Montgomery Family 01 - Lost Pleasures Found (29 page)

Henry was waiting for her when she came into her bedchamber. He was already undressed and in bed. She went into her dressing room, and Millie unfastened her gown and helped with her night rail, then Melody sent her to bed. As she crawled into bed, Henry pulled her close, gave her a kiss, and she fell fast asleep. He laid there and just watched her sleep. She was so lovely, and he knew, at that moment, that he was no longer resentful over Melody going on with her life. He felt a lifting of his spirits. He wanted to wake her up and tell her that he loved her, but he did not want to disturb her, because he knew how much time she had spent on getting everything ready for the ball. He just realized that he had not told her he loved her since he had found her again. Henry told himself that he would make sure that he found time tomorrow to tell her that he was sorry he had been such a horse’s ass.
He
could
not
believe
that
he
had
not
told
her
that
he
loved
her.
He
really
was
a
selfish
and
self-centered
bastard
sometimes.
He just hoped that Melody would forgive him and that she still loved him. He would do whatever was necessary to win his way back into her affections. He gently kissed her forehead, closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep.

Henry did not get a chance to talk to Melody the next day, other than briefly, to let her know that he had to go to Doncaster. There had been a fire and several of his racehorses had been lost. He took Stallings and Mansfield with him so they took the ducal coach. He knew they would not be able to travel as speedily, but he had no choice, because Stallings had to come with him. He was right in the middle of putting together a bill for Parliament, and he could not afford to wait until he got back to work on it. Melody wanted to come with him, but he convinced her to stay, because he did not trust his mother to watch over his sisters. They were just at the start of the season, and he did not want any of them to miss any of the entertainments. The children did not need to be taken on such a long trip either, so she agreed he was right and stayed behind.

They traveled nonstop, only stopping to eat and change the horses, so they made the trip in three days. Once Henry arrived, he saw that the damage was quite extensive and would require more time to repair than he expected. His main concern was for his horses. He had lost one of his best racing horses, and he had been planning to start using him for stud next year because of his outstanding bloodlines. The Doncaster Stables was known for producing some of the fastest racing horses in England, and he brought in quite a bit of revenue from his stud fees. Henry sent Melody a message to let her know it would be several weeks before he would be able to return.

Melody was very disappointed that Henry had to leave and that she could not go with him, but she knew Henry was right, especially about the children. It would have been too hard on them, since they did not travel well. It also would have been unfair to Helen and Kathryn. Henry was right about his mother; she would not have made sure that they continued to have an enjoyable season. The days went by swiftly, because they had a ball, soiree, or garden party everyday, and when they did not, they usually went to a play or the opera instead. Melody enjoyed the opera tremendously, and the ducal box was magnificent; it gave her the best view in the house.

Melody was becoming very worried about Kathryn as she continued to withdraw from the family, and she had even stopped painting. She had cancelled several of her art lessons, so this was serious. Melody had attempted to talk to her, but Kathryn would always say she was fine. Helen had also tried to talk to her, but to no avail. She grew paler and thinner by the day. By the end of the week, she felt so poorly that she did not leave her room. Melody knew something had to be done. She and Helen decided to approach her together.

They went to her room and knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Melody tried the door, but it was locked, and Kathryn did not answer when they called her name. It was disconcerting, and Melody decided to use her key to get into the room. As they entered, Melody noticed that all the drapes were pulled, so no sunlight could enter the room. She approached the bed and knew immediately something was very wrong. Kathryn was asleep, but it did not look to be a natural sleep. She had deep circles under her eyes, and her skin tone was ashen. Helen tried to wake her up, but there was no response. Melody shook her hard and still she slept on. By this time, she had grown quite alarmed. Melody called for one of the footman and sent him to get the doctor.

When the doctor arrived, Simpson showed him to Kathryn’s room. Melody let him into the room so that he could examine her. He asked that they step out while he examined Kathryn. After about fifteen minutes, the doctor came out of the room.

Melody asked with great trepidation in her voice, “Dr. Holland, what is wrong with Kathryn? She wouldn’t wake up, no matter what we did. Were you able to get her to wake up?”

Dr. Holland looked at her and shook his head as he replied, “She has been taking laudanum, I suspect, and I would say quite often and in large doses. Has she suffered weight loss and a need to sleep more than usual?”

“We’ve been worried about her for quite some time. She recently experienced something very traumatic, and ever since then, she has withdrawn from everyone. She hasn’t shown her usual enthusiasm for any of her normal activities, but I wasn’t aware she was taking laudanum. She has lost some weight recently and has been sleeping more. What does this mean doctor? What is wrong with her?” Melody asked with worry showing on her pretty face.

