Wicked And Wild: Spencers in Love Book Two (15 page)

“Come.” Lucien said as he held his
arms out to her. She stepped down and he scooped her into his arms and carried
her into the house. Mirabelle was beyond caring. She tucked her head into the
corner of his neck and shut her eyes.

Chapter 28

            The next morning, the Clerendon Coach was
leaving the outskirts of London and Lucien was watching Mirabelle settle in for
the ride. He couldn't keep from smiling. She hated travel. Despite it being a
fairly short day between London and Fulbourn, she was acting as if they'd be
enduring days on the road.

            "It's not that bad, sweetheart. We'll be there
by mid afternoon." He said as he began thinking of ways to distract her.
Something about her posture and the way she was fidgeting made him pause. She
looked a bit pale. "Are you feeling alright?" She shrugged.

            "I feel as if I'm going to be trapped in a
box all day." She grumbled as she settled against the cushions. Lucien
laughed softly as he leaned over her.

            "I shall have to see if I can help make the
time go faster." He tilted her face to his and set his lips to hers. She
sighed and closed her eyes, parting for him. Just as Lucien felt himself harden
Mirabelle's eyes opened wide and she pushed him off with a gasp and began
banging on the roof.

            "We have to stop, now!" She yelled.

            The carriage rocked to a halt and she dove for
the door.

            "Mirabelle?" Lucien called to her as she
ran into the trees. He jumped out and headed into the woods after her. A moment
later he heard the sounds of her retching. He grimaced and leaned against a
tree.
So much for an easy day
. Lucien thought and tried to look as
sympathetic as he could when she wobbled towards him. Mirabelle's hair had
started to pull from its bun and wisps curled around her face. He supported her
with an arm around her waist and guided her back to the carriage. Once she was
settled against his chest and the carriage was again in motion, Lucien smiled.
"My love?"

            "Hmmm?" She sounded exhausted.

            "I have never seen you cast up your
accounts. And I'll have you know, I spent an entire summer trying to find
something that would cause you to. I've seen you complain, curse, argue and
chew your nails to nothing in a carriage but you've never been sick."
Lucien adjusted her so that he could see her face. "Is there a reason
we're not discussing the fact that you're pregnant?" Mirabelle blinked
rapidly for a moment and then sighed.

            "I was waiting for another sign. So far, my
courses were just really late and I'm tired all the time. I didn't want to get
our hopes up."

            "I think we can consider it official
now." Lucien said softly as he stroked her back. Another long sigh.

            "And I was so enjoying it being just about
the two of us. Now, we'll have to start making plans and I'll have to be
careful. The Mothers will be all over me. You see how they are with
Elise." Mirabelle sounded so forlorn. Lucien chuckled as he held her
closer.

            "In case you haven't noticed, it's still
just the two of us. The Mothers are with still Elise and we're putting a day's
distance between us." She shrugged against him.

            "Will you allow me to ride when we get to
Winthorpe?" She whispered. Lucien froze. A terrible memory overwhelmed him
and he shook his head. Once it had receded enough, he took her hand and kissed
her fingers.

            "No, my love. I'm afraid you're going to
have to stay away from the stables until next spring." Lucien saw
Mirabelle's lip tremble and felt a pain in his chest. "I'm sorry. But I
thought you'd be happy. You said you were anxious to have children."

            "I am. I was just hoping I could have a few
weeks of riding before everyone started treating me like an invalid."

            "I'll do my best to be reasonable."
Inside Lucien could feel possessiveness and the urge to protect already
blooming within him. He had a whole new appreciation for what Gilles must be
going through. Mirabelle sat up and faced him. Her eyes were so big and
vulnerable. Again, he felt it in his chest.

            "Promise me that no matter how large and
unattractive I become that you won't leave my bed and find someone else!"
She was staring so intently and looked genuinely afraid. Lucien might have been
offended if he weren't so shocked. He pulled her into his lap and kissed her
forehead, then her nose, her eyelids, her chin... He rained kisses upon her
face until she relaxed in his arms.

            "I will want you no matter how big you get
and when we are no longer able to make love, I'll simply wait until spring. I
love you, Mirabelle. When I look at other women, they don't seem right. Their
hair is the wrong color, or they aren't the right height, or their breasts
aren't the right size or they aren't mouthy. They aren't you. It will always be
you." Lucien whispered. Mirabelle sat up and smiled radiantly. He was
about to suggest that he could show her just how badly he wanted her when the
color drained from her face, she groaned and banged on the roof again.

