In Search of the Past (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #2) (7 page)

The Wakefield Regale

A
s Shane opened the car door for Stacey, she asked, “Who put a burr under your saddle?”

“If that’s one of your down home country sayings, I don’t know what you mean,”  Shane said, as he started the car.

“Oh, I think you do,” Stacey said, “but I’ll let it slide this time.”

When they arrived at Wakefield manor, it was lit up like a Christmas tree and a group of young men were parking cars. “Good, they have valet parking,” Shane said. “Maybe we can get in take care of business and get out.” 

“What’s your big hurry?” Stacey said. “I plan on enjoying myself for awhile. Why waste a perfectly good evening?”

As they went in, Lord Wakefield and Rory were greeting the guests. Rory smiled at Stacey and introduced her to his uncle. The snub to Shane was obvious. Stacey ignored his rudeness and said, “How do you do sir. This is my friend, Doctor McLeod.” 

Lord Wakefield was very nice, nothing like his nephew. “Miss Scott, yes of course, I’ll be more than happy to show you the papers. Allow me to attend to my guests and I’ll send someone for you.”

Stacey thanked lord Wakefield, then she and Shane had a glass of champagne which seemed to put Shane in a better mood. 

“Do you dance?” Stacey asked.

“Do ducks swim?” he answered.

Stacey rolled her eyes. “Yes, but what do ducks have to do with, do you dance?” 

“Young lady, I’ll have you know my mother sent me to dance school, where I excelled.  I was a bit shy and clumsy as a young lad. My introduction to dancing gave me confidence and put me in great demand as a teenager.”

“Sorry I asked,” Stacey said, laughing.

She danced with Shane and found him to be a very smooth dancer.  She was sure he was experienced at many other things as well as dancing. Stacey danced with Sir John as well as three or four other gentlemen she didn’t know. Shane watched as Stacey danced with some of the other guest. He thought, to himself; She may think of herself as a country girl, but she is the most beautiful woman here tonight.

Stacey and Shane were looking around the manor. “My, my, the privileged do live well,” Shane said.

“I wouldn’t want it if I couldn’t have happiness too,” Stacey said. “Actually, I prefer a cozy house. Our ranch house is cozy; every room is lived in from the basement to the upstairs. My mom and dad lived in the basement of our ranch house while it was being built. They were very happy and that’s where I was born,” Stacey said with a sly smile.

Shane laughed at her and said, “I have never before met anyone quite like you.” 

He marveled at the wonder of that as he held her in his arms dancing. He took notice that their bodies fit so well. He had a great urge to kiss her, however, he knew she was too young to get involved with and his common sense told him to steer clear of this alluring young woman.

Around eleven-thirty the butler approached Stacey. “His lordship will see you now, Miss Scott.” Stacey took Shane’s hand and they followed the butler to the library where Lord Wakefield offered them refreshments. Both she and Shane declined. After Stacey told Lord Wakefield a little about her quest, he was intrigued and wanted to help all he could.  He took an old box from his wall safe and showed them the papers the monk had written so long ago.

The paper was very old and yellowed.  They told of the death of the tenth earl of Dun- Raven and his son in June of fourteen sixty-nine. They fought for the house of York. The Duke of York was his liege lord. The war of the roses was a bloody, civil war. King Edward IV went into exile, but returned in fourteen seven-one.  He landed in Yorkshire with one thousand five hundred men. They landed on the feudal domain of Wakefield.  The people of Yorkshire joined him there. The Neville and Warwick families swung over to the Lancastrian side.

“Was this Wakefield an ancestor of yours, sir?” Shane asked

“Yes, I believe he was,” Lord Wakefield said. “Actually the domain of Wakefield belonged to King Edward IV, but we were related to him in a remote way.”

The papers stated: There was no one the countess could count on after the earl and his son were killed in the year fourteen-sixty-nine. She was very fearful for the lives of her three daughters. Brother Ian, who was the castle priest helped them to escape and smuggled them into Scotland. He took them to his brother’s farm.  The  countess was still a comely woman in her late thirties.  The twin daughters were fourteen and the youngest daughter was twelve.

“Does it tell their names or where in Scotland was their destination?” Stacey asked.

