Dennis, Josie - Wild Heights [Classics Rekindled 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (10 page)

“Child, what were you thinking?”

She could not form an answer. She was not thinking. She was feeling.

And God save her soul, she wanted to feel it again.

Chapter 10

Cathy awoke to sunshine streaming through the balcony doors, catching the raindrops on the glass to sparkle like crystals. Her head ached. Her heart ached. She was in a maudlin mood and nothing would soothe her.

“Chocolate?” Maggie said.

The scent tickled her nose and she smiled. Perhaps something would soothe her. She opened her eyes to find Maggie standing over her, directing Lucy to leave the tray bearing cups and the pot of solace on the side table beside the blessed heather.

“Ah, Maggie.” She came to a sitting position, managing a smile.

“I thought as much.” Maggie turned to Lucy. “I daresay you may return within the hour and see to Miss Cathy’s hair and dress.”

Lucy smiled and bobbed a curtsey before leaving them alone. Maggie poured a cup of chocolate and handed it to her. She settled on the bed beside her while Cathy held the cup to her nose and breathed deeply.

“Are you going to tell me now?” she asked.

Cathy sipped, letting the smooth sweetness wash away the bitterness of last night. “If I must.”

“You know, Miss Cathy,” Maggie began, smoothing the linens as she spoke, “I have always suspected what is in your heart.”

She blinked. “My heart?”

“You love them both, don’t you? Mr. Edward and Mr. Henry.”

Their names sent a stab of wanting through her. “Yes,” she admitted. “More fool me.”

Maggie shook her head. “I shall not ask the particulars. But I will tell you this. They care for you. I’ve seen it growing for years.”

Cathy shook her head, unwilling to be seduced by the possibility. “No.”

“Yes. Despite their…exploits in Town and in the village, they always come back to you.”

Cathy drained her cup, holding it out for a refill. “Where, precisely does that leave me?”

Maggie poured. “What have they done to you?”

Oh, so many wicked things.
Her cheeks flamed as she took another sip of the bracing chocolate. “I do not know what you mean.”

Maggie scoffed. “Where is your spirit? Who is this sniveling girl, hiding in the manor?” She gestured toward the balcony. “Huddling in the rain like a child. This is not the Cathy I raised.”

“What are you saying?”

“You’ve always taken what you want, dear. In everything, from your studies to your choice of dress and amusements. What has changed?”

“Perhaps I have.”

“Stuff and nonsense. You love them. I believe they love you.”

She handed Maggie her empty cup. “That matters little now.”

Maggie stood, taking up the tray. “Does it?” She walked toward the door. “It seems to me that the Cathy I know would grab on to the life she wanted. With both hands.”

With that, she left. Cathy mused for a moment then rose to see to her morning ablutions. Lucy came and soon she was dressed and ready to face her day, whatever it might bring. She stared into the cheval glass.

Maggie could not know the whole of it, what she’d done with Edward and Henry. She was right in one regard, however. Cathy Earling did not settle for what others insisted was correct and proper. She would not do so in this.

Smiling at herself in the glass, she went belowstairs to attempt to find a way to see her own wishes satisfied. The images of Edward’s lovely face and Henry’s dark eyes filled her mind. Perhaps she could have her heart’s desire after all.

As she finished her breakfast, she heard a carriage pull up the drive. Her heart flew up to her throat as she hurried to the window. Had her swains come to call so early? She was astounded to see the vicar emerge from his modest carriage, a look of concern on his lined face. He rapped on the front door, impatience in every sound. Maggie came to answer it.

“Maggie,” she said, grabbing on to her arm, “why is the vicar here?”

Maggie gave her a helpless expression and opened the door. “Mr. Everett, do come in.”

Mr. Everett bowed his head to Maggie then settled his gaze on Cathy. There was censure there, but also concern. That last was far more troubling, in her opinion.

“Miss Earling,” he said, removing his hat.

“Mr. Everett,” she returned with a curtsey. “May I ask what brings you by this morning?”

His brows beetled, and then he glanced at Maggie.

“I shall see to tea,” Maggie said, hurrying from the room.

“Please, Mr. Everett,” Cathy urged.

“I am afraid news of an alarming nature has reached my ears,” he said.

Nausea roiled in her stomach. “News?”

He nodded. “It seems that you and…Mr. Linden and Mr. Heath have been linked in a tale. The stories are…quite disconcerting.”

She managed to swallow. “Surely you are not trading in gossip, Mr. Everett?”

He shook his head. “I merely wish to put you on your guard. To…get the truth of the matter from you to silence the tales.” He gulped. “It has been said that you are involved in a…dalliance with the two gentlemen.”

She could see he was disturbed, ready to believe any explanation she could form. Well, she couldn’t lie to him no matter the cost.

“How can you come here like this?” she asked. “You, who were such great friends with my father, accuse me of such actions?”

“I do not accuse! I mean to put you on your guard, Miss Earling. To urge you to be attentive to the impression you put forth in the village.”

“My impression? I daresay I am as I always was.”

“I believe that is the crux on the matter.”

She pulled in a breath. “What are you saying?”

“You keep to the manor, Miss Earling. You have no particular friends in the village. I believe this led to tales carried by young ladies who have no affection for you. No allegiance.”

“This will surely do nothing to change that, believe me.”

The vicar nodded. “I believe if I can have your assurance that nothing untoward—”

“I am to assure you that I have
not
dallied with Mr. Linden and Mr. Heath?” she cried. “And how, pray, am I to prove such a thing?”

Mr. Everett just stared at her.

She turned from him. “Oh, this is beyond the pale.”

“Indeed,” she heard Edward say.

She hadn’t heard the horses, hadn’t noticed Maggie go to the door, but there stood Edward in the parlor. “Edward.”

