Realm 03 - A Touch of Cashemere (43 page)

Marcus frowned. “No, not poetry or dukes.” He paused awkwardly. “I plan to marry Miss Aldridge tomorrow morning in the Linton Park chapel.”

“And what do you wish of me, Wellston? My blessings?” Lexford stared off into space. Marcus was aware of how Lexford searched for a memory upon which to base his remarks. “When Susan started the fire, which killed her, it was you above all the others who understood how I felt in not being able to reach her–not being able to save my wife. Even though we came together but once, Susan did not deserve to die such a horrible death.”

Marcus swallowed hard, looking for the right words to explain how things had come to pass. “I never meant to fall in love with Cashémere. I told myself that you were my friend, and I would not come between you if you were serious about Cashé.”

Sarcastically, Lexford observed, “But I proved myself otherwise by kissing Miss Satiné. Is that it, Wellston? It was a ruse, perpetrated by the young ladies.”

“It is not that way, and you know it. You saw Cashémere as a safe choice–someone you enjoyed–someone who could dull the memories of what happened with Susan, but I never observed in you what I saw in Kerrington’s and Fowler’s countenances when they looked at the women they loved. I suspect that if true love existed for you, that if you felt that soul-cleansing love for Cashémere, you would not be able to forget it–no matter what Charters did to you. Do you recall such a love, Lexford? If you say that you love Cashémere in that way, I will cancel the wedding today; I will allow you the chance to make Cashémere return your love.”

Lexford remained silent for several minutes. “No, I do not remember such a love. Surprisingly, I remember kissing Lady Eleanor during the farce involving Louis Levering. And I remember feeling clean afterwards. I also remember passionately kissing someone whom I suppose was Miss Satiné, but I hold no memories of love. Miss Cashémere was never part of my memories.”

“And, yet, I cannot breath unless Cashémere is near,” Marcus whispered into the muted room.

Another long silence ensued. “Then I suppose that you should marry the lady,” Lexford remarked. “I would not wish to be the cause of your demise.” He reached out his hand to Marcus. “We are brothers, Wellston, and brothers never stand in the way of the other’s happiness. You have my blessing.”

Marcus gladly took his friend’s extended hand. “Thank you, Aidan.” He breathed relief’s sigh. “Now, tell me how much you will pay me to not tell Kerrington that you kissed Lady Eleanor.” Marcus taunted good-naturedly, trying to restore normalcy between them.

“I will withdraw my blessing,” Lexford countered.

Marcus smiled joyously. They would get through this. “My lips are sealed.”

*

“Dearly beloved,” Doctor Perry began. Marcus heard little else. He supposed that he had spoken his vows at the correct times because within a quarter hour, the vicar had pronounced he and Cashémere husband and wife. Her dancing eyes said that she found his confusion quite amusing, but Marcus did not care. His heart had healed.

“Are you happy, my Love?” he whispered to Cashé’s ear. They signed the registry.

Cashé went on her tiptoes to kiss his lips. “Does that answer your question, my Lord?”

“Must we attend the wedding breakfast?” he said as he pulled Cashé closer.

“Oh, my poor darling,” she teased. “You must be patient a bit longer.”

“One hour,” he growled.

“Two,” she contradicted.

He laughed lightly as he nibbled on her ear. “One and a half.” He took out his pocket watch to check the hour. “You are being timed, Countess.”

“Lord Yardley, I object,” she slapped at his chest with her gloved hand.

Marcus placed her on his arm to meet those who waited for them outside the chapel “One and a half,” he repeated.

*

Marcus did not believe it possible to have so many erections in so short a time. If Cashé had not been an innocent he would have taken her in his coach, but he had schooled his patience. They had ridden for nearly three hours to the inn where he had reserved rooms for the evening, and during that time, every gesture Cashé made created havoc with his body. She placed a loose curl behind her ear, and Marcus had imagined removing the pins from those curls and letting her coal black locks drape across his bare chest. Instant erection.

She ran the tip of her tongue along her lips to wet them, and Marcus went hard again.

Cashé stretched out her legs, and Marcus remembered massaging her legs that day that they had raced to Satiné’s rescue, and again he found himself in full arousal.

“I am Yardley, and this is my countess,” he aristocratically told the innkeeper. “You have received my instructions.”

