Two Notorious Dukes (19 page)

He lay and marvelled at her. She was so quiet as
she slept. He listened to her even breathing. Her back
was pressed against his chest and her bottom was
snuggled up against his groin. When she’d turned over,
she had forced her bottom back into his lap and nuzzled
it there.

Every time we make love it gets better.
He told
himself and he thought back to after they’d made love
and his cathartic tears.

‘Why are you crying my love?’ Elizabeth asked
him softly.
‘I don’t know.’ He murmured, sniffed and
propped himself up on his elbows. He looked down into
her face. ‘Probably because you are so beautiful, I love
you so much and I’m happy that we will be together for
ever.’
‘Nothing is forever, Robbie. You know that,
better than any one.’ She said rather coldly and it was
just the dash of reality he needed.
‘For as long as we both shall live, then?’
‘That’s better.’ She murmured. He sighed and
rolled on his back, taking her with him. She lay with her
face on his pectoral muscle. She nestled her face and
Umm’d in satisfaction. He was still huge within her.
‘You didn’t answer my question when I arrived
here.’ Robert said softly. ‘Did he hurt you?’
‘Not really. He tried to take me again, but I gave
him my knee in the groin. That’s why he hit me, but I
can take a punch on the nose and the fire iron was a
handy weapon, so I hit him with that.’ Robert sniggered.
‘I was lucky that Sarah arrived just then, I think he
would have become really violent otherwise.’
‘What did Johnny do?’
‘I didn’t see it, because I was unconscious in the
library, but according to Rogers, John grabbed him by
the scruff of the neck and the seat of his britches and
threw him down the front steps!’ Robert laughed
delightedly. ‘And when Rogers threw out his hat and
cane, a horse kicked his hat into the middle of the
Square!’
Suddenly she had sat up and they had made love
again. He lay and watched the woman that was going to
be his wife in wonder as she slowly lifted and sank back
down on his member and moaned softly. He’d never
really taken any notice of a woman’s face before.
Usually if they were on top, they were experienced
whores and all he watched were their tits! But he
watched Elizabeth’s eyes and the expressions on her
face, the way her lips would part as she gasped and her
hair tumbled about her body like a dark cloak, and
especially the frown of concentration as she got close to
climax. He was astonished at the rapt expression on her
face as she shuddered and she gasped as he heaved his
sperm into her as he ejaculated copiously again. Even
after her orgasm was finished, she continued to writhe
on him, so he rolled her on her back and was a bit more
forceful with her, taking her with long harsh strokes
until they both cried out. He pulled her into his arms
and encouraged her to sleep. But he couldn’t, so he lay
and listened to her instead and debated his next move.

‘Good God!’ spluttered from Lord Liverpool’s
throat as he saw Robert. ‘Bosworth’s back!’
‘My Lord.’ Robert said calmly, he knew today
would be difficult as the gossip about Abigail Beresford
would be rife. He nonchalantly pulled off his glove and
adjusted the cuff of his fine lawn shirt. ‘I arrived in
London last evening.’
‘I’m glad you can take your place today.’ The
Prime Minister said and sauntered away across the
foyer towards the Commons.
Robert saw Randolph, the Earl of Gwent,
heading towards him. ‘Your Grace.’ Randolph said
courteously as he arrived. ‘I just wondered what you
were going to do about Beresford.’
‘I’m not going to do anything about Beresford.’
Robert said coldly. ‘It’ll be up to him, when he gets back
from India.’
‘Do you think she’s pregnant?’ he asked
soulfully.
‘I’d be surprised if she isn’t, but who is the father
is a harder question to answer.’ Robert said still coldly.
‘You weren’t the only one tupping her,’ he sighed
deeply ‘and neither was I.’
‘Is that Craanford creeping into the chamber?’
Randolph said without any knowledge of how
dangerous it could be for poor Craanford.
Robert looked up sharply and said ‘excuse me.’
As he brushed past Randolph. Argyll saw him move and
shook his head. Following with alacrity he arrived just in
time to witness the event of the century.
Robert grabbed Craanford by the shoulder and
spun him around with such force that Craanford
squealed like a girl. But his cry was short lived as
Robert’s left fist took him on the nose with an explosion
of blood. Robert didn’t let go of the delicate silk of
Craanford’s jacket and the shoulder seam ripped as he
fell to the floor. Robert stood over him like an avenging
angel and Craanford nearly filled his britches.
A hush fell over the house and every body clearly
heard Robert say ‘Consider that an introduction. I am
the Duke of Roding. Stay away from Lady Elizabeth. She
is no longer your concern and is under the protection of
my house. She has agreed to be my wife and has
already told you no six times. If you bother her again, I’ll
meet you in Hyde Park with pistols!’ and he flung the
torn section of silk in Craanford’s face.
Craanford scrambled to his feet, the blood
pouring down his face. He nodded frantically and
scampered out of the chamber, but his expression was
black.
‘Bosworth should be careful,’ murmured the
Lord Chancellor. ‘That kind of display won’t do him any
good. He must know the King’s orders on duelling.’
‘I believe he does, My Lord.’ His private
secretary said quietly. ‘But I would probably do the
same thing in his position. Word is spreading that
Craanford likes to beat up women.’
‘Really?’ the chancellor asked with raised
eyebrows. ‘And where does this information come
from?’
‘From the Palace, my Lord.’

