Desperate Measures (Regency Undone) (14 page)

But as she threw back the bedclothes, exiting the bed as quickly as she could, she gasped in shock at the red patch on the sheet.

‘
O
h
,
what is that?’

Guy too was looking at the red stain, his expression incredulous as he turned slowly to look at her.  ‘You were a virgin?’  

She was mortified.  But of course she was a virgin.  And she had always expected to remain so.  Richard had never penetrated her.  He’d blamed that on her anatomy, had told her she was deformed in that region which was why they could not consummate their marriage.  And she ha
d
believe
d
him.

‘I’m sorry.  I did not expect that you would … that we would-’

His face broke into a broad grin and it was the first time she had ever seen him look so
please
d
with himself. 

‘Do not apologise, Isabelle.  I am delighted to have something of you that my predecessor did not.  I’m sorry however that I was not aware.  I would have been more careful not to hurt you.’

She feared that he had rather a lot of her that Richard had not; but she wasn’t ready to analyse that quite yet.

She shook her head, a look of wonder on her face.  ‘It wasn’t too painful at all.  I can scarce believe that … that I am normal.  I was so convinced that I was deformed.’

Before she realised his intention, Guy had risen from the bed and closed the gap between them, taking her into his arms.  ‘I cannot listen to such nonsense.  Your body is perfect - just the way God intended it to be.  You have very good reason to be proud of it and enjoy it - and I for one will be more than happy to help you with the latter.’  He grinned.  ‘Every night if you wish.’

Her body softened in his hold as he held her to him, but her mind was still tormented.   Her feelings for her husband had suddenly become so complicated, so all-consuming.  Could thi
s
be
…
love
?
 
Or was it as he had said, simply sex?  Could sex alone provoke such intense feelings and need of a person?  For the truth was she could not envisage her life without Guy now.  She realised that for the first time she was experiencing true contentment, and the mere thought of losing him was enough to induce a stab of fear in her heart. 

He patted her bottom playfully with his large hands, unaware of the complex
emotions racing through her head.  ‘Go see to your needs if that is your wish,’ he rumbled in her ear.  ‘I will keep the bed warm for you, my love.’

His love
? 
The endearment brought a glow of warmth to her heart even though she knew it was carelessly uttered.  She needed to put a stop to this nonsense now, before it became her undoing.

She drew back from him and reached for her robe.  ‘That was nice,’ she remarked coolly, nodding her head, ‘I own I am enjoying discovering the pleasures of sex with you.  But I am hungry and ready for my breakfast now if you do not mind?’

The expression on Guy’s face was almost comical as he stared at her.  He was clearly not used to having women reject him. 

‘As you wish,’ he said, clearly piqued.  Then his expression eased, becoming more mischievous.  ‘For we have plenty of time ahead of us t
o
enjoy the pleasures of sex
,
as you so accurately put it.  And now that we have the main hurdle out of the way, I’m quite sure you will learn to enjoy it more and more.’

Dear God, she hoped not.  It was already so consuming that she feared she had lost a part of herself to her new husband.

Isabelle sat on her bed, her mind in turmoil.  At her dressing table, Charles was playing with her belongings - lining her jewellery up neatly in a row, using her ivory brush on his hair, exploring all her trinkets with the enthusiasm only a five year old child could muster.  She smiled at his antics fondly before her face returned once again to its more sombre expression.

She and Guy had found a contentment in their marriage these last few months - an easy-going acceptance of each other that had brought her more pleasure than she could possibly have imagined.  But she feared all that could be about to come to an end.

It was her maid who had told her, and though she had not wanted to believe it, she knew without doubt that it was the truth.  And now that she knew, she had to confront Guy with her knowledge.  As she had said to Ralph, secrets were not good for a relationship.

‘
Isabelle?’

As always, her heart leapt at the sound of his voice and she frowned at her weakness. 

She had known since that first time they’d properly consummated their relationship that she had fallen in love with her husband, and it was not a situation that brought her comfort.  Indeed, had she known it was happening she would have tried more to resist it.  But it had crept up on her so gradually that when it had finally struck her, it had been too late to do anything about it at all. 

She had not told him of course, for as he did not feel the same way, she feared that by doing so it would upset the balance of their relationship, leaving her more vulnerable and exposed than she already felt. And now she feared that when she told him what she had found out …

‘Ah, here you are my dear, I was wondering where you had got to.’

Guy walked into her room, the deep smile he seemed to reserve for her, etched on his face.

‘I am just taking a little rest with Charles,’ she said lightly.

‘Papa, I have found a spider.  Come and see.’

Guy moved over to his son and knelt carefully down beside him.  ‘So  you have,’ he said.  ‘See how busily it is working at making its web.  It seems a shame does it not that tomorrow Molly will dust this room and the poor thing will have to start all over again?  Could you build your own home as quickly do you think, Charles?’

‘I could try,’ the little boy said gravely, and Isabelle smiled, thinking how alike they both were when they were side by side like that together.

‘You would not get very far I think,’ she said.

She looked at Guy with pride as he and Charles watched the spider.  His clothes as always, fitted him to perfection, outlining the broad muscular frame of that wonderful physique, and
his thick dark hair hung almost rakishly over his brow.  Yet was there ever less of a rake than her husband?  He was so moral and reliable … so loyal.

‘I came to tell you Charles, that Cook has your favourite biscuits lined up and ready for your morning snack, if you wish to go and sample them?  She said you can take them in the kitchen today if you wish.’

‘Oh yes,’ the little boy exclaimed excitedly, jumping down from his chair.  ‘It is always such fun in the kitchen.’  He turned and ran from the room, the spider forgotten, and Guy smiled as he sat down on the edge of Isabella’s bed. 