“I believe that all the symptoms are there to indicate opium poisoning, and she has become addicted to the substance. I will need to wean her off the drug. I must tell you that it is a very painful process, and she will become very ill and angry to the point of violence when she is no longer able to get any of the drug. She will need constant supervision to ensure she does not get her hands on any more laudanum. Do you have any idea where she has been getting it?” Dr. Holland asked.

Melody looked at Helen in astonishment as she asked, “Were you aware that she had been taking laudanum?”

With a worried expression on her face, Helen replied, “She’s been complaining about headaches, so I did know she was taking it occasionally, but I had no idea to what extent she must have been using it. We should talk to her maid and see if she knows where she’s been getting the laudanum from.”

Melody rang for Kathryn’s maid, Sarah. While they waited for the maid, she asked, “Dr. Holland, “I’m not sure I understand what you’re talking about when you say addiction. Can you please explain this to me?

“Addiction happens when the body starts to physically crave the drug. It can be physically painful for her to go too long without the laudanum. There would be acute stomach cramping, her muscles would ache, and she would experience acute nausea. Over time, she would become extremely overwrought, believing that everyone was out to hurt her. Have you observed any of these symptoms?” he asked.

Before they could answer, Sarah entered the room. Melody immediately asked, “Did you know that Kathryn was taking laudanum?”

Sarah curtsied and said, “Yes, your grace, and I’ve been so worried because she kept wanting more and more of it. She was sending me to the apothecary everyday to get her more, and she kept getting nauseated all the time, but after she would take the laudanum, she would seem to feel better.”

Dr. Holland nodded his head in satisfaction and said, “That explains how she was getting the drug and that she was definitely experiencing major symptoms of addiction. I will try to stay close at hand, because the next three to four days will be the most excruciating time for her. After that, she will still need to be watched constantly, because even after her body quits craving the laudanum, her mind will continue to demand the drug. I have to let you know that many people do not have the determination to leave the drug alone. Your sister-in-law is going to have to want to stay away from the laudanum, if she is going to recover from this addiction.”

Dr Holland returned to the room. It was decided that Sarah would take the first round of duty to assist the doctor in caring for Kathryn. Melody knew that Kathryn might not want to quit taking laudanum, but it was hard to imagine sweet gentle Kathryn ever becoming violent. Helen had started to cry, so Melody went over to her and put her arm around her to comfort her.

The next four days were indeed every bit as horrible as the doctor had predicted. They took turns helping the doctor care for Kathryn. She could not hold anything in her stomach. They had to change her night rail and the bed linens several times a day, because she was sweating profusely. Toward the end of the fourth day, Kathryn fell into a more natural sleep, and she stopped the vomiting and sweating. The doctor said that the worst part of the physical addiction was over, but now came the time for her to start dealing with the mental cravings.

The doctor, before he departed, said, “Please call me if she starts to exhibit any more symptoms. I wish you luck on keeping Lady Kathryn away from the laudanum. I cannot stress enough how important it is that Lady Kathryn not take any more laudanum. I would recommend that someone stay with her constantly for a while.”

Sarah became Kathryn’s constant companion. She made sure that Kathryn ate and did not take any laudanum. Sarah said, “I feel responsible for Lady Kathryn, because I should have come to you, your grace, and told you what was happening to her.”

Melody replied, “Sarah, you aren’t to blame for this. All of us failed to realize how troubled Kathryn has been, so we too were at fault.”

The first few days, after the doctor left, Kathryn was quiet and very biddable, because she was so weak from the aftermath of withdrawing from laudanum. Once she started to get her strength back, she became very irritable and at times alarmingly angry. She would shout at Sarah, and then she would start crying, pleading with them to give her some laudanum. She constantly complained of the headache and believed that only the laudanum would make it go away. Melody became increasingly concerned that Kathryn would somehow find a way to get some laudanum. If they could not convince her that she must not take any, Melody knew Kathryn would find someway to get it. It was very devastating when Kathryn would beg and cry. Then when she did not get the laudanum, she would shout out ugly things, which was not like Kathryn at all.

One day, while Melody was reading to Kathryn, she finally broke down and started to talk about what had happened to her, and how she had felt about what her uncle had tried to do to her. Kathryn had been blaming herself, because she had not told Melody and Henry the complete truth.

