Love Sneaked In (Montgomery Family Trilogy) (18 page)

Looking over at Margaret, Helen smiled. “Did you have a restful night? After I go riding this morning, I thought we could take a walk with Christina and Catherine. I make sure that I see them for a few hours every day, so they can get used to me. I think it’s working, because we had a lovely time at the beach yesterday, and Christina even gave me a hug.”

“I’m not sure I’ll be back from my ride with Peter. We’re going to explore some of the caves along the beach.” Helen’s expression tightened and Margaret rolled her eyes. “Oh, don’t worry. Gregory will be with us. I won’t be alone with Peter. Honestly, you worry too much!”

Helen relaxed. “You’re right. I’ll try to stop, but it’s because I know how much it hurts to be misled by someone, and I don’t believe that Peter is serious. Both of you are far too young for either of you to have deep feelings for each other.” Knowing that if she pressed any harder with Margaret she would get mad, she dropped the subject and just hoped Margaret would be sensible. Helen finished her breakfast and walked out to the stables.

When Helen arrived at the stables, Matthew was already there, and he had Ginny ready for her. As he helped her up into her saddle, she blushed when their eyes made contact, and Matthew grinned as he mounted his horse. He knew she’d recalled their lovemaking, and it sent a jolt of electricity to his loins. Once they were on the beach, they let their horses take off, and soon they were racing along the shore.

After riding a while, they pulled back on the reins and slowed their horses down as Matthew asked, “How are you feeling this morning, Helen? I hope you aren’t too sore. Are you sure that you’re up for our ride? I probably should have asked you that earlier. I’m pleased that you allowed me to come to you last night, because I’ve been fighting temptation ever since I met you. You were so beautiful last night with your face all flushed from our lovemaking. I just knew you would be a passionate woman.”

“I feel marvelous today, and I’m barely sore at all,” she said, then lowered her eyes from embarrassment. “I’m glad we finally made love. In fact, I wish we had made love sooner. I thought it was the most incredible experience of my life and I’m going to enjoy the marriage bed. Melody told me that making love was beautiful when shared between two people who care for each other. I’m so grateful we took time to know each other first. Because we did that, it made the whole experience richer and more meaningful.”

“I couldn’t agree more. I know that as our friendship deepens, our lovemaking will continue to be even more enjoyable.”

They rode along in companionable silence for a bit, then got off their horses and began to walk along the shore. It was so peaceful with the waves gently coming in and the sea gulls flying above them in the sky. They stopped walking, and Matthew pulled her against his body and kissed the nape of her neck. Matthew felt so in tune with Helen, and the love in his heart grew.

He enjoyed being with her on the beach so much. The wind was gently blowing her pretty curls all around her head, and she was so beautiful that it left him breathless. He slowly released her, but kept hold of her hand, lacing their fingers as they walked back. He gave her a tender kiss as he helped her mount, and then they headed back to the house.

At the stables, Matthew helped Helen dismount and pulled her close as he whispered in her ear, “If I didn’t have to meet Wilcox, I’d take you up to our rooms and keep you in bed all day.”

“Matthew, I wish we could too. But I understand that we must take care of our obligations first before pleasure. Besides, I’m not sure I’m ready to make love in the daylight. I thought that that was an activity reserved for the night.”

Laughing down at Helen, Matthew reveled in her innocence. “I promise you’ll enjoy making love in the daylight. The visual aspect adds an enticing element. Well, I must meet Wilcox. I’ll see you this afternoon for tea.”

Matthew was having a difficult time paying attention to what Wilcox was telling him. His mind kept returning to the events of the night before and their walk along the beach that morning. Helen was every bit as passionate as he had thought she would be. It had been the most earth-shattering sexual experience he’d ever had. Oh, he’d had much more experienced partners before, but knowing that another man had never touched Helen was quite arousing. He couldn’t wait to introduce her to other delights of the flesh.

Of course, it was more than just the sex—he was in love with her. That was what made it such an incredible experience. Now, if he could just figure out how to get her to fall in love with him. If he could find out why she didn’t want to fall in love, then he might be able to overcome her objections. It was promising to know that she cared about him, so surely that meant she could eventually come to love him over time.

Matthew just needed to be patient and give her the time she needed. While he knew she desired him, he wanted her to fall in love with him as he had with her. He would make sure that they continued to spend time with each other and take his daughters out again. The more she saw him in a good light, the more likely she would be to fall in love with him.

Matthew and Wilcox decided to go to the village to pick up something they needed at the blacksmith’s shop. When they approached the village, he saw Gregory and his friends coming out of the local tavern, and it was obvious that they were drunk. It looked as if they hadn’t even been to bed the night before. Matthew rode up to them and got off his horse.

Tossing the reins to the groom from the inn, he said, “Watch my horse for me, and I’ll give you something for your trouble.” Then he turned to Wilcox. “I need to talk to my brother. Why don’t you go on to the blacksmith’s shop, and I’ll meet you there in a moment.” Wilcox nodded his head and went on down the street. Matthew turned to Gregory. “Did you even come home last night? From your appearance it looks like you haven’t been to bed.”

Gregory laughed as he drunkenly replied, “You’re right big brother. I just won a monkey off some gentlemen at the tavern. We also indulged ourselves with some fine female company, if you know what I mean.”

“Well, at least you came to no harm, but you need to be careful. You could have as easily lost a monkey instead, and you’ve already spent your allowance this quarter. Why don’t you go home and sleep it off? And try to stay out of trouble.” Matthew watched as his brother and his friends stumbled to their horses and left town.

What was he going to do about Gregory?