            A quarter of an hour later, they were back in
the carriage and on their way again. Mirabelle was back in his lap with her
head in the corner of Lucien's shoulder. Wrung out and weak, she immediately
started to drift off.

            "I love you too." She whispered as the
tension left her body and her breathing became steady. He wrapped his arms
around her gently and breathed her in.

            "I know. And it's the most miraculous and
precious thing in the world. I know I don't deserve it but I'm so damned
grateful." He whispered as he closed his eyes.

            The carriage didn't roll into the drive at
Winthorpe until late that night. Mirabelle had required frequent stops when she
wasn't asleep and it was hard for her sleep for very long. When the door was
finally opened, she was limp and utterly exhausted. Despite her protests, Lucien
carried her over the threshold. After whispering to Hendrick that the staff
would formally meet the new Duchess of Clerendon in the morning, he carried her
up to their chambers. He couldn't help but smile. Hendrick and much of the
staff had known Mirabelle since she was an infant. Lucien could see that in
addition to concern for her well being, the butler and housekeeper were
overjoyed to have her as the new duchess. 

            Lucien deposited Mirabelle in the large, ancient
bed and stood back. Pride and peace swelled within him at the sight of her.
Winthorpe was where he felt most at home, most himself. He'd never felt more
complete than he did with her there with him, in that bed.

            There was a soft knock at the door. Lucien
opened it slightly and found Hugo and Mary.

            "Is Her Grace not well?" Mary
whispered. Looking over his shoulder, he stepped through and shut the door
behind him. He knew he was going to need her help, and probably Hugo's as well,
so he decided to confide in them.

            "Her Grace is with child. She was sick most
of the day; the drive was very difficult for her." He said softly. Mary
clasped her hands and pressed them to her chest. Hugo looked very solemn and
uncomfortable.

            "Bless her! I knew she must be with her
being so tired and her... well, you know, she's so late." Mary whispered,
Hugo turned red and looked imploringly at Lucien.

            "I'm going to need the two of you to help
me keep things calm and quiet in the wing this evening. We'll need a bath and
hopefully we can get her to eat." Both nodded with determination. "We
might have a fight on our hands in a few days. Her Grace needs to rest and she
will not be able to go about Winthorpe as she used to. She will not be able to
ride." He saw Mary grimace. "Do not let her convince you to get her breeches
and don't let her sneak off in them. In fact, I'd appreciate it if you hid
them, Mary." The maid nodded. Lucien turned to Hugo. "I'll do most of
my riding early, before she rises. I can dress myself if you leave everything
out the night before." Hugo nodded obediently.

            With that, Lucien slipped back into the bedroom.
Mirabelle was where he left her. He went through to his dressing room and
changed into his robe. As he was leaving, Hugo appeared ahead of the tub and
was ready to supervise its filling. From the look on the other servants' faces,
he'd threatened them considerably about making any noise. Lucien nodded and
silently closed the door. He crossed to the duchess' dressing room and found
Mirabelle's robe. He opened the door to the private sitting room and saw two
maids silently and efficiently preparing a table for dinner. Lucien closed the
door and returned to the bed.

            After undressing Mirabelle as gently as he
could, he put the robe around her shoulders and lifted her from the bed again.

            "Sweetheart? You need to wake up." He
whispered against her ear. Mirabelle mumbled and shook her head. "Wouldn't
you like a bath and maybe to eat a little before you go to bed?"

            "Oh, a bath sounds heavenly."
Mirabelle sighed. Lucien smiled as he angled her through the door. He set her
on her feet and tossed her robe on a chair. He helped her step into the tub and
she immediately dissolved into the water, sunk up to her nose and shut her eyes
again. Lucien washed her hair gently and then scooted her forward so he could
settle into the tub behind her. Mirabelle let her head fall back against his
chest and purred contentedly. Which made Lucien feel less than content.  

            An hour later, they were bathed, fed and
Mirabelle was once again asleep in Lucien's arms. Her appetite had rallied and
she ate as much as three men before she started to fall asleep at the table. He
willed his body to relax. He'd wanted her all day and his nerves were frayed
after handling Mirabelle's nude body for the better part of an hour.

            Lucien awoke a few hours later to find that his
wife's other appetites were restored as well. She had her mouth around his
erection and was greedily licking and sucking.

