CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Emma had been so busy planning the wedding that she’d given little thought to what would happen afterward, other than Audsley had said they wouldn’t be taking their wedding trip right away because he wasn’t certain travel was wise in her condition. Emma had a feeling there was a great deal of coddling in her future.
Emma hadn’t thought to ask where they’d spend their first night as a married couple. She assumed it would be at the abbey, though that felt a bit odd, seeing as how all their friends were still in residence.
So, it was with no small amount of delight that once Audsley had quietly suggested they take their leave of their guests, they found themselves once again walking through his estate.
She realized with a start that this was her home now, too.
They hadn’t had much time to talk that day, given they’d been surrounded by friends. Emma had enjoyed being with everyone, especially since she didn’t know when they would all be together again. Arabella would soon be immersed in her baby and family, and the others also had their own lives to live. Emma was fairly confident none of them would go too long without visiting, but it was the end of one chapter of her life. The man beside her was the beginning of the next. “We’re not going to spend the night in the maze, are we?” she asked. “I’m certain it would be a romantical way to spend a few hours, but I’m not certain I’d like to wake up to insects crawling about.”
“I shall keep that in mind in case I ever plan a night under the stars.”
“I’m quite certain that if you ever planned a night under the stars, Audsley, you would arrange it so the insects would feast elsewhere. The cottage!”
They had come to a small cottage on the estate, slightly larger than Jasmine Cottage, but in considerably better shape. It was a two-story stone house where Carter had stayed when he’d been working on his book.
“Grace and Carter fell in love in this cottage,” said Emma.
“I thought it would bring us luck,” he said with some uncertainty, as if he weren’t sure she would approve. He was looking away, but when he did meet her eyes, she couldn’t believe the heat in them. He opened the door before sweeping her into his arms. “Shall we?”
Emma couldn’t speak, having seen his vulnerability. By the time she’d nodded, they were already inside. The sitting room was comfortable, with two club chairs and a settee arranged near the fireplace, which was lit. There was champagne, along with two glasses and a basket of food.
“I had food delivered for tonight, then someone will be by tomorrow morning to bring more if we don’t make it to the house in time for breakfast with the guests. I wasn’t sure what your preference would be, so I planned for either contingency.”
“That was very practical of you,” said Emma, as Audsley put her on her feet, but kept his arm around her. “You prepared much more than I. I even forgot to pack a bag.”
“Grace did it for you and I had it brought here. We’ll need to move your things to the abbey soon, but in the meantime, I can send a servant for anything you might need.”
“I’m not certain I could bear the embarrassment of a maid going through my undergarments.”
He pulled her closer. “What if I went through your undergarments?”
“I’m not certain why you would want to,” she said with a sigh, as he began kissing her neck. “My bureau drawer isn’t that exciting.”
“I meant I’d like to go through your undergarments while you are wearing them.”
Well, that was something else altogether. Emma never would have guessed that Audsley had this romantic, wicked side to him. And she was delighted with the discovery. “I guess that depends on if I will get reciprocal privileges.”
“Oh, Emma,” he breathed against her neck as he nimbly began to undress her.
He grew frustrated and was about to rip the dress when she said, “You cannot destroy this! Grace brought it back from her wedding trip and I mean to return it to her in excellent condition.”
“Then you’d better help me get you out of it. I should also warn you that once you get the wardrobe I pay for, ripping of clothing may occur. Its cost will be of no consequence.”
“Thank you for the warning, though I believe years of constrained finances have made me much too practical to be that wasteful.” Though she wondered if she might, perhaps, wear one of her oldest gowns to see if he would rip that one. She’d like to experience the sensation at least once.
Audsley took a step back from her and held her hand. “Emma, you will never have to do without again. It is both my duty and honor to provide for you and for our baby.” The reverent way he put his hand on her stomach brought tears to her eyes. “I know we’ve begun our marriage in a manner you might not have wished, but I intend to ensure you never regret what we did today.”
Emma had to wipe her eyes to prevent the tears from falling. “You mean what we did in church or what we’re about to do now?”
He drew breath to explain, then he saw her smile. “That was a jest.”
“It was, Audsley. I do not regret getting married, I do not regret what we did in the maze and I’m quite certain I’m not going to regret what we’re about to do tonight. I look forward to our future,” she said, kissing him.
That was all it took for him to pick her up and carry her to the largest bedroom upstairs, where he made short work of finally stripping her bare and she toiled just as feverishly to do the same to him.
Finally, the two of them were standing near each other, completely naked. Audsley drank her in even as he reached for her hand. She moved toward the bed, but he held her back. “Emma, I know we declared our commitment to each other in front of God and our friends. But I would like to tell you here, just like this, that I pledge to keep you safe and make you happy. I will do whatever is in my power to ensure you never regret this.”
She sighed shakily. “You pick the strangest times to make me cry, Audsley.”
“I did not mean…”
“I know you didn’t,” she said, putting her hand on his cheek. “And I pledge to you to do whatever I can to protect you and make you happy. You may have noticed I didn’t promise to be obedient.”
“It did not escape my notice,” he said with the glimmer of a smile.
“Good, because I don’t think you’d be happy with an obedient wife. You need someone who will challenge you enough to break out of the world you’ve lived in your whole life. Now, I can see the alarm growing – you have very expressive eyes. I don’t mean to upend everything, but I want you to enjoy yourself a bit more and toward that end, I believe we should get in this bed right now where you can proceed to teach me things I do not know. For I have a feeling there are many ways to enjoy ourselves other than the ones we have already done, though believe me when I say those were quite wonderful. Will you do that, Audsley? Will you let me lead you out of your known world as you do the same to me?”
He nodded, then took her to their bed.
“Is there anything in particular you’d like to learn tonight?” he asked, as he lay on top of her, nuzzling her neck, as his hands touched every part of her.
“Is there something in particular you would like me to do?”
He stilled above her, then relaxed just a bit. “There are numerous things I’d like you to do. Perhaps, for now, we can start with this.” He rolled them over, then positioned her so she was straddling him. He immediately reached up to cup her breasts with his hands. “I like this view.”
Emma could feel herself blushing, even as she looked down at him, so strong and handsome. “I thought you were supposed to be teaching me.”
“Forgive me for quite literally lying down on the job.” He lifted her a bit, then positioned her so she slid down upon him.
It was an exquisite feeling to take him in, inch by inch. She was impossibly full of him by the time she was fully seated, yet she wanted more. She also realized she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to move. She must have looked her confusion, because he put his strong but gentle hands on her hips and guided her.
It was an awkward position at first, but as she developed a rhythm, it felt powerful to be on top of him. He was staring at her with an intensity which excited her as much as what she was doing. Then he pulled her down to suckle one of her breasts. She cried out at the intense sensation, which made him buck upward. From there, she moved faster and faster as the intensity grew between them. Finally, he tensed beneath her, which brought on her own release.
She collapsed upon him, breathing heavily.
“Emma,” came the rumble of his voice beneath her.
She pulled back to look at him. Would this be the moment he told her he loved her?
“Emma,” he said again, rubbing her arms. “Thank you.”
She nodded, then dropped back down on him to hide the disappointment she knew would show in her face. It was the only thing marring such a wonderful day.