One True Love (23 page)

They sat like that for several minutes before she felt his lips touch her head. She wanted to stay like this forever. Her heart shifted a little, as if she went from girlhood to womanhood in a single moment. Her old dreams of wedded bliss with Mr. Parker gathered on the wind and flittered away, only to be replaced by something more fulfilling.

A serene sense of forever held her to him. The world drifted away, and left them alone, and, at that moment, she knew she loved him.

In a moment of daring, she lifted her face to him, and touched her finger to his strong mouth. She offered him a silent invitation to kiss her, to love her, to give her his heart.

William answered her invitation by giving his mouth to her. She opened her lips and accepted his tongue into the depths of her mouth. He tasted like warm honey, and a sweet sensation overtook her, flushed her skin, and gathered in her secret place that ached for him.

She melted into his kiss, long and lingering. His tongue thrust in and out of her mouth, and she met him and matched him kiss for kiss, thrust for thrust. His kisses were the only ones she wanted. Mr. Parker's tingling kisses left her like an insignificant childhood memory in the foggy distance of her past. She craved her
husband's
kisses,
his
hands on her,
his
body merged with hers. She wanted his company, his conversation, his thoughts and opinions, and in this brief second in time, she was determined to have all of him.

Cassie acknowledged she would fight for her husband. She did not know or understand what brought him to her, fate perhaps, but she would not let him abandon her to lonely days and unfulfilled nights. Her fingers tangled in his thick, soft hair, and she held him to her, set his mouth to hers, and gave him all the love in her heart.

In the back of her mind she heard a tap on the carriage door, and a groan in William's throat. She ignored it, but it came again, and this time louder.

"Cassie. Cassie! Are you in there? Are you alright?" Anne's voice echoed through her foggy brain.

"Go away," muttered William.

She pulled away. "I am fine."

The door opened and Anne stammered, "Oh, oh, I am sorry. I thought you were alone. I will just leave now."

"No. It is alright. We were just talking," she said as William chuckled. "Let us go and enjoy the races, William."

"Of course, my dear." William stepped down, then helped Cassie out. He squeezed her hand, and gave her a warm, knowing smile.

When they returned to the Prescott family box, she noted the odd stares from William's family. Mary eyed her with disdain. Elizabeth and Jane's eyes twinkled with curiosity. And William's mother appeared deeply concerned. At least the men were attending to Stephen's horse. William escaped almost as soon as they entered the box.
Traitor.

She pasted a smile on her face and tried to appear cheerful. She wondered if her face appeared tear stricken,
or well kissed
. Could the women guess her improper behavior in the carriage? At least the gentleman in question was her husband. They cannot fault her for a few moments of privacy with her own husband. Could they?

Oh drat! They probably thought she was the worst kind of wife, a country bumpkin, totally unsophisticated to the ways of London life. She could not change her background, or turn herself into a lady of the
ton
. She
was
a vicar's daughter, a simple country miss, an innocent in their world of privilege. Whatever the consequences, she accepted this life when she married William, and she would make the best of it.

Cassie would try to win over William's sisters one at a time. Mary stood at the window eyeing the track with what could only be envy. Mary's mouth watered as if she stared at a plate of sweets. Not one for sitting in the background, waiting for life to happen to her, she decided to start with the one sister who seemed to dislike her the most.

"When does the race begin?" she asked.

"Soon."

"Anne tells me you are an expert horse woman. She says that you have a special way with horses."

Mary shrugged her shoulders, but never moved her eyes away from the activity outside.

Anything in life worth gaining came with struggle, at least that is what her father always said. She turned toward the window and watched as grooms walked the horses along the track, brushed them down, and whispered words of encouragement in their ears. She caught sight of her husband with his brothers and father. They leaned against the fence and talked, laughed, and smoked smelly cigars.

"Do you think Prince will win the race?"

Mary turned towards her with a look of dismay on her face. "Of course." She turned back towards the window.

Cassie wondered if the conversation was an effort in futility. "Do you not wish you could ride on the back of Prince during the race? It must be an exhilarating experience."

"Society and their dratted rules. The only thing women are allowed to do is bat our eyes at eligible gentlemen and discuss the weather. We are nothing more than ornaments to hang on a man's arm. We must ride side saddle in confining skirts, while we simper, whimper, and faint at the hint of scandal. It makes my stomach turn." Mary harrumphed. She was like a little bird trapped in a cage and Cassie pitied her.

"I always thought Society's rules were meant to protect ladies from the sins of the world," said Cassie.

"Protect us? No. They are meant to keep us ignorant of men's debauchery so that they may continue acting the fools they are."

Cassie pressed her lips together to hold back laughter. She could not think of anytime in her life she heard anyone speak with such vehemence and passion. Her parents brought her up to believe it was her duty to act like a lady, to marry and produce children, and to turn a blind eye to a gentleman's indiscretions. Gently bred young ladies should stay innocent of the world's sins. Should they not?

Hearing Mary made her question what she knew about the world. Of course, marriage taught her much already. The few nights she spent with her husband went far beyond her imagination. She felt ridiculously wicked for wanting to do it again.