Argyll patted Robert on the shoulder. ‘Is that
what you came for?’ he said with a snigger.
‘No. But it’s a start.’ Robert rubbed his knuckles
in the palm of his other hand.
‘Will you duel?’ Argyll asked knowing full well
that he would.
‘Of course! Wouldn’t you?’
Argyll smiled and nodded. ‘I would.’ He admitted
and turned Robert for the benches.
As Robert sat down the Earl of Rathbone looked
around and smiled at him. ‘Nicely done.’ He murmured.
‘Hope you’re as quick when Beresford comes for you.’
‘That will all depend on the colour of its hair.’
Robert said and Rathbone guffawed loudly. ‘It might
even be red.’ That caused Rathbone to splutter into
silence, and turn a liverish eye on him.
‘Don’t joke about such things.’ He said in horror.
‘The Countess would have my guts for garters!’
‘Then you should pray for a blond baby too!’
Robert said and looked away as the Chancellor opened
the day’s business.

Elizabeth had stayed in bed longer, at Robert’s
behest. He had woken her early by kissing her stomach.
She stretched languorously and Robert smoothed his
palm over her navel, before he kissed it again. She
expected him to make love, but he didn’t, he just
stroked her stomach and kissed her navel until she flew
out of bed to be sick in the wash stand again.

