items. This had all the makings of Daphne or Roxanne taking charge.
He may not know them well yet, but he knew of their kindness and support.
Dessert was a marmalade cake followed by a cheese plate. The cake was fresh and moist. The variety of cheeses impressed him. There were four different types and two he’d never had. He tried them.
“I almost think I like the cheese more than the cake,” Cathryn said. “I don’t have a huge sweet tooth.”
“Both were good. Do you know what these two cheeses are? I’ve never had them before.”
Cathryn stared at the plate for a moment. “There is a Dutch gouda, and the other is an Italian, though I don’t recall what it’s called.”
He reached and grabbed a piece of gouda and popped it into his mouth. “This is quite good.”
“I thought you would like it.”
Finishing the cheese, he picked up his glass and finished his wine. “Why don’t we head upstairs?”
She nodded, not knowing the meaning behind his words. “I think that’s a splendid idea. I’m exhausted from the past few days.”
Charles leaned over in her direction. “Who said anything about sleeping? That’ll come later.”
Realizing what he meant by his remark, Cathryn’s face turned a deep shade of red. He wanted to laugh, but knew it was best if he didn’t. He didn’t want to embarrass her any more than she already was.
Pushing her chair back, Cathryn rose to her feet. She stopped at her husband’s chair where he remained seated.
“Come.”
Standing to his full height, Charles followed her out of the dining room and up the stairs.
Both were quiet, but words weren’t needed at the moment.
As they stood in front of the door to his suite, she squeezed his hand.
He reached for the door handle and pushed in.
The sitting room was warm from the fire in the hearth, the lights were dimmed, and a bottle of champagne sat in a bucket on a table along with two glasses.
He watched her as she walked around the room before choosing a dark-green couch to sit on. It was close enough to the fire to ward off any chill. “Why don’t you pour us a glass?”
“I was just about to do that,” he replied. He carefully opened the bottle, not wanting the cork to go shooting across the room. He poured them each a glass and walked to her. Handing her a glass, Charles sat down next to her.
He lifted his glass. “To us. May our marriage be strong and prosperous.”
“To us,” she replied. Taking a sip of the bubbly wine, she wrinkled her nose. “It tickles.”
“It does.”
“No regrets?” she asked him. She placed the empty glass on a table next to the couch.
“Absolutely none.”
Charles put his glass down and drew Cathryn closer, kissing her long and slow.
When he thought she was beginning to relax, he parted her lips with his tongue, and the kiss became a little more urgent.
Finally, she opened to him as they explored each other.
He tasted the champagne on her tongue. When the kiss broke, they were both panting.
Charles began kissing her neck in slow, deliberate kisses.
She moaned at his touch. His cock had never been so hard.
“Shall we move somewhere more comfortable?”
“Yes,” she replied breathlessly.
They never made it to the bedroom. Instead, he got her out of her green dress and her undergarments.
He disrobed inches from her and twice caught her looking at him.
Had she never seen a man naked before? He took her hand and placed it on his cock.
In a moment, she began to touch him, causing him to groan when she touched his balls.
Knowing he wasn’t going to last much longer, he picked her up and took her to the bedroom and deposited her in the center of the bed.
Charles covered her with his muscular body, lining his cock up with her wet passage, and began to enter slowly.
She clung to him, anticipating what was coming next.
Not saying a word, he kissed her, hoping to distract her.
He pushed hard and fast until he was seated within her.
Hearing her moan, he stiffened, afraid he might have hurt her.
“Are you okay? I promise after this time, things will be more enjoyable.” How he knew that he had no idea. He had to have heard it some place at some time.
She said nothing, still clinging to him as he began to establish a rhythm. He wasn’t going to last long, but the marriage was consummated and now they could begin to enjoy marital pleasure. At least he hoped she would enjoy it.
Close to his climax, Charles pumped harder and faster until he finally exploded, his seed filling her. He pushed one more time before remaining still, enjoying this intimate moment with her.
Waiting a few moments, he slowly withdrew from her and as he did, he kissed her deeply. Pulling her close to him, he felt her hand on his chest.
“Thank you for waiting,” she said softly.
“I didn’t want the memory of our first time together to be of some place like the inn at Gretna Green.”
“This was much more personal.”
“It was,” he replied, reaching down and pulling a blanket over them.
“I think we’re going to be just fine, Charles,” she said.
“Yes, I concur.”
The room became quiet, and he heard her breathing. She’d fallen asleep and was snoring lightly. Smiling, he knew she was content, and yes, he would tease her about snoring. He closed his eyes and continued to listen as his eyes grew heavy.
His dreams made no sense at all at first. Cathryn appeared in them. For the first time in his life he had someone permanently etched in his life. He had someone who depended on him. Never before had he had such responsibility.
At some point during the night, Cathryn turned onto her side and he instinctively laid his arm over her body and held her close and fell back asleep for a time.