One Year Later

The Fifett Home

“I never thought I’d see the day,” Margaret said as she gazed at the gilded invitation to Stephen’s wedding. “He’s been so cavalier about courting ladies that I believed he was going to be a bachelor for the rest of his life.”

Reaching out to rest a hand on her knee, Duncan added, “Do you know this lady?”

“I have met her once or twice,” Margaret replied as the carriage came to the house’s drive. “Lady Honora Branwell, a lovely genteel lady with the kindest heart you would ever know, but she does not stand foolishness. If anyone could handle Stephen’s caballero attitude, it would be her.”

“Ah,” Duncan nodded. “I suppose this puts an end to his so-called lothario ways?”

“If it does not, Sarah, Honora and I will clobber him, but I am sure he will heed his vows. Stephen may be playful, but when he makes an oath, he keeps to it. He promised to look out for me and he kept it.”

“I’ve proven it,” Duncan replied as the carriage slowed to a stop. “If he had not come to disprove those wicked rumours Laura had sewed into my heart, I would have lost the best thing I could ever have had.”

Touching his face, Margaret teased, “Are you positively sure you’re not a poet?”

Instead of replying, he captured her forefinger into his mouth and sucked; a surge of desire flooded her veins even while they had romped in the bed all last night and that morning.

“I’m sure, sweetheart,” he said while exiting the vehicle, and helped her down.

Smoothing her soft yellow dress, Margaret checked her chignon with a gentle tap. Duncan, utterly dapper in his dark suit and burnt gold waistcoat, took her arm and led them up the marble steps and into the house.

The late summer weather was perfect for the couple’s wedding in the solarium. Margaret had wondered why Stephen had not pulled for a traditional church wedding, but then again, she had not done so, either. She remembered the tight ball of anticipation that had rested in her chest the day Duncan had made all the arrangements for the wedding.

If I had to wait three weeks for that day, I would’ve become a candidate for bedlam.

Handing their invitation to the butler, they mounted the stairs to the room where a modest gathering of twelve were waiting for the ceremony. Margaret went to greet Lady Fifett, a woman who was like a second mother to her.

“Hullo, dear,” the matron smiled. “I am so glad you could be here.”

After embracing her, Margaret said, “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. “He saved my marriage. I owe him more than he could ever imagine.”

“I know, dear,” the older lady replied. “Please enjoy yourself.”

Looking around, Margaret realized someone was missing. “Where is Sarah?”

“I—” The lady glanced around, a mystified look on her face. “That’s odd. I don’t know.”

“She’s probably in her rooms,” Margaret said. “Don’t worry, I will find her.”

With a smile, Margaret went to whisper a word to Duncan, and then headed to Sarah’s room. As she had predicted, she found her bosom friend there, seated and gazing on a letter in her hand.

“Sarah,” she asked while nearing. “Are you all right?”

Looking up, Sarah smiled, but it was dimmed. “Mostly, yes. I wanted Ambrose to join us, but he had to go to Dover this day.”

Taking the opposite seat, Margaret held her friend’s hand, a hand that sported a plain engagement ring. “It’s all right. He still loves you.”

“I know that, I just wish he was here by my side.” Sarah stood and smoothed her dress. “It’s fine. I see him next week. We have a wedding to attend.”

They left for the solarium to see Stephen standing with Duncan at the front of the room. The two had become fast friends and Stephen had asked Duncan to be his groomsman and witness. With a smile, Margaret watched as Duncan clapped Stephen on his arms and went to stand to the side of the minister.

Reaching over, Margaret held Sarah’s hand as the violinist struck up a lovely tune and a blue-clad bride walked down the aisle.

Smiling, Margaret followed and felt happy at the sight of Stephen’s face: a mix of nervousness, hope and happiness as he uttered his, “I do.”

The emotion when Duncan’s said, I do, had said more to me than his pledge had. In that moment, I had known my life would be one of bliss.

When Honora said the words, Margaret felt those simple sounds leaving her lips. She felt the joy that came with knowing how much better life could be when one was wed to their love.

“Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?” the minister asked.

Margaret chimed in, “We will.”

“I pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder,” the priest said.

Clapping, the guests stood and greeted the two before they rejoined to the hall for the breakfast dinner. After Duncan had signed the register, they went to join the rest, but took their time in doing so.

“I remember ours as if it were yesterday,” Margaret said as they meandered down the hall. “I didn’t even get to taste the cake because you whisked us off to your home.”

“I don’t believe you’d protested then,” Duncan smirked. “Even less when we did get home.”

“Because you’ve had me under your spell from the day you laid eyes on me,” Margaret said, suddenly shy. “I know I did not trust you for a long time, but I was fascinated with you all the same.”

“Ah, good to know,” Duncan said as he pulled her into an alcove and with a soft press of her back to the wall, he kissed her, a long, sweet, sensuous kiss. Pulling away, he cupped her face and asked, “Do you think they’ll forgive us if we sneak away?”

She huffed sweetly. “I don’t think they’ll like it, but they might understand.”

Groaning, he guided them back to the corridor. “One hour, that’s all we’ll stay. We have more important things to tend to.”

Giggling, Margaret held onto his hands. “And I wonder what those could possibly be?”

***

At home, Margaret, now clad in a silk peach wrap, curled up on a chaise and sipped a glass of sweet wine while opening a book on her lap. Duncan had attended to some work when they had arrived from the wedding while she had taken a bath.

