Epilogue #2
As the breakfast slowly came to a close, they left in pairs. Rachel and Thomas first, amid considerable noise and flowers, Rachel embracing Anna in the doorway for long enough that Thomas’s expression turned gently, if fondly, resigned.
“It is time, my love,” he said as he gently took her shoulder.
“I know,” she said as she smiled. “I just need to say goodbye to this reformed grump.”
Rachel turned to her brother and looked up at him with those clear, direct amber eyes that were very like his own. They said nothing for a moment, because there were some things that had no adequate words. They had both always known it.
Frederick reached out and straightened the edge of her veil. It was a small, loving adjustment, the gesture of a man who had been doing small protective things for her since she was an infant. He did not quite know how to stop, but knew it would come naturally.
“Thomas is a good man,” he said.
“I know,” Rachel said.
“If he is ever otherwise—”
“Frederick.” She took his hand from her veil and held it.
“I know. You have told me. Several times this week in fact.” Her eyes were so bright.
“I am going to be very happy. You are going to be very happy. And without you organizing it, which is, I suspect, exactly what we both need.” She squeezed his hand once, hard.
“Take care of Anna. Let her take care of you. Those two things are permitted to happen at the same time, in case no one has told you.”
“Rachel—”
“I love you,” she said plainly. “More than you’ve ever made it easy to say.”
He pulled her into an embrace, which was not something they did often but felt right when they did.
Thomas appeared in the doorway with Rachel’s coat and his best attempt at patience.
Frederick released his sister to her husband, and stood in the doorway of his house watching the carriage until it turned the corner and the street was quiet.
Anna appeared beside him, and slipped her hand into his, and they stood there for a moment together.
“All right?” she said.
“Yes,” he said, and was surprised to find he entirely meant it.
The staff had been given the evening. Frederick had been extremely clear about this, specific to the point of redundancy, and the house received them in intimate silence after all had left. She turned to walk upstairs to their quarters when Frederick scooped her up effortlessly into his broad arms.
“I think it is time I carried my bride upstairs. What do you think?”
“I think that is a grand idea, husband!” She laughed as she kicked her feet playfully and he ran up the stairs, as if she weighed no more than a sack of flour.
Someone thought to draw a bath.
Anna stood in the doorway of the dressing room and looked at the steam rising off the clear water, the candles arranged along the edges of the room in warm light that turned everything to amber.
Rose petals floated on the surface of the water.
She felt something in her chest ease open, realizing that this would be her life now.
“You arranged this,” she said.
“I may have given some directions,” Frederick said, behind her, pulling her tight against his body.
She turned to face him. He was looking at her with the expression she had decided was her favorite of his many expressions. It was the one where he had stopped arranging himself carefully and was simply present, simply there, wanting to be precisely where he was.
“Come in here with me,” she said. “Although I do require some assistance getting out of this gown. Someone sent all the staff home it seems.”
“A good man did that,” he said as he stood behind her and helped unfasten her gown.
He undressed her slowly, reverently, taking care of not only her but of the garments she had worn. She felt sacred, loved, and adored.
“You are exquisite,” he said as he began to undo his silk cravat. “Let’s get in there now, my love.”
The water was warm, and the candles were warm, and Frederick’s hands were warmer still. He was careful and thorough and entirely unhurried as he helped wash her with rich lavender soap. She leaned into his touch.
“Mm,” Frederick said as he rubbed her back.
She laughed, and he looked down at her, realizing what had come out of this mouth. She arched her neck back and turned back toward him, placing her lips gently on his.
“I like this,” he groaned as he kissed her deeper.
“Me too,” she said as she slipped her tongue in his mouth, then gently nibbled on his lip.
“You are a nymph.”
“I have waited long enough for this to not be shy,” she said as she turned around and straddled him in the tub. “I am ready for my wedding night, husband.”
“Not so fast, I am not rushing a second of this. You will need to wait a little longer, my brave wife.”
He cupped her full breasts, then, as he kissed her deeply, kneading them with his hands and pulling gently on her nipples with his fingers. She moaned at the contact and pushed her lower body closer to his, which was hard and ready and wanting.
“Not so fast, my sweet,” he said as he lowered a mouth to her right nipple while he continued to pinch the left. “You won’t tempt me into ending this too soon. I. Will. Savor. You.”
She ground her body against him as he continued to play with her breasts, until he pushed her off his lap slightly and set her at the opposite end of the tub. He began kissing her neck and set her arms on either side of the tub.
“Keep them there.”