Chapter Nineteen
‘How are you are faring?’ Sara asked. ‘We all want to know, not just Mother.’
Nora sat in the drawing room with her two sisters the following afternoon. Candace smeared cream on her scone and Sara sipped her oolong tea. Both sisters looked at her expectantly.
‘You appear tired. Are you unwell?’ Candace said.
Nora almost choked on her own tea. ‘I’m well,’ she managed to say.
If she appeared tired, it was from an evening of exquisite lovemaking.
Who would have thought her husband was that skilled?
If she’d known it would be earth-shattering, she would have knocked on their adjoining bedchamber door two weeks earlier.
‘Where is Ralston?’ Sara asked.
‘He had to leave for business.’ Before slipping from her bed early that morning, he’d kissed her lingeringly.
She’d clung to him, wanting him to stay, but knowing he had business to attend.
‘He must garner support for his bill.’ She knew he was facing an uphill battle, and it had been on his mind. His troubles disturbed her.
‘I see,’ Candace said, her eyes never leaving Nora’s face. ‘I’m concerned for you. Marriage must be horrid.’
Nora set her teacup on her saucer with a chink. ‘Candace, no. To the contrary, I have found marriage to Ralston quite…pleasant.’
Sara pressed her hand against her chest. ‘Is he that magnificent in bed?’
‘Sara!’ Candace admonished. ‘Look at the bags under her eyes. Surely, she is suffering.’
Clearly, Candace’s past had tainted her views on men. Nora reached out to take her sister’s hand in hers. ‘I assure you, Candace, Ralston is not mistreating me. We were up late last night.’
After a heartbeat, Candace blushed. ‘I see.’
‘He has upheld his promises,’ Nora said. ‘I wanted to do something in return. I visited Ani and asked her to teach me how to cook.’
Candace blinked. ‘You did? I can’t imagine you in the kitchen. You always avoided it when we visited Ani in the past.’
It was true. Her willingness to tackle a task she’d previously had no interest in must sound shocking. But Nora was glad she’d done it and was proud of her efforts. Ralston had enjoyed the food. As for what came afterwards…she was glad for that, as well.
‘You like him,’ Candace said.
‘Yes. I suppose I do.’ Her feelings had grown and blossomed. Even though she’d never wanted to marry, now that they were together, her future seemed bright.
Sara sighed. ‘I hope to find a similar match.’
The front door opened, and Ralston’s unmistakable voice sounded in the corridor. Moments later, he appeared in the drawing room.
Nora’s breath hitched. He looked stunningly virile in a navy coat of superfine buff trousers, and Hessians that hugged his calves.
‘Good day, ladies.’ He bowed and grinned.
When he turned to Nora, an intensity flared through his gaze.
A tingling sparked in the pit of her stomach, and she struggled to subdue the dizzying current racing through her.
She knew how broad his shoulders were beneath his tailored coat and how muscled his thighs were beneath his trousers.
Candace greeted him politely. Sara giggled.
‘Ladies, I dare not take much of your sisterly time. I merely wanted to say hello.’
‘Did it go well in the House?’ Nora asked.
‘It was fine,’ he said.
She immediately knew something was off. Beneath the polite veneer, there was a slight tensing of his jaw. Nora wanted to inquire further but now was not the time and place.
After he left the room, Sara surprised her by speaking first. ‘Is his lordship under stress?’
‘I agree. Something is bothering him,’ Candace said.
‘You both can tell?’ Nora was surprised at her sisters’ observation.
‘If he is treating you well and you are happy, then tell us how we can help you help him,’ Candace said.
Nora had been wondering how she could aid Ralston herself. Maybe brainstorming with her sisters was what she needed. ‘He seeks to pass a bill to limit child labor, but there is a lord with influence who is opposing him.’
‘Then you must try to dissuade the lord,’ Candace said.
Nora pursed her lips. ‘How? I don’t exactly know Lord Weber or his cronies.’
Sara sat forward on the sofa. ‘Think of Lord Weber’s circle. Is he married?’
Nora thought back. ‘Yes. Lady Weber attended my science salon. But it’s not exactly as if we are close friends.’
‘You are a countess, Nora,’ Sara said. ‘You have influence. Think of how you can use it.’
‘She’s right,’ Candace said.
Nora’s mind whirled at her sisters’ words. How could she use her influence? She wanted to help Ralston and if she could somehow use her relationship with Lady Weber to influence her husband, then why shouldn’t she?