            "Thank God." He groaned as he fisted
his hands in her hair and began to gently thrust his hips. Lucien let Mirabelle
have her way with him for a few more minutes before he rolled her onto her back
and slid into her. He tried to be gentle and take it slow but she urged him to
go faster and harder until his control snapped. Lucien flipped Mirabelle onto
her stomach and placed two pillows under her hips. He spread her thighs wide
and entered her in one swift stroke, grabbing her hips and seating himself fully.
She screamed in ecstasy and begged for more. Lucien rolled his hips and kept
his thrusts hard and deep until Mirabelle sobbed his name and she squeezed
tightly around him. He lasted for a few more seconds before he shouted and lost
himself within her. He rolled onto the mattress and pulled her on top of him.
Mirabelle clutched Lucien's head, pulling his hair and kissed him wildly before
she lifted her head.

            "If you start treating me like I'm delicate
again, I will get a crop and whip you until my delicate little arm falls
off." Her eyes stared into his and she waited until the shock faded.
"Do you understand?" Lucien smiled and pulled her lips back to his.
He grabbed her waist, lifted her and set her astride him. Mirabelle's eyes
flared as she felt his erection nudging at her entrance.

            "Be careful what you wish for, madam. If
you bring a crop in here, you might end up with a stinging backside."
Lucien's hand connected swiftly with her bottom and she gasped in shock. For a
moment, he thought he might have gone too far. Mirabelle froze and her mouth
hung open. Then, she leaned forward and licked Lucien's lips as she began
rocking against him.

            "Do that again, but harder this time."
She whispered against his mouth.

Chapter 29

            The next morning Mirabelle urged Lucien from bed
before sunrise. She was wearing a sprig printed muslin gown, one of Alastair’s
old greatcoats and a pair of half boots. She rushed him to pull on trousers, a
shirt, a greatcoat and riding boots.

            “I thought you were meant to be ill and tired in
the mornings.” Lucien grumbled as she led him through the house and out towards
the stables.

            “I feel fine. One would think you'd prefer I
wasn't sick all morning.” She scolded over her shoulder.

            “I'd prefer another hour of sleep. I had a rather
long evening and you woke me up in the middle of the night.” He replied as he
saw the phaeton being prepared. “Are we going somewhere?”

            “Just to the gate.” Mirabelle announced as she
tugged him and waited expectantly for him to lift her to the seat. Lucien
settled her onto the bench and then went around to join her. He took the reins
and set them down the drive towards the gate. Once they were through it, she
directed him to turn them so they were facing Winthorpe.

            “We’re here. What now?” Lucien looked at
Mirabelle expectantly. She smiled beatifically and pointed at Winthorpe. The
sun was rising over the trees and as it rose, the sand colored stones,
pilasters and columns glowed and the glass windows and their gold leaf frames
gleamed.

            “I was so looking forward to my first glimpse of
Winthorpe as your wife, seeing it as our home for the first time yesterday, but
it was dark by the time we arrived.” Mirabelle rested her head against Lucien's
shoulder and sighed. Not content with the contact, he turned and lifted her,
settling her in his lap. He held her, his chin resting on her head as the sun
continued to rise over their home. The moment moved Lucien so deeply; he felt a
tear slip from his eye. He held Mirabelle closer and thanked God for blessing
him.

            They watched as the sun reached the long cascade
fountain at the far end of the gardens, causing the water to glitter as it
flowed from the temple towards the house. A herd of red deer sprinted across
the park and the forests and gardens came to life before them. Memories of
their childhood flooded Lucien’s mind and he was once again grateful that Mirabelle
was his. She belonged here with him. No one else would have felt right. There
could be no one else as his wife, as his duchess. His hand spread protectively
over her belly and he imagined his children running wild over Winthorpe with
Gilles’ and Elise’s children. And, God forbid, Alastair's, if there was any
woman out there brave enough… He smiled broadly as joy surged within him.

            “Let's go home, Mirabelle.” The words were so
simple but his voice broke as he said them. She tilted her head back and his
lips fell upon hers. Lucien cupped her cheek as he angled his head and kissed
her deeply until he began to feel restless. He pulled his lips from hers and
smiled. “I think we need a few more hours in bed.” He settled her back on the
seat. She pressed alongside him, wrapped her arms around him and laid her head
on his shoulder as he drove her down the drive to Winthorpe.