“No my dear, but I believe that was for their own safety. Those were bloody times and the nobility were meat for the ax, if on the wrong side. Also it says here, There was Plantagenet blood in the Fitz-Morgan line.  That alone made it dangerous for them. If I’m understanding these writings correctly, the countess didn’t want her daughters betrothed to either Lancastrians or to York’s, where they would have been used as pawns in the disputes between York and Lancaster. Lord Wakefield read on: With both the earl and his son dead, the countess was in need of a protector. It wasn’t Dun-Raven castle alone that met its end. The Lancastrians demolished two other castles that belonged to the earl.”

“Finwick and Falcon Crest,” Stacey said under her breath. Only Shane heard her. “May I please get a copy of this document?” Stacey asked.

“Yes, of course,” Lord Wakefield said. “I’ll have James print you out a copy now. You know, now that I think about it, I believe the countess was very wise to have fled England. We have read of the tragedy of lady Jane Grey. It could just as easily have happened to the earl’s daughters. The royals and nobility certainly sacrificed their children for selfish gain. Well, I sincerely hope this helps with your quest, my dear.”

“I hope so too sir,” Stacey said. “Thank you so much for your help.”

“Where to now?” Shane asked, as they left the library.

“I’m off to Scotland I guess, to see if I can pick up their trail somehow.” 

“Would you fancy a bit of company?  After all, I am a Scotsman.” 

“Are you serious?” Stacey asked. 

“Yes, I’d like to see this through with you. It’s my first quest you know.”

While Shane was having the valet bring the car around, Stacey went to the ladies room.  On her way out Rory was waiting.  As she went by him, she said, “Goodnight and thank you for our invitation tonight.” 

He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into an alcove. “I’ve been watching you tonight with that bastard McLeod. You’re not going to give to him what I’ll take first.”

Stacey smiled up at Rory and put her arms around his neck and said, “If you feel that way about me why didn’t you just say so?”  When Stacey pulled his head down to kiss him, she brought her knee up to his groin with a considerable amount of force. He doubled over groaning.  “You playboy types never learn,” Stacey said. “Maybe you better think twice about visiting Texas. You know we have a saying out there. ‘Don’t mess with Texas.’ So think about it.”

Rory’s face distorted with pain groaned, “You bitch, I’ll get you for this.”

“You think? It will take a better man than you,” Stacey taunted.

Off to Scotland

“W
hat took you so long?” Shane ask.

“Oh, I met Rory and he wanted to play hanky-panky, so we did. I hankied his panky with my knee. He’ll be sore for a few days.” 

“You should’ve called me,” Shane said.

“What? and mess up those beautiful hands. They’re for healing not for hurting.”

As they drove into the drive way at Maxwell house, Stacey said, “Turn off the lights and coast in so we don’t disturb anyone.” 

Stacey took off her shoes when they entered the foyer. When they reached the top of the stairs and turned to Stacey’s room she thanked Shane for a lovely evening.  Shane touched her arm and asked, “Would you mind if I kissed you goodnight?”

“I would mind more if you didn’t,” Stacey said with a smile as she put her arms around his neck and they kissed.

“You don’t know how hard it’s been trying to keep my hands off you this night,” Shane said.

“Then don’t try so hard,” Stacey said, and kissed him again as she reached behind her and pushed down the door handle. The door swung open and she led him into her room. She pitched her shoes to the floor and locked the door.  As she turned, Shane took her in his arms and kissed her again and again. His kisses were warm and sensual. Stacey had never before been kissed by a grown man. While Shane was kissing her he was taking the pins from her hair and letting them fall to the floor.

“It has been a while for me,” Shane whispered to her. “I hope I haven’t forgotten how.”

Stacey was nervous and a little scared. “If you have we’re both in trouble.”

Stacey unbuttoned his shirt to help him out of it.  In his haste he had forgotten to unfasten his cufflinks. “Damn,” he said, as the cuff links flew across the room and he threw the shirt to the bed.  Stacey giggled with nervousness. While they were kissing, Shane unzipped her dress and let it fall to the floor like a soft cloud.  He picked her up and carried her to the bed.