‘God Damn!’ she shouted. Robert laughed as he
climbed out of bed and whetted a flannel for her face.
‘Your best curses will come in childbirth.’ He
snorted. ‘Some of Edward’s best ones, I suspect.’ She
looked at him in horror. ‘Its really amazing how many
Ladies loose all propriety when they are lying on their
backs, with their legs wide open and the issue of their
womb is forcing it’s way out!’ She gulped down the
water he offered and sighed as her stomach settled a
little. She gargled with a little cologne to sanitise her
mouth.
‘I know.’ She whispered, after she spat out the
cologne. ‘It’s no fun pushing out a dead one either!’ she
said rather harshly. Robert put his hand on her shoulder
and slowly turned her to his chest and hugged her
tightly. During the night she had told him everything as
she cried and sobbed out the grief of past pregnancies.
‘So let’s make sure this time that doesn’t
happen.’ He swept her up in his arms and took her back
to the bed. Laying her carefully down, he climbed in
beside her and pulled the bedclothes over them both.
He held her gently in his arms. ‘We don’t want you to
lose this one, so I suggest caution at all times.’ He
sighed. ‘No running on the stairs, no riding, no more
vigorous sex!’
‘I don’t think I can agree to the last one!’ she
said and smiled wickedly at him as she dropped her
hand onto his flaccid penis. ‘So soft.’ She murmured as
she took it in her hand and then smiled as it stiffened.
‘So firm.’ She murmured.
‘Do you know what I’m going to do with my stiff
cock?’
She laughed brightly and shuffled her body
down the bed. ‘No but I know what I’m going to do to
it!’ and he groaned as she engulfed him again, but this
time, she just delicately tormented him. Flicking her
tongue over the head, tracing the point of her tongue
down his throbbing penis until she could kiss his testes.
She stroked her palm over his genitals, and then she
cupped his testicles before she gently kissed, licked and
sucked them. She stroked the scrotum with her finger as
she traced her tongue back up his member to flick it
again over the head. Robert was moaning and groaning
throughout her attentions and by the time she’d got
back to the beginning, he’d forgotten his own name. He
clutched her shoulders suddenly and dragged her back
up to his face, where he kissed her passionately. He
gently rolled her over and was surprised she was
already wet and accommodating as he thought to force
his manhood in her, but he slid in so easily and instead
of frantically making love, he restrained himself and
slowly pulled himself out again, listening for the pop so
reminiscent of a kiss, before he pushed back in and
smiled as he heard the air forced out. Slowly and
carefully he made exquisite love to the woman who was
going to be his wife and as she lifted her hips to demand
more, he gave in and increased his speed, until she
started to cry out with each thrust and her internal
muscles cramped and pulsed. Robert felt his orgasm
burst like a shower of sparks that washed from his toes
until it hit the inside of his cranium. He forced his
pulsing manhood in as far as he could get it and jerked
with each pulse as he ejaculated his essence against her
womb. He was aware of her legs crushing his ribcage
and he gently stroked his hand down her thigh. ‘I love
you, Elizabeth.’ He panted softly in her ear. ‘I would die
for you!’ he declared.
She sobbed suddenly and he looked down at the
tears coursing down her face. ‘I don’t want you to die
for me, I want you to live!’ and she flung her arms
around his neck, pulling him down off his elbow so that
she could crush him against her body. He felt her feet in
the small of his back and still their sexes pulsed and
throbbed as he buried his face in her hair.
Eventually Mary arrived with a tray of tea.
‘Good morning, My Lady.’ She said brightly as
she walked through the door.
Elizabeth had hidden Robert under the
bedclothes the second she knocked the door. ‘Will His
Grace need the Duke’s bath tub this morning?’ she
asked brightly.
Robert flicked the sheet off his face and asked.
‘How did you know I was still here?’
‘Oh! Your Grace! Where else would you be?’ she
asked breezily as she took the wash basin to the maid at
the door. Then she turned her attention to building up
the fire.
Elizabeth put on her nightgown and then went
to use the commode. Robert lay in bed and listened to
her, but as she came back around the screen he had a
vivid picture of her in aquamarine silk and his heart
skipped a beat.
Robert had bathed and shaved. Carter had been
across to his house during the evening and Burke had
arrived with his clothes for the House. She found it
fascinating to see him shave his own face. ‘Why do you
shave yourself?’ she asked softly from the bed, where
she was propped up against the pillows.
‘Habit.’ He said and scraped another blade full of
soap off his cheek. ‘I got into the habit in the army.’ He
explained as he wiped the soap off the blade onto a
flannel. He pulled his skin tight and stroked the blade
down his face again.
‘I hope you’re not going to do anything stupid,
today?’
He rinsed his face, patted it dry with a towel and
picked up her bottle of cologne, unscrewed the top and
sniffed it, before splashing some in his palms. He hissed
and danced around the bedroom as the cologne stung.
It was enough to make his eyes water. ‘I don’t think I
shall be doing anything stupid, but if I see Craanford, I
shall give him a piece of my mind!’
She flung the bedclothes aside and stomped
over to him, standing right in front of him, looking
upwards into his face. ‘Let me make myself plain, here. I
don’t want you to call him out. I will be most displeased
if you do!’ and with that she turned on her heel and
stomped back to the bed, flicking the linen over her and
folding her arms across her chest.
‘I had no idea I was marrying a tyrant!’ Robert
said, ran across the room, threw himself onto the bed
and kissed her on the cheek. ‘I promise I won’t call him
out today.’ He kissed her softly before he left for the
house.
Mary arrived and the ablutions began as the
maids manoeuvred the bath into the room.
‘Do you know, Mary? I think when we take up
residency across the Square; I’ll have a proper room just
for my bath tub!’
‘That will certainly make it easier, My Lady.’
Mary said with a faint smile. There would be a lot of
things done differently when she was a Duchess, of that
Mary was sure.

Argyll and Robert lunched at Boodle’s Club, in St.
James’s Street. Nearly half the house was in there and
as usual the Claret flowed along with the Roast Beef.

‘Do you think the Earl of Craanford will pester
the Lady Elizabeth again?’ was the topic of conversation
and Robert was silent, concentrating on his food. ‘He’d
be a bloody fool if he did!’ was the consensus of
opinion. ‘It’s not wise to tweak Bosworth’s nose, as
Beresford will find out when he gets home!’ and the last
one was definitely the shock over his decision to marry,
‘Bosworth with a wife? I’ll believe it when I see it. All the
ladies of London will sob in their tea if it’s true!’