The Dark Earl (39 page)
“You want me nude as the goddess?”
“I’ll let you keep on your stockings and garters,” he whispered.
“You have persuaded me. Your negotiating skills are formidable indeed.”
“And then some.” He lifted her skirts and removed her drawers.
That night, as she watched him undress for bed, she recalled the first time she had seen the statues in Shugborough’s grounds. “I was familiar with Venus, but it was the statue beside her that drew my eyes. The name carved on the pedestal was Adonis, and as I gazed at him, I wondered if all males looked like that when they were naked.”
“And what did you conclude?”
“I decided that only gods could be that perfect. Of course, I hadn’t seen you then.”
“Flattery will get you everything you desire, my darling.”
“I want to see if I can make you as hard as a marble statue.”
He turned to face her. “I’m already there.”
“Oh, bugger and balls, so you are!”
He made a dive for her, and his arms clasped her close. He rolled with her until she was above him in the dominant position, and took possession of her mouth.
When the kiss ended, Harry knelt above him. “I want to explore you tonight. Your body fascinates and enthralls me.”
He raised his arms above his head and grinned up at her. “Do your worst.”
Her fingers immediately began to explore his exposed armpits. The texture of the black hair was soft and silky. “You don’t seem to be ticklish.”
“Things aren’t always what they seem. I am indeed ticklish, but I exercise control over my response.”
“You like to be in control. It makes you feel safe. Aren’t you ever tempted to abandon your control and revel in being unconstrained?”
“Tempted, yes. But I seldom give in to temptation.”
I want to know what will make you frenzied and wild, and moaning with hunger.
She stroked her fingertips across his wide shoulders. She toyed with his male nipples that were flat as copper pennies and felt delight when they became erect. She dipped her head and drew circles around them with the tip of her tongue. Her lips trailed down his rib cage; then she dropped a kiss on his navel and dipped in her tongue.
She stroked her fingertips across his wide shoulders. She toyed with his male nipples that were flat as copper pennies and felt delight when they became erect. She dipped her head and drew circles around them with the tip of her tongue. Her lips trailed down his rib cage; then she dropped a kiss on his navel and dipped in her tongue.
When his hands cupped her bum cheeks, she felt a flame of arousal, and guessed that his passion was ready to explode. Slowly, and deliberately, she began to lick the swollen head of his cock. When she took him into her mouth, he cried out and arched his body off the bed in a wild frenzy of need. “Harry! Don’t ever stop!”
Hours later, after he’d made love to her twice, they lay entwined, their bodies warm and soft with surfeit. Thomas was happy over his marriage. He had needed someone to share things with for a long time, and he felt he had chosen the right woman. But sharing physical intimacy was far easier than sharing other facets of his life. He stared into the darkness for long minutes and then his lips brushed her temple.
For now this will suffice.
For now this will suffice.
The following day, Thomas took Harry across the bridge to the small island behind the Chinese pagoda to view the “Cat’s Monument” where the original Kouli-Khan was buried. She read the inscription and traced the feline’s name with her fingers. “I admire your ancestor George Anson very much. In spite of his fame and fortune, his pet obviously came high on his list of priorities. I warrant you have inherited his qualities.”
“I have inherited his love for Shugborough at any rate. Come—let me show you our more famous ‘Shepherd’s Monument.’ The marble relief is copied from the Nicolas Poussin in the drawing room. The carved letters form a cipher that’s never been solved.”
“How fascinating.” Harry took his hand and he led her past the Tower of Winds.
“There it is. Since the Ansons had a connection with the Knights Templar, legend has it that the cipher refers to the whereabouts of the Holy Grail.”
Harry knelt in the grass and traced the letters. Then she placed her hand on the sun-warmed marble and closed her eyes. “I’m only guessing, but I believe it is a secret message between lovers. An ancient Anson ancestor lost his beloved and this inscription tells her how much he adored her. The letters probably represent some beautiful Latin phrase or line of poetry that was known to the two of them.”
Thomas held out his hand to raise her. “Harry, you are a true romantic. A secret message between lovers is such a lovely thought.” He enfolded her in his arms, and his lips captured hers in a tender kiss.
“I think I hear another wagon.” He led her toward the courtyard.
“Why, it’s Riley, my father’s coachman.” Harry ran to the wagon and greeted Riley.
He jumped down and handed Thomas a letter from Abercorn.
Thomas broke the seal and read the letter. He looked at Harry and smiled. “Your father wasted no time gathering the books, paintings, and furniture he agreed to return to Shugborough. He says that the only books missing are the ones at Barons Court in Ireland. He says that when he and your mother go over there in the spring, he’ll crate up the books himself. He also says he will bring one of his prized Arabians as a wedding gift for you, Harry.”
“Oh, I never expected anything so generous,” she cried.
“Your father loves you very much, sweetheart.”
Harry dashed away a tear. “Riley, come to the kitchen and meet Mrs. Stearn. She will fill your belly with some rib-sticking grub, and you can wash it down with a jug of our home-brewed ale.”
“I’d better unload this lot first, Lady Lichfield. There’s quite a haul here.”
“First you will eat, drink, and be merry. Then I’ll get the staff to help, and we will all unload Shugborough’s treasures.”
After the servants brought everything into the vaulted entrance hall, Harry ordered Riley to stay for a couple of days, rather than return to London the following morning.
That evening, after an early dinner, Thomas and Harry took the paintings up to the long gallery and hung them back in the spaces they had originally occupied. Altogether, there were six paintings, so it took three trips up the curved staircase to the gallery.
She could see how important the ritual of restoration was to her husband, and she took her joy from his satisfaction. They laughed as she insisted the paintings were far more beautiful displayed here than they had ever been in the Hamilton residences.