Kathryn began to cry and said, “Uncle Theodore has been bothering me for years. It started when I was around six years old. At first, I didn’t understand what he was doing to me, but as I grew older, he began to make me do disgusting things. He told me that I was bad and that he had to teach me the error of my ways. The only way I kept my sanity was to lose myself in my art. Every time my uncle came to visit, I would become nauseated, just thinking about what he would make me do. Once he would leave, then the nightmares and the sleepwalking would start.”

As Kathryn told her story, Melody became so angry over what that bastard had done that she began to cry. She went to sit by Kathryn and held her as they both cried together. From that day onward, Kathryn started to get better. She began painting again and wanting to spend time with her sister. Kathryn had Melody and her children sit for her so she could do their portrait. The children could not sit for very long without becoming irritable and restless, so they would do two short sessions each day.

Melody received a message from Henry telling her that he would be home by the end of the week. He had been gone for four weeks. She had written to him about what had happened to Kathryn, and he was so angry that he was talking about going to the continent to find his uncle and kill him! Melody knew it was very frustrating for him that he was not able to be there with Kathryn.

The dowager duchess, throughout the whole crisis, acted as if nothing was wrong and that they had just exaggerated the entire situation. She refused to believe that her brother had hurt Kathryn. She went to her parties and made her social calls as if everything was all right. Melody could not understand how a woman could be so callous toward her own child. If there was ever a time when Kathryn could use a mother’s love, it was now.

Kathryn really started coming out of her shell. She embraced all the entertainments that were available. It was as if she had been asleep and had just awakened. She became animated at all the balls, and she sought out other young women, and befriended them, especially the shy ones. She was still wary of men, but she did dance whenever any of the gentlemen asked, and she even seemed to enjoy it. It was truly a miracle, and Melody was so happy for her. Henry would be so pleased when he got home and saw the change in his little sister.

H
ENRY RETURNED ON Sunday, and Melody was overjoyed to see him. It had been a very long four weeks. Henry had calmed down by the time he got home and was no longer ranting about killing his uncle, but he vowed that if his uncle ever returned from the continent, he would kill him.

The first time he saw Kathryn, he pulled her into his arms and said, “I’m so proud of you. I had men in my regiment who became addicted to laudanum, and I saw how difficult it was to overcome. Many of them weren’t able to do it. Kathryn, you are a much stronger person for having gone through this and come out whole. Hopefully, now you’ll no longer suffer from the nightmares and sleepwalking. I feel sure that what you were going through, at the hands of our uncle, was the cause of the nightmares and the sleepwalking, and they should stop now.”

Henry was thrilled by all the changes in Kathryn. He had never seen her so vibrant and alive. He had always known that Kathryn would come out of her shell, but now he was going to have other worries on his hands. How to make sure she attracted the right kind of men, since all of them seemed to be vying for her attention. Both Helen and Kathryn were heiresses, and there would be fortune hunters trying to get their attention. He never thought he would have to be the one to protect them. Of course, Kathryn still proclaimed vehemently that she was not interested in any man. She told them that she was going to dedicate her life to her art and that she would never marry.

Kathryn finished the portrait of Melody and the children, and it was the best work she had ever done. She had caught the expression of love in Melody’s eyes as she gazed at her children. Henry thought it was such a beautiful portrait that he had it hung in the drawing room above the mantle.

He stayed so busy the first two weeks that he was back that he had not found the right moment to tell Melody how sorry he was for the way he had been treating her. He decided he would take her to Vauxhall Gardens the next evening as a surprise. He knew she had never been there, and he wanted to make the night as special as possible. He told her to be ready at seven o’clock, but he did not tell her where they were going. He knew Melody was very curious about where he was taking her, but no matter how many times she asked him, he would not tell. All he would tell her was that she would need a mask and a domino.

Melody decided to have plans of her own. She made up her mind that she would seduce Henry. He had not come to her bed since he had returned from Doncaster, and besides, she was tired of him always being the one to initiate their lovemaking. She was determined to get Henry to admit that he loved her. That afternoon, after she had visited the children, she had Millie draw her a bath. She had some new lemon-scented bathing salts that she knew would drive Henry wild. She washed her long honey blonde hair and rinsed it in lemon juice to make it shine and bring out the lighter blonde streaks. After she had finished washing her hair, she luxuriated in the tub until the water cooled. She planned out her seduction and knew she would be successful in getting Henry to tell her he loved her. She refused to accept that he did not love her, and her aunt had helped to convince her that he did. After she finished her bath, she rubbed herself down with her verbena-scented lotion. She decided to take a short nap and told Millie to make sure she was up in an hour.

