Chapter Eleven #2
He stretched his legs out in front of him and took another taste of brandy. Closing his eyes, he listened to the fire crackling away in front of them.
“I need to write my parents and let them know we’ve returned.”
He grunted. “They’re going to want to see you.”
“Us. They’re going to want to see us.”
“Right. I think it would be best to invite them here. If they come here, we control the narrative,” he said, opening his eyes and turning to look at her. “I wonder what they’ll think about all of it.”
“I wouldn’t even want to guess,” she said. She swirled the brandy before taking a small swallow, which led to her to finishing it off. She began to set the empty snifter on a table when Charles popped up and got the decanter. He poured her another drink, adding some to his own.
“Hopefully they’ve accepted our marriage now that they’ve had time to think about it,” he said. Swirling the liquid, he watched it intently before taking a hearty swallow.
Glancing at Cathryn, he smiled as he realized she’d fallen asleep.
She snored lightly. He reached out and took the glass away.
He finished his drink before whispering in her ear.
She was slow to respond, so Charles leaned in and kissed her on the lips, which did the trick.
In a moment, eyes blinking, she became more aware of her surroundings.
“I think we need to go to bed,” she said sleepily.
“Agreed.” He stood and helped her to her feet. They clung to each other across the room and into the bed chamber. He helped her out of her dress and undergarments before picking her up and placing her on the bed and pulling a sheet over her.
His cock was rock hard and throbbing for her.
Quickly he removed his clothes and climbed in next to her.
Mounting her, he began kissing her skin.
He suckled her breasts, nipping at her tits.
Moving farther down, he kissed her all the way down to her thighs.
His tongue began to lap up her wetness at the apex of her legs.
She opened to him when he inserted fingers into her dripping wet cunny.
Her hands held his head as she rocked back and forth to his rhythm and cried out, begging him to make love to her.
He guided his cock into her slick passage.
Establishing a rhythm, it became more and more frantic.
When he began to come, his hands went to her arse and held her at an angle as he lost control.
He could feel his body shiver before slamming into her cunny one last time.
He lay over her, on his elbows. She was flush with pleasure.
“That was nice,” she said, wrapping her hands around his neck. “It was unexpected.”
“I like spur of the moment, don’t you?”
“Hmmm, yes I do.”
He certainly did enjoy being with her so intimately. So much so, he had dreams of them together. He never had that happen before. The depth of his feelings and being in charge woke up his cock one more time.
This time he turned her over and pulled her to the foot of the bed.
He lifted her abdomen and spread her legs.
She remained quiet as she picked up what he wanted from her.
Drilling into her with precision speed, he reached around and rubbed her until she was lost in her orgasm.
He followed after her. They climbed up on the bed, where he pulled her close.
They remained that way, breathing slowing down, eyes heavy.
They both fell asleep and didn’t wake until morning.
Charles woke before she did and went to the bathing chamber where he found his valet two steps ahead of him.
Water was running from the taps; Frazier was gathering what he knew Charles would need and placing it next to the tub on a stool.
He climbed in the warm water and submerged himself, laying his head against the back of the tub.
*
He was so deep in thought, Charles never heard his sister-in-law’s light knock on the door to his study.
“Charles?”
He jerked his head around in the direction of her voice. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you enter.”
“That’s fine. Do you know where Cathryn is?”
“At breakfast she mentioned going to the music room to play so she could see how out of tune the piano is. Why?”
“Her sister and brother are downstairs waiting in the drawing room. I need to find her and tell her. They refuse to leave without talking to her.”
“I’ll get Cathryn and meet you all downstairs. Does Arthur know?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Daphne left the room as Charles went in search of his bride, which wasn’t too hard to do. She was exactly where she said she would be. At the piano. He strode across to the black instrument and let her finish what she was playing.
“Your brother and sister are here. They’re in Arthur’s drawing room.”
“They’re a little early to be calling,” she said.
“Daphne said they refuse to leave until they’ve seen you and spoken with you.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. They both think they’re far more important than they really are,” she replied.
They walked for what seemed like the longest time. The house was huge and getting from one point to another was sometimes tricky.
Cathryn just wanted this over. So much so, she refused to change for something she’d wear for morning guests. They’d come unannounced and that was a blatant no-no.