“Your father was extremely generous to return these paintings in the marriage contract. This one,
Sleeping Venus and Cupid
, is extremely valuable.”
Sleeping Venus and Cupid
, is extremely valuable.”
“Venus and Cupid?” She stood back and looked at it. “I thought it was a painting of a nude mother and her child.”
Thomas was amused. “I shouldn’t laugh at you. Venus
is
the mother of Cupid.”
is
the mother of Cupid.”
“My education in art is lacking. Since you are an expert, you will have to give me lessons. How did you become an associate of Whitfield Cox?”
“He came into possession of a painting from Shugborough and offered to sell it to me. I couldn’t afford to buy it, so I told him I’d earn it by selling paintings to wealthy art collectors. I was so successful at authenticating and selling art that we decided a permanent business association would be beneficial to both of us.”
Her glance moved about the long gallery, assessing all the paintings. “I still love the horse paintings best. I am glad you secreted them away from the vultures who bought up Shugborough’s treasures at the auction all those years ago.”
“Do you feel up to sorting books tonight?”
“Oh absolutely! I can’t wait to put them back in their rightful place.”
They went downstairs and carried the books, a few at a time, into Shugborough’s library. They both took deep pleasure arranging them on the almost empty shelves. Almost two hours passed as they sorted the books into their various categories. When they were done, they looked at each other and declared in the same breath, “The brass-mounted library chairs!”
They raced to the entrance hall and separated the pair of chairs from the other items of furniture that Riley had brought. Working in tandem, they carried them to the library, one at a time. Then they each sat down in one and laughed with delight that another of Shugborough’s rooms had been miraculously restored.
Thomas held out his arms and Harry immediately abandoned her own chair to sit on her husband’s lap. He tenderly cupped her face. “I am immensely grateful to you, sweetheart. Sharing things with you fills my being with deep, warm satisfaction.”
She wound her arms about his neck. “I wish I could wave a magic wand and magically restore everything to Shugborough, and make it exactly as it used to be.”
“You won’t need a magic wand, sweetheart. I will restore everything,” he promised. “I am a ruthless businessman.”
“I love this house as much as you do. I’m so glad you seduced me into marrying you, Lord Lichfield.”
“Tell the truth and shame the devil. Was it me who seduced you, or Shugborough?”
“Since we have agreed there will be absolute truth between us, I freely admit that it was both.”
“You are a shameless baggage. Some secrets are better left unspoken,” he teased.
She rubbed her bum against his cock. “Since you invited me to shame the devil, if you’ll take me up to bed, I’ll see what I can do.”
The following day, Thomas hitched up the carriage horses and took Harry to visit all Shugborough’s tenants. Some of the farmers bred sheep and others grew crops, and it was obvious that they all respected Thomas. Most of the crops were in for the year and as Thomas and the farmers discussed which fields to plant in the spring, Harry made friends with their wives. She took an interest in their children and was pleased to learn that they all went to school.
As they drove back to the hall in the late afternoon, she told Thomas that Shugborough’s tenant farmers seemed happy and contented. “The women told me how much you had done, not just for your tenants, but for the area in general.”
“I regret that I will no longer be the member of Parliament for Lichfield. It gave me a great deal of satisfaction. Now that I’m the Earl of Lichfield, I will have to take my seat in the House of Lords. In my opinion, the work isn’t nearly as important.”
“Then you won’t need to attend every session, and we can spend more time here at Shugborough. I’d love to return in the spring and stay through the autumn.”
“Perhaps we could breed your Arabian mare with my hunter. Shugborough’s stables lack riding horses. I’m sorry I haven’t got a mount for you, Harry.”
“You are right to spend your money on Shugborough, rather than horses. Breeding our own horseflesh is a good idea. Tomorrow you can take me up before you, when we explore Cannock Chase.”
He winked. “Perhaps we can ride hell for leather again.”
She laughed. “We did that last night. You are insatiable, my lord.”
“Did you notice the splendid Staffordshire workhorses on some of our farms?” he said as they pulled up to the stables. “Next year perhaps we could start a breeding program. It may prove profitable.”
“Thomas, that’s a wonderful idea. They are magnificent animals.”
When they entered the hall, Harry took his hand. “I forgot to tell you. I informed Mrs. Stearn that we would feed ourselves tonight. It is high time you gave me the cooking lesson you promised.”
He leered at her. “Kitchens have a wonderful warm atmosphere that panders to all the senses.”
When Mrs. Stearn saw them, she ushered her maids from the area. “Lord and Lady Lichfield wish to be alone, I warrant.”
“You are very perceptive, Mrs. Stearn,” Harry said. “Thank you.”
Thomas lifted his wife onto the wooden chopping block. “What does the countess fancy for her dinner?”
“Since this is my first culinary lesson, let’s have something simple.”
“Mmm, how about Spanish omelettes?”
“Sounds good. What will we need?”
“A potato, an onion, a couple of mushrooms, some bacon, some hot red pepper, and eggs of course.”
“Where will I find red pepper?”
“Look in the pantry. You should find a package of dried hot peppers.”
When Harry returned with the dried hot pepper, he had gathered all the ingredients and was frying bacon in a pan on top of the iron woodstove. “Mmm, that smells good.”
“Melt some butter in that other pan, and slice the potato very thin. Add some chopped onion, and cook them together on a low heat so the butter doesn’t burn.”
“Low heat?”
“Place the pan to the front of the range. The back gives off higher heat than the front, for safety reasons of course.”
When the bacon was cooked, Thomas cut it up and told Harry to add it to her pan along with the mushrooms and the red pepper. “Crack six eggs, and whip them with a fork.”
When she cracked the first egg rather gingerly, he grimaced. “Do it with passion.”
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