“Ah, Mr. Everett,” he said smoothly. “Are you here to offer your felicitations?” He smiled at Cathy, that bright expression she’d sorely missed. “Or perhaps your services?”

“Mr. Linden?” the vicar returned in a bewildered voice.

“You see, sir, Miss Earling has agreed to marry me.”

“Indeed?” Mr. Everett’s face broke out in a grin. “Oh, that is wonderful news!”

Edward watched her with sparkling eyes as if daring her to speak, but she could not ask the questions she longed to now. Not with the vicar watching.

“What of the tales?” she asked Mr. Everett.

“I do not know if this will…” He fingered his hat. “You see, there is still the matter of Mr. Heath.”

“Did I hear my name?” Henry asked, joining them.

“Ah, Henry,” Edward said. “Mr. Everett, Mr. Heath will serve as best man at the wedding.”

“But…”

“Mr. Heath and I are as close as brothers,” Edward said. “He loves Miss Earling as I do. And she loves him. No doubt that is what the attentive folks of Highmoor saw.”

“And perhaps misinterpreted?” Henry put in.

“Oh, yes!” the vicar said. “I daresay such would set their tongues to wagging.”

She remained silent, keeping her expression even lest the vicar see her distress. To lie so to a man of the cloth! This surely compounded her sins.

“Post the banns, Mr. Everett,” Edward said. “I am certain that will cease those tongues.”

The vicar nodded vigorously, wished them all happiness, and took his leave. Cathy sank down on the settee, all the strength leeched from her body.

“There, you see?” Edward asked, throwing his arms wide. “All is well.”

“All is well,” she murmured. She glared up at him. “All is well? You are mad if you think such a lie will cease these rumors!”

“It is not a lie, Cathy,” Henry said. He sat beside her and took her hand. “You will marry Edward.”

“But…” She swallowed as Edward sat on her other side. “But I love both of you. How can I—”

“You will belong to both of us, love,” Edward said, taking her other hand in his. “Our marriage will be legal, and all will leave us in peace.”

“Though ours will be decidedly illegal,” Henry said, dropping a kiss on her fingers, “it will be no less real.”

She pulled out of their grasp and stood. “Marry both of you?” She shook her head. “No. It will never work.”

“Whyever not?” Edward came to his feet. “Tell me you do not love us.”

“Of course I love you both! But how can I expect to be the only woman you will ever be with? Oh, you will grow tired of me. You both have had many women, Edward.” Speaking the words aloud caused her heart to twist. She faced Henry. “Henry, how can you promise me you will keep yourselves to only me?”

“We love you.” Henry took her hand again. “We want only you.”

Oh, how she wanted to believe him. Love was truly in his countenance. She saw that expression mirrored on Edward’s face as well. She could only shake her head, not trusting her voice. Her throat was thick with the tears that threatened.

Henry leaned closer to her. “That last night, love. Did that not prove that we are completely satisfied with only you?”

Heat flared within her at the memory. Both of them making love to her at the same time, each of them giving her so much pleasure she thought she’d die there in their arms. Could the three of them truly stay together? Forever?

“You both love me?” she asked again, looking from one to the other.

“Completely and utterly,” Edward said. He kissed her, gently at first then sweeping in with his tongue to stroke hers. He pulled back and smiled. “We want to spend our lives together.”

Henry turned her face to his. When she opened her mouth to his tongue he tasted deeply of her. Oh, the mixture of the both of them was heady indeed!

“What say you, love?” Edward asked.

She looked from him to Henry and back again, seeing sincerity in all their looks. That, and the heat that simmered among the three of them.

“Yes, I will marry you!”

They each let out a shout, taking turns twirling her about the room until she laughed.

Maggie returned to the parlor, an expression of cautious hope on her face as she set the tea tray down on a table. “All is well?”

“Miss Cathy is to marry me, Maggie,” Edward declared.

Maggie looked at Henry then met her gaze. Cathy saw the older woman knew more than she was saying. The smile on her face was genuine, however.

“’Tis a good thing. Perhaps the two of you will be able to keep her in line,” Maggie quipped. “Goodness knows I’ve enough gray hairs.” She closed the doors, leaving them alone.

Henry and Edward took advantage of the gift of privacy. Edward turned her toward him, kissing her deeply while pressing his hard cock against her belly. A wildness seized her as Henry caressed her breasts from behind, her fichu a memory. He teased her nipples until she gasped. His cock fit so well against her bottom she was unable to keep from rubbing against him with a low moan.

“Quietly, love,” Henry rasped in her ear. “As accepting as Maggie appears, we would not want her to discover you so.”

“H–how?” she breathed as Edward’s gifted hands lifted her skirts to stroke her pussy. “How is that?”

Edward spread the lips of her pussy dipping two fingers deep inside of her. “Satisfied,” he growled.

She writhed in their arms, lost to all but their touch, their scent. They loved her! Pleasure poured through her as she felt herself shatter in ecstasy held snugly between them.

They each kissed her as she settled back to her senses. She soon saw they were still aroused, their beautiful cocks bulging in their breeches straining for release.

“What of you two?” she asked with a sigh.

“I daresay you shall be able to satisfy us, Cathy,” Henry said with a grin.

Edward nodded as he sat with a soft groan. “Later, at the Grange.”

She poured the tea as they spoke of their future together. She would have the loves of her life forever. Never again would she pine for them when they were gone, nor long for them in her loneliness. The three of them would build a life together, in and out of that very large bed at the Grange. And none in Highmoor would have a word to say about it.

She found love on the moors with the two of them. They were two halves of a whole and in her heart forever. She would revel in their wild romance for the rest of her life.