They stood outside the drawing room door for a moment. “Ready?” Charles whispered.
She nodded and the footmen opened one of the large oak doors. Inside sat her sister and brother. Arthur and Daphne sat across from them. Sam, the parrot, could be heard in the background.
Her brother studied Arthur and Daphne for a moment. “Thank you. If you don’t mind, we’d like to speak with our sister—alone,” he said, his eyes locked on Charles.
“Charles is my husband now. Whatever you need to say, you can say in front of him as well.”
Her siblings both glanced at one another. They’d thought they could come in and take over. Cathryn wasn’t having it. Once Arthur and Daphne left, she and Charles sat down across from her brother and sister.
“I expected Papa and Mother would have been here.”
“They are still quite unhappy with you. You could have had your pick for a husband. Instead, you forget everything you’ve been taught and elope.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered. They weren’t going to allow Charles and me to marry. Scandal or not.”
“No, they wouldn’t have.”
“So tell me, why did you come? To gloat and report back?”
“We’re here because there’s the matter of your dowry. Father has no intention of seeing either of you. He’s given me the papers your husband will have to sign and a bank draft for the dowry.”
“All of it?” Cathryn blurted out.
“Yes.”
He held up the stack of papers and glared at Charles. “Let’s get this over with. We need to be on our way.”
Charles pointed to a small writing desk against one of the walls. “Will that do?”
“Yes.”
Charles turned to his wife. “Arthur needs to be here. Would you mind getting him?”
“Not at all,” she replied, and left the room.
A couple of minutes passed before Cathryn and Arthur stepped into the drawing room. Arthur went straight to the desk and sat down to review the dowry agreement.
“This appears to be in order,” he said. “Since we don’t have time for an attorney to look at it, I’m going to quickly read through it.”
“Thank you, Arthur.”
“No problem.”
Ten minutes later, Arthur nodded in approval and glanced at Charles. “It appears to be in order. Go ahead and sign it. I will make a note under my signature that the document had not been read by your attorney and date it.”
“There’s no need for that,” the young man sneered.
“I’m looking out for my brother and his wife. You should care as much for your sister.”
Saying nothing, he grabbed his copy of the papers once they were signed and both of Cathryn’s siblings left the room as fast as they could without a word.
After the door shut behind them, Arthur turned to Cathryn and Charles. “Would you like me to place these in my safe?”
Charles nodded. “Please.”
“Plan on going to London with me in the morning. You need to cash or deposit that check as quickly as possible,” Charles said.
“Good idea. Should we plan on spending the night?”
Nodding, Arthur spoke up, “Yes.”
“And the ladies?” Charles asked.
“If they’d like to accompany us, they are more than welcome. I’ll see what Daphne has to say.”
Suddenly, Cathryn began for the door. “If you gentlemen will excuse me, I’m going back to what I was doing.”
As the door shut, Charles turned to his brother. “She’s upset, isn’t she?”
“Yes. Give her a little time alone and then go seek her out.”
“I’m still not good at reading people’s emotions,” Charles replied.
“It’ll come with time.”
He nodded. He knew Arthur was right in that he had no real memories to go upon.
All he had was the here and now. Every now and then a glimpse from his early childhood captured his mind.
What Cathryn was going through was something no one should have to experience.
She was bound to be hurting. It hurt him because he was partially to blame. Given some time, she would be fine.
“Charles? Where are you?” Arthur asked.
He glanced up at his brother, who was standing next to him. “I am here. Just wondering why people act the way they do.”
“If you’re talking about Cathryn’s family, don’t try and find a solution. I doubt there is one. Fortunately, she has you and together you have a future.”
“I guess I need to keep her focused on us.”
Arthur arched a brow. “Yes. You’ll be fine—both of you will be.”
Nodding, he knew his brother was right. He and Cathryn had had much going on since their marriage. Maybe now that the matter of the dowry had been taken care of, things would start falling into place.
He’d been invited to Oxford for a meeting among his peers. That was indeed special. Since he and Arthur needed to meet with their man of business, it would be a good time to let the women shop.
“A brief trip to London is in order,” Charles said to his brother.
“I’ll get it arranged. We can leave tomorrow.”
“That’s fine. Just let me know and I’ll make sure Cathryn is packed and ready to go.”