Sometime while kissing, off came the rest of their clothes. Shane was kissing and touching her body.  Stacey was feeling wonderful sensations. With her arms around him and her hands in his hair she was feeling the passion. Stacey wanted to touch him everywhere but wasn’t sure what to do.  From her breast he spread kisses down her mid-drift to her stomach then to her Venus mound. She had heard of this and she wasn’t about to stop him now.  Stacey grabbed the bed with both hands.  She felt as if she were getting higher and higher. When she was back to herself again, Shane was beside her kissing her. She put her arms around him and held on tight as her entered her. When he hesitated, Stacey moved her hands to his hips and pulled him toward her. There was no going back now.

With his head on her pillow and his heart pounding, Shane asked, “Why didn’t you tell me you were a virgin?” 

“What difference does it make?” she asked. 

“If I had known this was your first time, I would’ve tried to prepare you better.”

“If I were any better prepared,” Stacey said. “I would’ve gone into orbit.”

Shane chortled at her remark and held her tighter. He kissed her again and put both arms around her and turned on his side. He chide himself for not bringing condoms with him, but then he wasn’t expecting to have a liaison while on holiday with his family.

“I guess you didn’t forget after all,” Stacey said. “you were wonderful.”

“So were you,” he said with a low chuckle.

“Now I know what all the fuss has been about.” There was a pause, then softly Stacey said, “Shane, I’m glad it was you.”

“So am I sweetheart,” he said.

“Can we do that again?” she asked.

“Yes, my sweetheart,”  he said with a big smile. “As soon as my Willie recuperates.”

Shane lay propped on his elbow with the back of his fingers caressing Stacey’s cheek and jaw line then down to her neck shoulder and arm. “You are so beautiful and your body feels like silk. I know I shouldn’t ask this, but how is it that you’ve remained intact when most young women lose their innocents by or before their late teens. I would imagine you’ve had a slue of young men vying for your attentions.”

“Yes, of course, I’ve been propositioned by guys, but I wasn’t interested in them that way. They were boys and conquest was what they were after. I refused to be some guys trophy. I decided if and when the time came to experience sex, I would choose for myself a mature man, not one interested in accolades.”

“Mature, you chose me because I’m mature?”

“Oh, no, not entirely, you’re very nice and I like you. You’re fun to be with also you have intelligence and sophistication as well as being handsome and sexy and extremely cool, I might add.  I was sure you would be experienced and I wanted someone who knew what to do.”

Shane wasn’t sure how he felt about being used or being thought of as an older man, but when Stacey kissed him he lost all thoughts of everything else except his overwhelming desire for her. They kissed again and again. Stacey had been running her fingers through Shane’s

silky chest hair and rubbing her hand down his arm as well as touching his face and hair.

“Shane, may I touch you?” Stacey softly asked.

“You are touching me.”

“No, I mean...

“Oh, yes, I’d like that,” Shane said, as he tenderly brushed her lips with his, but drew his breath in as her inexperienced hand roamed over his body and down. He couldn’t remember when his body had responded so erotically to a woman’s touch. His soft kiss turned into a deep breath taking one.

With both their hands touching and caressing one another it didn’t take long. Stacey loved his deep sensual kissing.  The look and feel of his body and the hair on his chest. She loved it on him but wanted none on herself except on her head.  Stacey wanted to remember this night. It was her first time and it might be all she would ever have.  She had heard enough guys talk about, ‘one night stands.’  Stacey was young, but she knew sex and love were two different things.  She wasn’t even sure of her own feelings. She knew she liked being with him.  He was handsome, sexy and had a wonderful personality, but Stacey knew they came from two totally different worlds.

The second and third time they made love was even better. This time they flew together. Shane kissed and held her until she went to sleep.  He knew she was asleep because of her even breathing and her hands had stopped roving.  He lay there holding her thinking about the warm sensual trusting look in her deep blue eyes.  Shane knew he should get up and go to his own room.  He made it a rule not to stay the night with any woman, if it could be avoided.

Of course, he had done a lot of things with Stacey tonight he didn’t do with other women. Tonight was a first for him too, for many things. Sex had never been a spontaneous act for him. It was a planned well thought out thing. Through the years the women he dated liked it that way too.  At age seventeen he had started university. His father had a talk with him about women, sex and protection.  An older woman of twenty-three had introduced him to the pleasures of the body.  Until tonight he had lived by a set of rules. No virgins, always use protections and no staying over night when not necessary.