Free The Demure Debutante - a Regency Novella by Caylen McQueen

you?”
    “Of course.” The carriage was about to begin its voyage, so he took a step backward.
    “I daresay you'll be next!” When she saw the confusion on her brother's face, she quickly added, “The next to be married , I mean! You'll find your happiness soon enough. I can feel it!”
    “Oh, so you fancy yourself a seer now?”
    “I do!” Willow exclaimed. Emilia Harcourt was standing a few feet behind Arthur. Was Willow wrong to think he had a tendre for the girl? He was, after all, terribly overprotective of her.
    “Well, I'm in no hurry to get married,” Arthur said. “As soon as there is someone in my life who is worth marrying, you will be the first to know.”
    “Are you sure there isn't anyone now ?” Willow asked. Edward, who was sitting in the carriage beside her, reached for his new bride's hand.
    “Of course not. There is no one worth marrying, I can assure you,” Arthur said. He tapped on the side of the carriage, signaling to the driver that it was time for the landau to depart. “Have a safe voyage, Mr. and Mrs. Harcourt! I will call on you as soon as I can!”
    Little did he know, Emilia was standing directly behind him.
    And he had crushed her heart.

    * * *

    As he stared at his wife in the candlelight, Edward could feel his body stiffen. More specifically, he could feel a particular portion of his body getting stiff. Willow was standing at the foot of the bed, clad only in her nightrail, and the candlelight put the outline of her body on display. In a few short minutes, she would be removing her clothes, and that fact caused his forehead to erupt with beads of perspiration.
    What if I'm a terrible lover? What if I disappoint her? As the time of consummation drew near, his fears became more and more prevalent.
    “You look so handsome,” Willow said.
    “I-I-I do?”
    “Yes. And you're lucky I'm not on the bed with you right now, or you would receive your obligatory pinch.” She grinned at him. “Now... remove your shirt.”
    “I-I...” Edward had a lump in his throat, and no matter how many times he swallowed, it wouldn't go away. He was already down to his shirtsleeves and breeches. He had never been with a woman, nor had he been naked in front of a woman, nor had he seen a woman's naked body. He felt as if his entire body was petrified with anticipation and trepidation.
    “Your shirt, please.” Willow held out her hand. “I need it.”
    As smoothly as he could, Edward whisked his shirt over his head and tossed it at her. When the shirt was off, he lay on the bed with his hands clasped behind his head. Edward was quite skinny, but she was surprised by the muscle definition in his stomach.
    “I'm going to remove my nightrail now,” she warned him. “Are you prepared?”
    “Fully pr-pre-prepared,” he stammered. His vision was fuzzy, every breath was strained, and his heart was near to exploding. If she didn't remove her clothes soon, the anticipation would be the death of him.
    Willow peeled up the nightrail, revealing her legs and thighs. She spun in a circle, giving him a glimpse of all angles. With her back to him, she pulled the gown to her waist. His eyes were anchored to her naked behind, and when she turned around, he felt his loins lurch. Willow tugged the nightrail until it was over her head, then she tossed it to her feet. She was completely naked, exposed to him, and his eyes drank in every inch of her body.
    Willow leapt onto the bed and crawled on top of him. She laid her bare chest against him and covered his mouth with a kiss. As their tongues entwined, Willow fumbled with his breeches. Taking charge of the situation, she tore them off, as well as his unmentionables. When she finished undressing him, she sat up and soaked in the sight of his naked body.
    “My husband,” she whispered. “It feels so wonderful to call you mine.”
    “And I can hardly believe you're my wife,” Edward said. “You're beautiful. Every inch of you is beautiful, Willow. You take