Chapter 23
Violet returned to the table. Alexander was graciously bidding farewell to the socially climbing Baronet, catching Violet’s eye as she made her way over to him.
“Where is Lillian?” he asked.
“She has taken her leave, under a pretense. But essentially, she was feeling that three people in company is somewhat…crowded.”
Alexander frowned, then understanding, crossed his face. “Oh, dear. I hope she was not too uncomfortable.”
“As do I. I would be mortified to think that she was feeling superfluous,” Violet said. “On another subject, I see you are having no problems mingling with polite society?”
The dining room was crowded and noisy. She pitched her voice for Alexander to hear only.
“I am working hard, Teacher,” Alexander said, lifting and draining most of a glass of wine that had been served to him.
“Moderation, pupil,” Violet said quietly.
Alexander went cross-eyed looking at the glass he still held to his lips. Then he lowered it, raising his hand to wipe his lips before remembering himself and reaching instead for the napkin.
“That is the hardest thing to remember. Growing up, food and drink had to be hoarded. I did not know when I would get more. I still have the instinct to fill my plate and consume as much as I may for the same reason.”
Violet remembered how he had piled food onto his plate at the luncheon she had hosted and then stopped himself from eating it.
He must have realized how it looked and forced himself to only pick at what he had gathered for himself.
She felt that she could weep for Alexander as a child, suffering so much hardship and deprivation.
She smiled and reached across the table for his hand.
He took hers in his. Violet knew that eyes were on them, lips whispering about the public display of affection between Lady Violet Ravendel and the Duke of Lorchester.
It would be the talk of London by nightfall and would reach the ears of her Aunt and Uncle by the next day, in all likelihood.
That will be another battle to fight. But, one I will win. I will not be warned off him again.
“I feel the sudden urge for open spaces and fresh air,” Alexander said. “Let us take advantage of that huge park out there and lose ourselves in greenery for a while.”
Violet giggled, the idea sounded simply wonderful.
“Lead the way,” she said.
They left the restaurant and retraced their steps to Hyde Park.
This time they meandered through the vast open space, avoiding company and idle conversation, seeking only each other’s company.
When they were alone, with trees all around, Violet felt the first fat raindrop strike her nose.
She looked up as several more spattered across her face.
They were walking hand in hand through the copse, the nearest people no more than doll-like figures in the distance.
Alexander put out his arms, threw back his head, and opened his mouth.
The rain began to fall more regularly, beginning to drum on the bare earth path that they walked on.
“Try it!” he urged. “It’s just rainwater. Pure and fresh. Feel it on your skin, lassie. Something natural that no man has ever touched.”
Laughing, Violet put back her head, trying not to think about the water beginning to drench her hair and her dress.
Alexander took her hands and spun her around, still with his own head back, hair flying.
Violet began to feel that they were alone in a world of their own.
The water felt cool and indeed, it did feel fresh and pure.
She felt she could bathe in it. The smell of leaves and grass was strong in her nostrils.
The downpour got harder and presently even Alexander began to find it too much.
He stopped their whirling dance and looked around.
“I will not forgive myself if my silly, little indulgence, gives you a fever. I should get you under cover.”
Violet laughed aloud. Her hair was plastered to her head and his was sleek with water. Her dress clung to her, revealing altogether too much of her body. Alexander’s shirt showed the taut muscle of his chest where it became transparent under the deluge.
“There!” he said, pointing.
Then he was off, leading Violet by the hand.
She had no choice but to run after him. At first, she couldn’t see what he was aiming for.
Then, a building appeared through the trees.
It was long and square, made of brick and tiled in terracotta.
Identical windows ran the length of the building.
Alexander reached the door, which had been removed from its hinges, leaving an empty doorway.
Beyond was a long, single room that had once been painted white.
Long ago that was. Wooden dividers carved the room up into stalls and there was straw strewn everywhere.
“This is the old barracks!” Violet exclaimed. “It was turned into a stable by the look of it.”
“Aye, I wouldn’t billet men here. Even Englishmen,” Alexander replied, stepping inside.
He shook his mane of hair and droplets of water flew everywhere. Violet squealed as some landed on her. Then she strode up to him and did the same with her own hair. Alexander shied away from the deluge, laughing.
“Let’s get away from the door, shall we? In case someone looks inside and sees us,” Violet suggested.
Alexander led her the length of the room.
At the end of the room remained a stall that had a wooden gate – most of the others did not.