“Aye, Sir. Everything is as you required.” The innkeeper preened. “It is good of you to honor us with your patronage, Sir.”

Marcus paused impatiently. “Then might we see our rooms?”

“Immediately, Sir.”

Within minutes, they were alone. “Would you care for champagne?” He gestured to a waiting bottle.

Cashé, suddenly shy, shook her head in the negative before shooting a wide-eyed glance at the largest piece of furniture in the room: the bed.

Marcus smiled, her innocence a comforting reality. He stepped forward slowly. “Do not tell me, my bold warrior, that you have unexpectedly developed a case of the nerves.”

Cashé swallowed twice before answering. “Not exactly. It is just...what if I cannot please you, my Lord?”

Marcus breathed easier. “I do not expect that will be a problem. I simply look at you, and my world opens to new possibilities.”

“That is what I mean,” Cashé held back tears. “You tell me such things, and I cannot help but fail. How can I give you what you require? I am far from perfect...very flawed, in fact. I am impulsive. Do not always think before I speak. Am sometimes insensitive. Singular in my views, and, obviously, manipulative. Look what I did to Satiné.” Her voice rose on each word.

Marcus slowly wrapped his arms about her. “Aye, Love, you are all those things, but you have the kind of heart that will protect our children with a vengeance–never thinking of yourself first; the kind of heart that loves with an undying allegiance; the kind of heart that accepts the failures of others, when many would offer censure.”

He kissed her then, slowly and purposefully, igniting fires in them both. As Cashé wound her arms about his neck, Marcus lifted her to him. He caressed her buttocks, holding her where he could grind his erection against her sweetness. “Cashé, I need you...now,” he growled close to her ear.

As he backed her toward the bed, their gazes caught. Cashé toyed with a wisp of his hair. “I hope our sons resemble you,” she murmured. Her fingers worked at the knot of his cravat.

With each step, Marcus continued his assault on the buttons leading to heaven. Embers caught in her eyes as his mouth trailed fire down her neck and across Cashé’s shoulders. He hissed a groan. “Let me see you, Darling.”

Cashé swallowed, drawing a tightened breath. “Teach me of love.”

The buttons undone, Marcus released the dress and let it slide down her body in a silky feather. The swell of her breasts pushing against the corset stayed him. “I have dreamed of this for months,” he rasped. “I should be ashamed to admit how often this moment has played through my sleep time mind,” he said with a smile.

His fingers touched the laces of her corset, and Cashé shivered. “You are exquisite,” he whispered as he returned to her mouth. Marcus’s hands weighed her breasts as his thumbs stroked her nipples through the material.

“I should be embarrassed by my wantonness, but I would like to see you also,” she said with false bravery.

Marcus reached for the bed linens, jerking the coverlet back. “I will step behind the screen and undress. I will not shock your sensibilities by doing so before you.” He kissed the tip of her upturned nose. “I will meet you beneath the sheets in a few minutes.”

“What if I wish to see you now?” Cashé defiantly raised her chin.

Marcus laughed lightly. “You will have years to look upon me.” He tapped the bed as if directing where he wanted her and then walked leisurely toward the screen. “And who said anything about dousing the candles.” He winked at Cashé.

“Yes, my Lord.” Cashé smiled broadly.

Within a few minutes, they were once again in each other’s arms. Marcus could not keep his hands still. They roamed at will across her breasts, her arms, her legs. “Not so many minutes ago, you called yourself flawed, but you are pure perfection in this manner.” He sat back to look his fill.

Then he touched her breasts–massaging gently and stroking her nipples. His mouth followed his thumbs across her breasts, sucking gently at first, but then more demanding. Soon excitement had constricted his breathing, but when Cashé arched toward him, Marcus knew it was time. His fingers stroked along Cashé’s cleft, spreading the wetness. Marcus worked her very much as he had done that day in the Scottish midlands. He had meant to give Cashé the familiarity of their intimacy before sharing more. When she climaxed, Marcus moved between her legs. “Are you ready, my Love?”

Cashé opened her desire-filled eyes. “I want to be yours forever, Marcus.” Their gazes locked, and he positioned himself to enter her. Slowly, he slipped into her wetness.

