Page 37 of The Captain of Betrayal
"So am I."
Her words broke through her fear, urging her to stand and go to her husband. Shyly, on tiptoes, she stretched up to place a tender kiss upon his lips. As their lips met, all her reservations fell away, so that when he deepened the kiss, she did not balk, but rather met his every move eagerly.
It was heaven, she thought through a haze of desire, to be held so lovingly in James' arms. Her husband pressed his body against hers and she marvelled at his strength, his sheer masculinity.
"I think we'd best take this upstairs," James said breathlessly, as, with an obvious effort, he pulled away from her. "If you're ready?"
"I'm ready," Polly smiled, her skin tingling with warmth. "I feel Mrs Tarpy may have been mistaken in her surmising of what to expect from the marital bed."
"We'll have to go upstairs to test your theory," James replied with a wolfish grin. Despite her protests, her husband lifted her up into his arms and carried her up the narrow staircase to the master bedroom.
With tender fingers he helped her to undress, his hands shaking slightly as he undid the laces of her stays. As the last of her clothing fell away with a sigh to the floor, Polly attempted to cover herself with her arms, bashful at being so exposed.
"I want to see you," James gently chided lifting her arms away and traversing her body, most impudently, with desire filled eyes. What he saw seemed to please him, for he carried her to the bed and soon Polly was writhing with pleasure beneath him, as he kissed her fiercely.
Mrs Tarpy had been so wrong, Polly thought afterwards, as she lay dazed, her limbs entwined with her husband's. Making love had not been painful, it had been a joyful union of two souls, made all the sweeter by the words of love that James had whispered whilst he took her. She glanced at her husband, whose arm was thrown possessively over her, and she thought that she had never loved anyone as much.
James' eyelid opened a crack, as though he had sensed he was being watched.
"Well," he murmured, drawing her body close to his. "How did you survive my grievous attack on your person?"
"Quite well," Polly giggled, for his breath was tickling the back of her neck. "No injuries to report, Captain."
"Good," James whispered, kissing her neck softly, his hands stroking her hair. "You shall have to tell Mrs Tarpy that she was quite mistaken, lest she take it upon herself to offer any other new brides advice."
"I'll tell her when I return the fire-poker," Polly laughed, for James had sat up to look at her in question.
"Do I want to know?" he asked.
"No," Polly shook her head, reaching out to pull him back toward her. "The only thing you need to know, is that I'd rather like you to do that again--just so I can be certain when I report back to Mrs Tarpy."
"We might have to try it a few times," James said seriously, "I wouldn't want you to be spreading rumours, unless we are definitely, completely and totally certain that love-making poses no threat to one's health."
And so they did, twice more before the morning, just to be sure.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The town house in Mayfair was still as large and imposing as it had seemed to James all those years ago; the windows of the stuccoed mansion, seemed to glare down at him as he climbed the steps to the front door.
"Nervous?"
James glanced to his left, where the Duke of Everleigh, stood wearing a dark expression, with Lord Keyford just behind him.
"No," James shook his head, "I've no reason to feel nervous of entering my own house."
He reached out and, with a gloved hand, banged the large, brass knocker loudly.
It took a few minutes for someone to come and answer the door. As it creaked open, James noted that it was the same butler who had served the family whilst he had stayed with them, though the elderly man showed no sign of recognition.
"I am afraid that no one is at home," the butler said apologetically as he opened the door wide. "Though if you would like to leave your card, I shall pass it on to the Earl."
"That won't be necessary," Ruan replied congenially, as he stepped past the butler, into the entrance hall. "We'll wait."
James felt a stab of pity for the butler, who seemed startled by Ruan's declaration; no doubt the old man had been warned not to accept callers.
"I'm afraid that's not possible," the butler replied, glancing nervously between Everleigh and James before sending a beseeching glance to Lord Keyford. Both James and Everleigh dwarfed the diminutive man by several inches, and he seemed frightened, despite the fact that neither was behaving in a threatening manner. "The Earl is not at home."
"Actually," Everleigh looked pointedly at James, "I think you'll find that he is."
