Page 32 of The Earl's Reluctant Bride
“It makes me think only of here and now,” Elizabeth murmured. “I never knew I could feel like this.”
Alexander groaned. “This is only the beginning for us, Elizabeth.”
Alexander fished around in his pocket until he found a match and he reached for the candle and lit it. Elizabeth straightened her dress while he buttoned his breeches. He gazed deeply into her eyes and he remembered her kissing him and pulling his breaches. He needed Elizabeth to want him and it was clear that she did. He felt it when he touched her. She desired him, him inside her, and yes there was lust but he found that he wanted more. He wanted her to care for him, he wanted to be the only man she yearned for. He reached out and cupped her face ….Can I be the only man for you Elizabeth?
CHAPTER14
Elizabeth gazed deeply into Alexander’s eyes. His gaze was piercing and she wondered what he was thinking. Her body was shaken by the intensity of their love making. Alexander reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Shall we try another of these wines,” he asked as he raised the demijohn to pour her a glass.
They remained in the cellar for a while longer sampling various wines but Elizabeth hardly thought of them. She dutifully had a taste whenever it was offered but her thoughts went back to Alexander’s kiss, his exploring hands, and his thrusts deep inside her. She was grateful for the pale light so he would not see her heightened color and know her carnal thoughts. She found she liked the feel of him inside her much more than she expected. She wanted more and she hoped that he would come to her bed this night.
She was conscious of his nearness for the remainder of the time they were in the cellar. Alexander held her hand as they exited the wine cellar into the daylight. She thought he would have dropped her hand as soon as they exited but he did not. He did not let her go.
“I must attend to some affairs so I will next join you at dinner,” Alexander said.
Elizabeth glanced up at him. “Duty calls.”
“I am afraid it does. How will you spend the afternoon?”
“I have decided to take advantage of the lovely gifts that you bought me. When we were by the stream, I had the urge to draw it and I shall.”
“It should make a lovely drawing.”
“I will take Teague and Princess with me for company.”
Alexander stopped and pulled her to him. “The staff are at your disposal Elizabeth and one of them could remain with you by the stream.”
“That will not be necessary Alexander. The stream is but a stone's throw from the manor and I prefer to draw in solitude.”
“As you wish,” Alexander replied as he planted a kiss on both cheeks before claiming her mouth.
They set off and shortly thereafter they arrived at the front entrance. The butler opened the door and Alexander made his way to the library while Elizabeth went to the drawing room that contained all the art supplies that Alexander had bought for her. She chose the items she needed and asked the staff to have Teague and Princess brought to her. She placed her satchel over her shoulder and exited the main entrance just as her beloved pets bounded around the corner of the house. They jumped at Elizabeth’s feet and wagged their tails. She bent down to pet them and received wet licks on her face. Elizabeth giggled. They were so beautiful.
She walked to the stream with the pups bounding ahead of her as they frolicked with each other. Elizabeth found a spot that would be perfect to paint so she sat underneath a tree, shaded from the sun. She took her supplies from the satchel and she was soon immersed in her work. Hours passed and she had several drawings that pleased her, but she decided to complete another.
Her head was bent over her paper when a voice stilled her hand.
“I was told that I would find you here,” the woman said, her voice tinted with judgment.
“Pardon me,” Elizabeth raised a brow as she got to her feet. The woman was dressed in a fashionable yellow day dress with a gold-encrusted cameo brooch. The stern expression took away from the beauty of her appearance.
“I am the Dowager Countess of Thornton and I just arrived at Thornton Manor only to be told that you were at the stream,” the dowager countess scrutinized Elizabeth as though she was an odd creature.
Elizabeth gave a short curtsy, “I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Thornton. I am afraid we were not expecting you. Alexander is at work in the library and I decided to indulge in my favorite pastime.”
Lady Thornton huffed, “You look scandalous. You are not dressed appropriately. Your clothes are filthy and scruffy. You are not comporting yourself as the countess. Thornton is a distinguished line, my dear. You have much to aspire to and a high standard to maintain. I suppose it is behaviors like this that landed you in that predicament.”
Elizabeth recoiled and her head snapped back as if she had been slapped. Her mind raced to the conversation she had had with Alexander upon his return. If her memory served her correctly, he did not mention any hostility from Lady Thornton toward her. As far as she was concerned Lady Thornton had accepted Alexander’s marriage so what was the reason for this?
“Lady Thornton, I enjoy painting a beautiful setting in nature. It brings me comfort for art can be therapeutic for the mind and body. I can hardly draw and paint outdoors and remain pristine. Alexander knows of my preference for this art and he chose to marry me. I will not change it,” Elizabeth replied decisively. As soon as she uttered the words she wondered if she had not spoken out of turn.
Lady Thornton sniffed. “I do not believe your judgment is always sound for look at the predicament from which my son snatched you. I am merely saying that—”
Elizabeth had heard enough. She spoke firmly, “Lady Thornton all the materials used to create my drawing, all the material that you see here were provided by Alexander. He wanted me to have them because he understands my creativity. You and I have only just met, yet you referred to my scandal and you cast aspersions regarding my judgment. I will only remind you that regardless of my flaws I am Alexander’s wife and that is where we are. I hope that you will find it befitting to become better acquainted with me now that I am your daughter-in-law. If you will excuse me.”
Elizabeth stooped down and began to gather all her items. She did not mean to speak so firmly but she struggled to maintain an even conciliatory tone. Alexander’s mother had only just arrived and she did not wish to make an enemy of her but she found Lady Thornton was getting under her skin. She was insufferably rude. Elizabeth wanted to be a good wife to Alexander but she would not accept this.
