Free Sweet Awakening by Marjorie Farrell

Rainsborough. I know that you will treat her as the treasure she is.”
    “She is even dearer to me, Whitton. You need not concern yourself further with her happiness.”
    Given the coldness of Justin’s tone, his answer was like a slap in the face. Giles colored, nodded, and bowed his farewell to both of them.
     

Chapter Six
     
    They set off on the first stage of their journey early in the afternoon, planning to stop in Farnborough. One of Justin’s cousins owned a small house there and had placed it at his disposal.
    “Do you mind if I close my eyes for a while, Justin,” Clare asked as they left London behind. “I find I am exhausted from this past week.” She slipped her hand in his and leaned her head against his shoulder.
    “Not at all, my dear.”
    Clare was asleep almost immediately and did not wake up until they were only an hour from Farnborough. She could tell from the light that it was late afternoon and was horrified that she had slept so long.
    “I am so sorry, Justin.”
    Her husband looked at her with affectionate amusement as she sat up and smoothed her hair.
    “No need to apologize, Clare. Actually, I am very pleased that you feel so comfortable with me.”
    Clare blushed. It had felt very natural to be that close. And tonight they would be even closer.
    Justin’s cousin had made sure that his housekeeper had everything ready and had left a light supper for them.
    “This is so much nicer than an inn, Justin. I am grateful to your cousin,” Clare said as they sat down to eat after washing up.
    “I wanted our first evening to be ours alone, Clare. No friends, no relatives, no servants. I wanted you to myself,” he added, putting his hand over hers. Clare would have been very ready to push her chair back and go upstairs right that minute. It amazed her that although she certainly had some natural fears about the night ahead of her, for the most part she was eager to become Justin’s wife. His slightest touch made her feel such desire that she was left breathless.
    It seemed a long time until dinner was over. “The housekeeper will be here tomorrow, so we can just leave the dishes,” said Justin with a smile. “Perhaps you would like to go up first, my dear?”
    “Oh, yes, of course,” stammered Clare. She had not known how to make the move herself and was grateful to her husband for initiating things. She could feel his eyes watch her as she went up the stairs, and she hoped he would not be long in following.
    He wasn’t. She had just finished turning down the covers on the bed and was sitting in front of the pier glass, brushing her hair when Justin appeared at the door.
    “Let me, my dear,” he said and coming close, he took the brush, and leaned down and kissed the nape of her neck. Then he drew the brush through her curls gently. She could have sat there forever, in a trance of pleasure, but he put the brush down and whispered into her ear: “Your hair is very thoroughly brushed, my dear. And I am hoping that all my good work will be in vain. Come, let us to bed.”
    Clare crawled under the covers and watched as Justin began to undress. Although he had been back in England for months now, his skin was still bronze from his years in the West Indies, and instead of modestly lowering her eyes, Clare looked at him admiringly as he took his shirt off, exposing his well-muscled arms and chest. When he started to unfasten his trousers, she did look down and heard him give a soft laugh.
    In a moment, he was sliding in next to her. “I am sure that you and your mother spent hours picking out this exquisitely frothy night rail, Clare, and, unfortunately, I am going to slip it right off you.”
    Justin leaned down to give her a light kiss and sliding his hand down her leg, began to push her gown back as he traced the shape of her leg with his fingers. He rested his hand on her belly for a moment and then in one quick movement, grasped the gown with both hands and pulled it over her head.