“You are so hot...so wet,” he groaned. Cashé arched again, welcoming his strength, and Marcus gritted his teeth to keep from exploding immediately. He lifted her hips and pushed deeper. Feeling her barrier, he leaned forward to kiss her again, and then with a hard thrust made her his own. Cashé stiffened for a second, but she soon joined him in a rhythmic coupling. Hard strokes buried him to the hilt, but Marcus continued to pound his body against hers. “Let it happen again,” he growled. And Cashé’s body tightened around him–muscles contracting; Marcus snarled his release–a shudder and a pulsing, and he filled her with his seed.

Marcus held himself above her, gazing down on the woman he loved.

“Is it often like this? Like flying without wings?” she asked innocently.

“I cannot speak for others, but never in my experience until now,” he rasped, his heart, pounding in his ears. “Perfection again,” he whispered as he gently withdrew and rolled to his side, scooping Cashé into his embrace.

They lay together, arms and legs entangled for some time before either of them spoke. “Did I hurt you?” he asked as he brushed a sweaty curl from her face. Mindlessly, Marcus removed the pins from her disheveled hair.

“Only for a moment.” She looked a bit embarrassed. “I did not disappoint you? I could not bear it if you were disappointed with me as your wife.”

“How could you disappoint? Did I not just tell you that you are perfection?” Marcus suspected it would be some time before he could convince Cashé that he required nothing but her. Aldridge had left his mark on her. “May I tell you how I know that you will never disappoint me?”

Although she buried her face into Marcus’s chest, Cashé agreed with a mumbled, “Yes.”

“When I was a twelve, my twin sister Margaret...Maggie and I holidayed with our parents and older brothers. Trevor has learned some civilities, but in those days, Father allowed Trevor to do what he wanted...with few restrictions. On this one particular day, we were in the Peak District. Father had thought to take Myles into the earth, so to speak, to teach his heir about the land, but also about courage, as Myles was deathly afraid of small enclosures. They were to descend the one hundred-five steps to the submerged basin of Speedwell Cavern.” Marcus mindlessly stroked her back, and Cashé snuggled closer.

“Although I was quite keen on the idea at the time, there was no way for the entire family to make the trek. Being the youngest son, I always wanted to prove myself to the Earl. Trevor, however, would create havoc for everyone. So, Maggie and I were left to fend for ourselves under the less than watchful eye of our mother’s maid. So, as Myles fought his demons below the surface, I foolish fought with Maggie above. It was over something completely childish. I had teasingly told Maggie that the color of her dress had made her look yellow. It did not, but young boys always tease their sisters. In anger, Maggie had stormed away with Trevor in tow.”

When Cashé moved to where she could see Marcus’s face more clearly, he breathed easier. She understood that this was an important part of his life.

He swallowed hard before continuing. “What happened exactly no one knows. Later, Trevor could not tell us. But after ten minutes or so, Trevor returned without Maggie. When the maid and I asked where she was, he simply said, ‘In a hole.’ It probably took us another ten long, excoriating minutes to find her at the bottom of a walled-up well. She treaded water, but was exhausted. I attempted to reach her. Really I did. Used the abandoned boards to make a flimsy platform from which to dangle. Surprisingly, somehow our fingers touched, and I pitched forward to catch Maggie’s hand.

“My sister’s eyes spoke of her fear, but I kept telling her that I would save her. That I loved her. That I was sorry for being an idiot and teasing her. That she was my other half.” He paused to let the emotions settle. “I pulled, Cashé, with all my might. I swear I did! Attempted to lift her from the water. Maggie’s wet fingers clawed at my hands, but I was not strong enough to hold her. The maid, and even Trevor, held my legs to steady me, but the wood cracked, and then everything happened so fast. Maggie fell back into the water, her head hitting the brick wall, and, just like that, she was gone. I mean they found her...Father and some other men, but she was gone. I had failed her. It was my fault. I should have gone in after her. Should have died saving her.”

Cashé eyes remained glued to his face. “Oh, Marcus, it was not your fault. Do you not see that?”

He turned his head towards hers. “I do now. I learned to master heights, you see, and I have saved many others. My time with the Realm gave me those intangibles. Yet, none of them mattered until I saved you. You are a person that I love, and I was able to save you. Part of it was because you fought so hard to survive, but mainly, I was now strong enough mentally and physically to save a person that meant the world to me. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it changed everything.”