Nora’s gaze focused on her father’s Armenian bowl in the curiosity cabinet. An image of the pretty, brown-haired Lady Weber admiring the rare piece sprang to her mind.
‘You two are right! And I have just the plan.’
It became a routine. Ralston would meet with lords outside the House, often calling at their homes, meeting at coffee houses or at White’s, or even at gambling halls.
He’d speak with them about his bill over whisky, cups of coffee or tea, or even over a gambling table, whenever and however he could.
The bill had gone through the committee stage and the looming second reading approached. He knew whatever effort he was making, Lord Weber was doing the same, most likely even more. He had the political and financial backing of London’s factory owners. Politics was dirty business.
His only pleasure was when he finally returned home.
No matter how exhausted and downtrodden he felt, Nora was a ray of sunshine.
And their nights…ah…their nights were spent making glorious love.
She was more than he had even imagined and desired.
Passionate and daring and adventurous. Any red-blooded male would be envious of him.
It was during dinner one night that she looked at him with concern. ‘You seemed worried.’
‘It’s Weber. Nothing to concern ourselves with tonight.’
‘You can talk to me,’ she assured him.
‘I know. But I also enjoy our time together. Time when I don’t have to think of my bill and whether or not it will pass.’
‘I understand. I’m happy to be able to offer an escape, even if it is a temporary one as we share a meal and…
afterwards.’ He watched heavy-lidded as she pushed her chair aside, and she walked to his side.
She sat in his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. ‘You have needs, my lord, and so do I.’
She kissed his brow, then his cheek before brushing her lips against his. Slowly and sinuously, she rubbed her breasts against him.
He groaned with pleasure. He kissed her back, his tongue plunged hungrily inside to taste her. His need had never been greater. He stood with her in his arms and carried her upstairs to his bedchamber. A maid gawked as he passed. He didn’t care. From what he could tell, Nora didn’t either.
Reaching his room, he kicked the door shut with a booted foot. ‘You will drive me to distraction.’
‘Good. Then you will not have to think of other things.’
He set her down on her feet. Making quick work of her hooks, he freed her of her gown, stays and shift until she was naked to his heated gaze.
Lust struck him in the gut, fierce and savage.
She was more impatient than he was as she helped him remove his clothes.
The buttons on his waistcoat tore off in their haste.
Again, he didn’t care. Once he was free of his clothing, he picked her up and laid her on his bed.
Green eyes flashing and lips curling in a seductive smile, she welcomed him with open arms.
He wanted to give freely to her, to show her how precious she was to him. ‘Tell me what you want.’
He watched as her breathing turned ragged.
‘Touch me. Here.’ Her fingers grazed her breast.
‘Gladly.’ He tweaked her nipple, then lowered his head to tease it between his lips.
Her green eyes darkened. ‘More.’ Her voice was husky.
He sucked the bud deep in his mouth.
‘Oh!’ She gasped and writhed beneath him. Each breathy sound, each brush of her flesh against his, escalated his own arousal. He could pleasure her forever.
He trailed hot kisses to her other breast, being sure to pay as much attention to the rosy tip. ‘Tell me.’
‘I feel it here.’ Her hand ran down her flat stomach to the triangle between her legs. ‘I ache.’
‘Ah, let me ease that ache.’ His fingers replaced hers, and her slickness made him groan.
She was wet and perfect, but he wanted to give her more, give her everything.
He drew out her orgasm, reveled in each soft gasp, the arch of her hips, the look of pure pleasure when her muscles tightened and her fingers dug into the corded muscles of his neck.
‘Tell me.’ His voice sounded hoarse with need.
Her eyes flamed green. ‘I want more. I want you.’
He wanted to hear something else from her sweet lips. ‘Call me Devon. My name is Devon.’
She raised her lids and her eyes blazed. ‘I want you, Devon.’
He lost control. To hear his Christian name from her sweet lips at that moment was his undoing.
He was hot and throbbing, his own need a fiery desire.
Rising above her, he buried himself into her warm, welcoming body.
All his restraint fled as she tightened around him and she was just as demanding of him in her passion.
‘You feel so good inside me.’ She grasped his biceps as she whispered in his ear.
He groaned again, unable to voice a coherent thought.
He needed this woman, his wife, as much as he needed water and air.
He began to thrust, and she eagerly met him, their bodies in sweet harmony.
He felt her tighten around him, her breathy gasps edging him on.
His muscles tensed, and he thrust once more, then threw back his head as his release roared through him.
He stayed within her for a time, savoring their closeness before turning to the side to hold her.