At this rate, Gregory was bound to get himself in serious trouble. The drinking and wenching didn’t bother Matthew as much as the gambling did. No wonder his father was so determined that he marry again and have an heir. It would be disastrous if something were to happen to him before he’d had time to have a son. Thank goodness Helen had finally let him make love to her. Hopefully she would get with child right away and have a son.

He retrieved his horse, joined Wilcox, and continued their tour of the tenant farms. He was very proud of all that he’d been able to accomplish this past year. He was expecting to have an exceedingly good harvest this year, and many of the sheep would be producing offspring. The sheep shearing had been quite profitable and had helped to enrich his coffers this past spring.

As they neared the next cottage, his tenant rushed toward him. “Milord, thank God ye ‘ave come. Some o’ me cattle are sick, and I’m afraid they might ‘ave somethin’ catchin’. Can ye please take a look at ‘em?”

The cattle were definitely sick, but Matthew didn’t think they were contagious. It looked as if they had eaten something that had made them sick. Matthew sent Wilcox after the gamekeeper to see what needed to be done. They worked well into the night and finally it looked like they were going to be able to save them.

By the time Matthew arrived home that night, it was well past midnight. He found Helen asleep on the couch in their sitting room. He went to his room, called for his valet, Jennings, and took a bath. Once he had washed all the dirt and mud off, he sent Jennings to bed and went back into the sitting room. Helen was still sleeping soundly. He knelt down beside her and just watched her. She looked so beautiful as she lay there asleep. Her skin looked as soft as a rose petal, and her cheeks were delicately pink. He realized he was so fortunate that he’d met her and that she’d been willing to marry him.

Matthew longed to break through the shell she had formed around her heart. If he could just find out why Helen didn’t want a love match, then maybe that would help him win her heart. He gently picked her up and carried her to his bed.

When he laid her down, Helen opened her eyes and smiled at him. “I tried to stay awake for you. I got your message about the cattle. Were you able to save them?”

“Yes, we were. Now we just have to figure out what they ate. It appears that they ingested some type of poison, but we don’t know where they got it. I’m just glad for the quick thinking on the part of Wilcox and the gamekeeper. Without them, the cattle would have died. But enough about that. I want a hug from my sweet wife, unless you’re too tired. If you are, we can just sleep.”

Matthew hoped she wasn’t too tired, but if she was, he would have to beat down his arousal, because he still wanted to sleep with her. That was odd, because he never liked sleeping with any of the other women he’d had sex with. He’d always felt anxious to leave once he had finished having sex. It must be because he loved Helen, where with those other women it had just been about lust. No love had ever entered into it.

Helen stretched as she lazily smiled at Matthew. “No, I’m not too tired. That’s why I tried to wait up for you, but I must have fallen asleep. Of course I’m wide awake now.”

Oh God, she was so beautiful.

He could see the desire smoldering in her eyes.

Lying down beside her, Matthew pulled her into his arms, and began kissing her. He quickly dispensed with her night rail and his robe. Soon they were lying skin to skin, and he felt his shaft swell and grow even harder, if that were possible. Nibbling down her neck, he took one of her nipples into his mouth and suckled it, as he took his other hand and circled the areola of her other luscious breast.

Helen was soon writhing as he kissed his way down her belly. Licking her naval, he looked up at her through heavy lidded eyes and met her passion-filled gaze. He continued to kiss down her belly to the apex where her gorgeous red-gold curls were. Gently, he parted her slender thighs and settled his shoulders between them, as he began to lick her little bud of desire. Helen started to pull away, but he held her firmly in place.

“I promise you’ll like this. Just relax.” Soon, Helen was sighing, writhing, and twisting, trying to get closer to his decadent tongue. Sliding his finger inside her as he continued to lick her little nubbin, he felt her muscles contract and knew she was soaring into bliss, her eyes were closed in ecstasy. When he saw his, he grinned, then climbed up her luscious body and thrust into her tight sheath. Soon he knew she was spinning toward another shattering climax. He thrust deeper and faster as she writhed beneath him. Throwing back his head, he let out a shout as he found his own release. Falling to the side, he pulled her into his arms, tenderly kissed her forehead, and fell asleep.

Chapter 12

Early August 1820

When Helen woke up the next morning, she lay there watching Matthew as he slept. He was truly a beautiful man. She loved the way his hair always looked tousled, even after his valet had tried to smooth it down. There was one curl that just wouldn’t stay in place. She thought she could never get tired of looking at him. As she continued her enamored appraisal, a disturbing realization hit her.

She was falling in love with him.

The way she felt about him was so much stronger than what she’d ever felt for Hanford. She now knew what she’d felt for him was merely infatuation.

Now what did she do?

Oh dear, she didn’t want to get hurt again.

Helen had told Matthew she didn’t want a love match, and he’d told her that he didn’t want one either. She thought she had guarded her heart against love, but Matthew had silently sneaked in when she wasn’t watching. They were certainly enjoying each other sexually, but she wanted his whole heart.

What could she do to get him to fall in love with her?

Helen decided that she would write Melody and ask her for help. Melody would be overjoyed that she’d fallen in love with Matthew. What she needed to do in the meantime was win his affection and friendship. They had already started doing that on their morning rides. It would help if he saw how well she was getting along with his children, and she needed to concentrate on getting this house redecorated. She needed to make herself indispensable to him. Surely, he would fall in love with her, if she did all these things.

The next week Helen got busy with redecorating the house. She ordered fabric from the draper in Plymouth. She found wallpaper that would lighten up all the rooms. She hired extra help so the work could be done quickly.