He bunched together the cleanest of the straw and piled it at one end of the stall, closing the gate behind them.
Then he peered over the partition separating it from the rest of the room.
“No sign of anyone. Man nor beast,” he said.
He flung himself into the pile of hay with a contented sigh. “It’s been a very long time since I had a bed of straw to nest in,” he said.
“While I never have,” Violet said primly.
She resolved that she would not sit and certainly not lay on a bed of straw like a donkey. But sounds from outside made her duck. Voices were coming closer.
“I will not go into that smelly old stable. I would rather get wet,” said a female.
“Wet? We’ll bally drown if we don’t get indoors!” said a man.
“I don’t care. I’m not going in there!”
The voices faded into the distance, the argument raging on.
Violet was crouched beside the partition, keeping her head below its top to remain out of sight.
Then Alexander grabbed her about the waist and pulled her down onto his bed of straw.
As she sank into its earthy, dry smell, she would have screamed had Alexander not put a finger to her lips.
The bed was soft and warm. She felt herself sinking into its depths, feeling more comfortable than she had expected to feel.
She looked up at Alexander, then reached up to hook a stray lock of wet hair behind his ear.
Her fingers lingered on his chiseled face, savoring the feel of his skin.
“I surrender to you, Your Grace,” she whispered.
“Then show me.” Alexander took her hand and pressed her palm to his lips, kissing at first gently, then with increasing passion.
Pushing up the sleeve of her dress he kissed her inner wrist, lips opening and closing on her skin as though tasting her.
She undid the buttons that secured the neck of her dress, pulling it aside to reveal her pale, delicate throat.
Alexander did not refuse the invitation, he nuzzled his lips against her neck, making her writhe and squirm in pleasure.
She ran her hands through his hair, tangling her fingers through it and drawing him further down onto her.
The moment that his lips met hers was magical.
It set off a fire within Violet and she felt the same within him, from the tension of his body against her.
His embrace became urgent, holding her close and grabbing possessively for her body.
His touch roamed the length of her, exploring her back, her rump, her breasts, and her legs.
Fingers danced over her navel, deftly touching the front of her dress, pressing in just enough for her to feel his touch against her womanhood.
The layers of fabric she wore seemed no barrier against his passion, any more than his flimsy shirt and breeches seemed a barrier against her own.
With a sudden explosion of desire, she pushed at him, rolling him onto his back and practically vaulting on top of him.
Her forearms lay in the straw to either side of his head and she bestowed short but deep kisses onto his lips, cheeks, eyes, and forehead.
Then she was gasping as he easily flipped her onto her back, his body bearing down on her.
It was then that she felt the intense pressure, the masculine hardness against her, and gasped, breathless with desire and anticipation.
There was restrain in his dark eyes, and Violet knew it would be wrong to encourage him further. They ought to stop before they went too far, but there was a fire burning in her core, one that wouldn’t diminish until she felt every inch of Alexander.
Alexander’s lips roamed over her and he surprised her by moving to the side, and touching them over her neck. It was so awfully gentle, her toes curled and she bit her tongue as she waited for what he was about to do. Then she felt it. He carefully sucked on her skin, and all of her muscles froze.
“You have no idea how much I want you,” he whispered. She felt the exact same way, but it was impossible for her to voice it, not when his body hovered over hers and not when she was on the verge of another explosion of desire.
His large hands moved down to her dress and she permitted this action as she expected more of his caressing from before. But this time, he pulled her dress down in one singular movement and she gasped. Her breasts were exposed to him and he stared at them as if he was hypnotized.
He trailed his lips to her exposed nipple and he started to kiss the skin softly until his mouth sucked around the bud.
It felt so intimate to allow him to do this, every inch of her skin begged for him to continue, to whisper these beautiful things to her while he admired her in the most inappropriate of ways.
Time ceased to exist as she pushed back and forth on his lap, savoring his every touch and falling into ecstasy. Their loins were separated only by thin water-drenched clothes and she could feel his hardness pressing into her more incessantly as she took a handful of his hair in desperate pleasure.
“P-please…” she moaned as he held her tightly in place now, with his strong arms reaching around her waist, effortlessly maintaining the motion of her rubbing up against him.
Before she could let out another breath, his lips found hers, swallowing her whole, as her passion peaked to an ethereal bliss.
The desperation grew into a frenzy as her body tightened at the pleasure.
She had never dreamed possible all the feelings he was making her experience at once with his touch.