She did not have time to question Mary further or even consider their odd conversation. The men came indoors and William whisked her away to go and make their bets. She placed an extravagantly foolish bet of ten pounds on Prince. Although the entire Prescott family felt certain Prince would win by a landside, it occurred to her they might be a bit prejudice. William's bet of one hundred pounds astounded her. Their servants made an eighth of that amount in a year, and yet they had bet one hundred and ten pounds on a horserace. The guilt squeezed her consciousness.

As they headed back to their box to watch the race, a palpable energy charged the air that left her breathless and excited. She crossed her fingers and hoped for success. Despite everyone's excitement, and even her own, she had to squash a lump that continuously threatened to rise in her throat. William held her hand as the race began. She held on for dear life and promised herself she would donate her winnings to charity if Prince won. Perhaps she could convince her husband to do the same.

The charge in the air made her feel insanely giddy. She joined the chorus of voices, "Go Prince, yes, go, yes!" as Prince crossed the finish line a victor. William picked her up and swung her around, and then shocked her by kissing her fully on the mouth in front of his entire family. Lost in his kiss, she heard the thunderous cheering and celebration over their win as if it were coming to her through a tunnel. She forgot herself and wrapped her own arms around William and thrust her hands into his hair, dearly wanting to feel close to him, to have him hold her, make love to her, but somewhere in the midst, reality waved its' flag in front of their eyes, as they joined the rest of humanity.

"How much did I win?" she asked while trying desperately to catch her breath.

"One hundred pounds my dear. What will you spend it on?" William's smile made her knees weak. The moment reminded her of their moment in the secret garden where the world seemed perfect.

"Are you quite serious? One hundred pounds? Oh my!"

"You can go on a shopping spree on Bond Street tomorrow," laughed William.

"Oh no, I would not dare," Cassie's voice and her convictions rang clear, "I shall donate my winnings to Anne's home for orphans."

The collective air went out of the room at her statement. Everyone turned and stared at her as if she had two heads. Then Anne rushed over and took her hands. "Oh, my dear, dear Cassie, that is a most generous offer. I shall do the same with my winnings!"

"Count in my winnings as well," said William. Cassie wanted to fling her arms around her wonderful husband. Her heart burst with pride, and another thing –
love
.

"I will give my winnings as well," piped in Jane. "I did not need a new bonnet anyway."

"It is not much, but I will contribute mine too," said Elizabeth.

"Oh, count mine in too," Mary muttered.

"This is so wonderful. We have raised such generous children, Lord Camberley." Lady Camberley smiled up at her husband.

"And they follow by example. We will give our winnings to your home as well Anne. It is a worthy cause," said Lord Camberley.

Anne beamed and Cassie nearly cried from happiness. The collective winnings would make a substantial start for preparing Mulberry House. Stephen and James, beaming from their victory, walked in at that moment.

"Ten thousand pounds! Prince is a sure fire winner," cried Stephen.

"We are all ecstatic with Prince's win, and each one of us has agreed to contribute our winnings to Anne's home for orphans," said Lady Camberley.

Stephen looked around the room. No one dared speak, as they all focused their eyes on the two brothers. The room snapped with quiet energy as everyone waited for Stephen to answer.

"Oh hell, I will contribute mine as well," said Stephen. A cheer erupted from the room, and except for a disapproving glance from Lady Camberley at her son's inappropriate language in front of ladies, everyone crowded around Stephen to express their thanks.

"I guess I am not getting out of here without adding my winnings to the pot," said James.

"Do not even consider an escape, James Prescott," said Anne as she hugged each of her brothers.

Cassie stood back and watched the large and loving family's interactions. It warmed her to her very toes. They may not have shown a high regard for her as of late, but she felt as if she started something of value today.

William rested his hand on her waist and looked at her with his dark eyes. She believed she saw something like love shine in his eyes. She would give all she had to see this look on his face every day, and to see his eyes express such emotion. Her heart swelled.

"You did a good thing today, my dear. Let's go home so I can show you my appreciation." The mischievous twinkle in William's eyes caused her to warm all over. She could not wait to see what he had in mind.

Chapter Thirteen

Cassie fingered the rose silk gown as she gazed in the mirror. Katie swept her hair into a coiffure of golden ringlets, leaving one long curl to sweep down and lie across her bosom. Her dress was positively sinful, and for once, she thought she looked beautiful. The tiny diamonds weaved through her curls made her hair shine even more. Despite her self-lecture to not act upon her vanity, she smiled at the angel in the glass reflecting back her smile.

She wanted to please William. She sighed and turned away from the mirror. Since the horse race, he made a point to spend time with her each day. He conversed with her at breakfast and luncheon, escorted her to teas and on picnics, took her on rides through Hyde Park, and to visit various museums throughout London.
And the nights
... Oh, the glorious nights when he entered her room and showed her all the ways two people could love. Sweet shivers ran down her body as she remembered his touch, and looked forward to being alone with him again.

A knock interrupted her dreamy thoughts. "Come."

William entered, but when he gazed upon his wife, he froze. She relished the look upon his face. It was the same look he had when ravished her naked body each night; a look of lust, and passion, and desire. His eyes roamed her body displayed by the fashionably low cut of her gown, then his gaze rested on the tops of her generous breasts boosted by her tight whalebone corset.