‘He is like his father, he has simple needs,’ he said wickedly, stroking the line of her neck with his finger.

‘Your needs are not always so simple,’ Isabelle smiled, thinking of some of the pleasures they had shared over the last few months.

His hand dropped as he began to trace the backs of his fingers up and down her arm.  ‘You are looking very serious, my love.  Is something amiss?’

He had taken to calling her that, even if it wasn’t true - and she had come to like it.  But he probably would not even talk to her after today.

‘Yes Guy.  There is.’  She cleared her throat.  It had to be said.  ‘I am sorry.  I know you will not be pleased.  I have no idea how it could have happened indeed-’

‘Now you have me worried,’ he said, but his eyes were twinkling.  She had come to like that twinkle  - had seen a lot more of it over the last few months as gradually they’d come to relax in each other’s company.  Now she would probably never see it again.

‘I am with child,’ she blurted out.  ‘You will hate me for it, I know.  Indeed, I do not understand how it could have happened.’

She waited for the scowl that would evidence his displeasure but to her surprise it did not happen. 

Instead he flashed her a breathtaking smile and said, ‘I have a pretty good idea how it happened even if you do not, but has it really taken you so long to realise it, my love?  For I guessed it more than two weeks ago.’

‘You di
d
?’

He nodded - and then did the strangest of things.  He placed his hand gently on her stomach, and leaned forward to kiss her there.

She looked down at his bent head, resisting an impulse to stroke it, as she stammered.  ‘But I thought - that is, you said having another child was the last thing you would ever want.’

‘And so it was, then,’ he said, straightening up so that his eyes were level with hers.  She could not look away from the glint in them.  ’Now I find I have changed my mind.  With you as the mother of my child, I can think of no finer thing.’

She was speechless.

‘But just as important as my reaction, is yours.  How do you feel about it?  For you too did not appear keen on the idea.’

‘I thought I was barren,’ she said in hollow tones.

‘Tsh - that was just the quack appeasing your husband’s ego, I am sure.’

She stared at him in amazement.  It was as if an enormous weight had been lifted from her shoulders as for the first time she allowed herself to explore her own feelings about this child.  She had been living in such dread these past few days, that she had not been able to consider her own sentiments in the matter at all.  Now she turned to him slowly, a dimple of a smile peeping out.

’I think I am excited at the thought, for I love Charles with all my heart, and to have another child of yours - I mean, my own-’

She broke off in confusion.

Guy gave a self satisfied smile, then catching her unawares, he tipped her swiftly back down on the bed so he could lie atop of her.  ‘Admit, you have come to like me, just a little,’ he murmured, grazing her throat with his lips.

‘Really Guy-’

‘Admit it,’ he persisted, blowin
g
gently on her skin.

She felt herself going weak in her limbs, her body melting into his as it always did when he held her like this.

‘Well, maybe just a little,’ she conceded, a tremble passing through her.

‘For I have to own that I have become very partial to you,’ he whispered.  ‘In fact, I could not envisage my life without you.’

‘Y-you could not?’

‘No.’

He raised himself onto his elbows so that he could look deep into her eyes, all traces of amusement gone.  ‘For quite a while I told myself that my feelings for you were no more than sexual need, but I came to realise some time ago my love, that I was severely deluding myself. For they are so much more than that.’ 

He gazed down at her tenderly.  ‘You have brought laughter and light back into a life that was dark and gloomy, and for that I can never thank you enough.  I have never believed in love or the sentimental nonsense that goes with it, despite having parents who clearly adored each other.  But these few months with you, have taught me that it truly does exist.   For what else can you call it when you realise that someone else’s life is more important to you than your own?  When the light of their smile turns your heart inside out?  When you know that without them life would not be worth living?  For that is how I feel about you, Isabelle.  I probably won’t say it often, but know always that it is true.  My love for you is as constant as I know yours is for me.’

She was staring at him stunned, her heart singing at his words, but at this last sentence she gave an indignant little gasp. 

‘You take it upon yourself to presume rather a lot, Your Grace.’  

But her expression was tender with love, as of their own accord her arms slid up to pull his mouth firmly down onto hers.  It was as if his declaration of love had released a tidal wave of emotion, her tongue darting lovingly against his, her hands cupping his face to hold him near as she drank him in.

She was aware of him stiffening and it made her pause in her actions, as she drew back from him uncertainly.  ‘Is everything well, Guy?’

He was looking at her in shock but then his expression eased into one of smug satisfaction as he gently grazed her lips with his.

‘Everything is very well, my love.  But do you realise that this is the first time
you have truly kissed me?’  His voice thickened.  ‘I own it is a very pleasant sensation.’

She pressed her lips to his again, realising with a sense of wonder that his declaration of love had swept away the last of her doubts and insecurities leaving her free to surrender to him completely.

‘I love you, Guy,’ she whispered.

‘I know.’

‘Even if you are an arrogant swine.’

He smiled as he brushed his lips languorously over hers.  ’You have all the time in the world to alter that.  But if anyone can reform me, I suspect it is you.’

‘Can I take that as a challenge?’  She peeped saucily up at him.

‘You can take it how you want,’ he rumbled, his lips
claiming hers again.  She could feel his need through his breeches.  ‘Right now I have more pressing things on my mind.’

He ground his ridge into her so that she would have no doubt as to his meaning.

’Then you are definitely the man for me,’ she whispered huskily, her body going limp as she melted into him.  ‘For there’s nothing like a good challenge to keep a woman’s interest.’

THE END