He had just slipped into the bathing chamber, and she was waiting for him. She reflected on the wedding earlier and smiled; it was about time for Stephen to find happiness and soon, Sarah would as well.

She knew that, during those three empty years before Duncan, if someone had told her she would be happy and married now, she would have cried at the cruel joke.

Now, she felt at peace.

Duncan came around the corner, towel drying his hair while a loose pair of pantaloons rested on his lower half. “I know that look on your face. What is going through that brilliant mind of yours?”

“I’m just thinking on our journey from the first meeting to our wedding,” she said after a sip of wine. “I am not sure I expected you to blow into my life like the whirlwind you are, nor do I believed you had expected me.”

He hung the towel over the back of a chair and smiled, joining her on the chaise. Duncan took the glass from her hand and swallowed a mouthful.

“Hm, you are right. Ironically, it was Laura who came to me and tried to gossip about how unworthy you were to attend the ball, and I walked out, unknowing who you were and what you looked like, but you drew my attention anyway.”

Margaret’s lips quirked at the mention of the woman Duncan had not spoken to in a year’s time. “God works in mysterious ways, I suppose.”

“No supposition about it,” Duncan said. “He does.”

Sitting up, Margaret took the glass and set it aside, then slid over and straddled his lap. “Dearest, how would you feel about us having a visitor soon?”

His brow lifted. “I love your family—why would I feel any way about that?”

She nibbled her lip. “I know, but that is not the visitor I’m referring to.”

Duncan dipped his head to kiss her lips. “Who, then?”

Margaret took his hand and pressed it on her lower stomach. “I…erm, I cannot be sure. But I missed my courses and I…believe he or she will be arriving in…seven months, give or take?”

The mystified look on Duncan’s face took a moment to clear as her words sank in. When the meaning dawned on him, he cupped her face with his free hand. “Sweetheart, are you telling me that you a and I… we’re going to…?”

She nodded. “Are you alright? I know we might not have planned for it, but—”

“I’m more than alright,” Duncan said, “And I don’t care if we have planned or not, I always wanted a family.” Emotion clogged his throat and made his words thick. “I cannot think of a better person for me. You’ve given me more happiness than I could have ever expected. It is because of you, I’m no longer alone, and now we have much more to share. You are everything to me and now our children will be, too.”

Happy beyond measure, Margaret pressed herself on him. “And you are the answers to my prayers, my knight in shining armour and my happy ending.”

His eyes darkened before his hands slipped under her knees and back. “I’ll prove you one better.”

Carrying her to the bed in the corner of the room, Duncan rested her on the edge only to do away with the silk nothing that covered her bare flesh from him. Margaret eased up the bed and Duncan, after shucking his clothing, followed her.

The firm heat of his body over her made every nerve in her spark alive. His kisses were a hot brand over her skin and the reverent way he made his way down to her body and kissed her stomach only made her love for him sweeten.

Clutching his hair, she arched her back. “A happy ending you say?”

“A bloody good one,” he murmured as he lifted her legs to his shoulder and slid a pillow under.

As he kissed down her inner thigh, Margaret let her head fall back as sensations and anticipations began to overcome her. She shivered when he followed the same path with a broad stroke of his tongue, and when his lips closed over her, his heat scorched her sense and a whimpering cry of delight escaped her throat.

Gently parting her with his thumbs, he lapped over and plunged his tongue into her slick folds. His thumbs found her pearl, and mercilessly rubbed her. His mouth left her and his fingers took over and while her eyes were closed, Margaret could feel his burning eyes on her.

“I’m going to take you now,” he said. He fisted his rigid member and notched his crimson tip along her opening. “Ready for more of me, sweetheart?” he growled.

Margaret opened her lust-ladened eyes. “Yes. I want all of you, Duncan.”

Nostrils flaring, Duncan thrust slowly forward and Margaret felt every thick inch of him as he breached her small and tight passage. With a groan, Duncan sank all the way inside in her snug, pulsing heat.

Cocking her hip over his, he laid his lips on her and gripping her soft hips, he thrusted. With each shove of his hips, she met him with bliss greater than any she had ever known before. Lust and love pounded in alternate beats in time with the beat of her heart as he stretched her delicate petals and pistoned in and out, taking her to another plane of happiness

Her mouth was constantly open, uttering mewling cries, soft sighs and staccato gasps. Duncan moved like a man wild to possess her, to touch the very core of her and imprint himself in her. He reached between them, strumming her nub as he took her.

“Almost there?” he growled thickly

Clutching his shoulder, she undulated her body under his. “Yes, yes, yes! Harder, please—”

Duncan did not hold back, an animalistic sound coming from the base of his throat as he delivered every hard, heavy thrust. He stroked her pearl harder, pressing it in time with his thrusting member—and Margaret shattered.  She cried out, just as his climax consumed him and he emptied deeply inside her.

His heated breath skittered over her damp skin while they gained control of themselves and when Duncan felt steady enough, he slowly withdrew and kissed her lips.

“I’ll be back in a moment,” he whispered as he left the bed to fetch a damp cloth.

Margaret kept her eyes closed as he tended to her and when he was done, he got them both under the covers, pulling her into his chest.

“You were right,” Margaret said. “T’was truly a happier ending.”

Holding her tight, Duncan said, “And I will give you all you want, for the rest of my life. You have my heart in the palm of your hands.”

She blinked her eyes open and met a gaze of pure love. “As do you. I love you, Duncan, now and forever.”

THE END

---

Readers who read this book also liked