Melody woke up refreshed and got ready for the evening. Henry had sent her the family heirloom sapphires, which would match her new gown that had just been delivered. As she gazed at her reflection in the cheval mirror, she smoothed down the skirt of her deep royal blue taffeta evening gown with silver trim. She noticed how well the very low décolletage showed off her bosom. She had put some weight back on, but it was in all the right places. Her figure was much more curvaceous than when she had first met Henry, and she knew Henry loved that. She felt she had never looked lovelier and Henry was going to be astounded when he saw her. Millie had swept her hair up to the top of her head, with ringlets cascading to her shoulders. She had used the sapphire and diamond studs to accent her hair, and they sparkled as she turned her head. They looked stunning next to her golden tresses. She dabbed perfume behind her ears and between her breasts, where she knew Henry would kiss her later that night. Finally, she was ready, and she went downstairs. Henry looked up at her as she descended the stairs, and his mouth fell open when he saw her. He held out his hand, and she placed hers in his. Then he raised it to his lips and kissed her fingers. Chills ran up and down her spine in anticipation of what she had planned for the night. She boldly looked Henry over, noticing how attractive he was in his black tailcoat and sparkling white linen. His royal blue embroidered waistcoat matched her dress perfectly. They made an extremely handsome couple.

He placed the dark blue domino around her shoulders and kissed the side of her neck just below her ear, which always caused a tingling sensation in her belly. Henry turned her around as he said, “You look radiant this evening. All the other men will be green with envy when they see you on my arm. Come my dear, let’s depart.”

The ducal carriage was waiting for them. He helped her inside and sat across from her with his back to the horses. She noticed he kept staring at her with desire, causing the blue of his eyes to deepen almost to sapphire. “Henry, where are you taking me? You have kept me in suspense for two days, so can you finally tell me?”

Henry smiled at her and with a knowing look, he said, “We’ll be there shortly, just relax and have a little patience. I promise, you’ll enjoy yourself.”

Soon the carriage slowed down and then stopped so they could get out. As they got out, Melody exclaimed, “Vauxhall Gardens! Oh, Henry, I’ve always wanted to come here.” They got into the boat that would take them across the Thames to the gardens. Melody looked up and noticed what a beautiful night it was: the sky was crystal clear, and the stars shone brightly against the midnight sky. Henry helped her out of the boat and led her to their private box. There were lanterns hanging from all the trees, and people from all walks of life were moving about. He ordered dinner and champagne for them with strawberries and clotted cream for dessert. As they ate their dinner, Melody looked around at the gardens and was fascinated by all the people laughing and having a marvelous time. Henry dipped a strawberry in the clotted cream and fed it to her. Her knees trembled because she was so excited. She suspected Henry had also planned a seduction, but she was going to surprise him when he saw what she had planned for him. Melody looked seductively at Henry, and his eyes darkened with desire.

Henry had never seen Melody like this … She was acting so alluring tonight. He knew that his plan must be working. He was hard as a rock just thinking of the night to come. He knew exactly what he wanted to say to her and also what he was going to do to her. Her breasts looked luscious and the décolletage of her gown was so low that he could almost see the brownish pink areola around her nipple.
God,
he
had
to
stop
thinking
about
ravishing
her
before
he
embarrassed
himself.
Melody drank her champagne, and he could tell she was beginning to get a little tipsy. He had better make sure she did not drink too much. He wanted her relaxed, not intoxicated.

The fireworks started at midnight, and they lit up the sky. It was so fascinating to watch Melody as she looked up at the sky with awe in her beautiful eyes. Henry suggested that they take a walk, so he helped her out of their box. He headed toward the dark walk, which was known for its trysting spots. Melody held tightly on to his arm as they made their way through the crowd, and as they walked, she said, “Where are we going, Henry? I can’t see the fireworks from here, because we’ve moved out of the light.”

Henry took the path to the right, and soon they were surrounded by large trees. He pulled her behind a tree and then said, “This is where we’re going.” And he kissed her ravenously, and Melody gasped as his tongue slid into her mouth. Henry pulled her tightly against him, and she could feel the thick rod of his desire pressing against her belly. She clung to him as her passion began to spiral out of control. He placed his hand on her breast and squeezed her nipple, and it immediately pebbled and grew taut. He slipped his other hand inside her bodice, and her breast popped out as he lowered his head and sucked her taut nipple into his mouth. He sucked furiously on one nipple while he rolled her other one between his thumb and finger. She felt a jolt of desire shoot down to her nether region, and she could feel moisture pooling between her thighs. Her breasts were swollen and heavy, and Henry was panting as he continued to suckle. Melody remembered her plan of seduction and boldly grasped his thick shaft with her small hand.

Henry moaned from the sheer pleasure of it all, “Sweetheart, we must stop before I end up ravishing you up against this tree. As exciting as it would be, I don’t think you’re ready for anything like that. I find your behavior tonight incredibly titillating, and I’m loving every moment of it. I think it’s time to leave so that we can finish what we have started, so come with me, my darling.”

Henry helped her straighten the neckline of her gown, and they headed back to the boat landing so they could leave. They were going in a different direction from the rest of the crowd, and Melody’s hand slipped out of his. He looked behind him, but all he could see was a crowd of people. Melody was so tiny that the crowd immediately swallowed her up. He pushed his way through the people, and he thought he saw the back of her head about fifty feet ahead. He followed as quickly as he could, but the crowds kept pushing him backward, and he lost sight of her again. He finally broke through and rushed to where he had last seen her head. There was a path that led to the right, and in the distance, he thought he saw her hair shimmering in the moonlight. He hurried in the direction where he had last seen a glimpse of her hair. He came to a dead end, and Melody was nowhere to be seen. He began to panic! Anything could happen to her. This was a public garden, and all kinds of rogues were lurking about. He hurried back the way he had come, and about halfway there, he spied a turn off that he had missed before, and he went down the path. He heard a whimper up ahead and ran toward the sound. He saw Melody struggling to get away from a very large man dressed all in black. Henry pulled him away from her and pushed the man out of the way. He was obviously very intoxicated, because he was staggering as he came back at Henry. Henry blocked the man’s punch and hit him hard in the face, and the man collapsed at his feet. He did not check to see if the man was conscious; he just grabbed Melody’s hand, and they ran back to where the lights were. Melody was having trouble keeping up, so Henry slowed down once they were close to the crowds.

With a relieved expression on her pretty face, she said, “Thank goodness you showed up when you did. That disgusting man was about to kiss me! I was ready to let out a big scream even if it did cause a scandal.”

“Are you all right?” he asked. “Are you sure he didn’t hurt you? I’m so sorry I let go of your hand.”

“You didn’t let go, we were pulled apart. I’m fine, Henry. I was a little scared, but I knew you would find me. But after so much excitement, I’m ready to leave. Can we go home now?” she asked.

Henry turned back toward the main path, and soon they were back at the boats. He helped her in, sat down beside her, and pulled her close to his side as they made the trip back across the Thames to their carriage.

Once they were back inside their carriage, he pulled her close to him and said, “Oh god, I was so scared that I had lost you and that something awful would happen to you. You were very brave. Most women would have been hysterical, but you stayed cool under pressure. You’re truly an extraordinary woman.”

Henry held her gently in his arms all the way back to the house. When they arrived home, it was dark, and Henry had to use his key to get in. He had told Simpson not to wait up for them, because he knew that they would be late. He scooped her up into his arms and carried her up the stairs.

“Henry, you don’t need to carry me. I can walk. I’m too heavy for you to carry me all the way up to our rooms,” she said.

He gazed down at her and said, “You’re as light as a feather. Besides, I don’t want to let you go. I almost lost you tonight, and I’m never letting you go again.” Once they were in her room, he put her down. “Turn around so I can unbutton your gown and loosen your corset and stays for you.”

Soon he had her gown loosened, and it slipped to the floor. Melody turned to Henry and said, “Sit down over there by the fire while I finish undressing.” Henry sat down as Melody walked over to her dressing table.

“Are you sure you don’t want any help?” he asked.

Melody boldly stared at him, as she said, “No, I just want you to sit there and watch me.”

Henry looked shocked but pleased by her assertiveness. He leaned back in the chair to watch her. Melody slowly removed her stays and corset, and dropped them beside her on the floor. Then she gathered up her chemise and lifted it up her body revealing her creamy white thighs an inch at a time.
God, her skin glowed in the candlelight, and he felt his shaft pushing against his pantaloons.
Henry held his breath as he watched her seductively glance over at him. The chemise was now at her hips and her sweet golden curls were peeking out. It was almost more than Henry could stand, but for some reason Melody wanted to play the wanton, and he was more than willing to let her. She pulled the chemise up, and her breasts came into view; her nipples were drawn up into tight little buds. She slowly pulled her chemise off and tossed it in the corner of the room. She stood there in just her stockings, garters, and slippers, boldly meeting Henry’s eyes. Melody put her leg up on her dressing table chair and slowly rolled down the first stocking as she ravished Henry with her eyes. Henry sat there in amazement. His erection was so hard that it was almost painful.