Page 79 of Indecently Employed
She cried.
Epilogue
Yorkshire, Autumn 1871
Susanna stood up fromher perch on the long, bright blue upholstered couch Ajax had procured for her three months ago, during the height of summer. He had beamed, extending his arm theatrically as if she could possibly miss the brightly colored piece of furniture. She’d looked at it, then back to the dark, heavy wooden pieces that adorned their solar, considering how harshly modern the couch appeared here among all the fusty old antiques. When she’d asked if he was sure, he scoffed, and insisted.
For it had become difficult to move about as freely as she had before, she’d become so large. Since September, Ajax had refused to allow her down the solar stairs without assistance, so narrow and dire were they for a person in her condition. So she spent most of her time up here, which pleased her immensely, having never before been idle in her entire life.
Still, a certain restlessness had been building in her, now that October was upon them and the time was drawing near. She smiled as she put down the paper she had been reading, a vibrant treatise on the nature of the soul, penned wholly in Latinby Charlotte. Though she could not say she necessarily agreed with Charlotte’s suppositions, her Latin vocabulary had grown by leaps and bounds in the last year, and by that Susanna was impressed. Once the matter with Mr. Samuel Jutton had been settled and he had retreated back to Shilbottle with a look of extreme relief on his face, Susanna had decided to disregard any worries about propriety and remain Charlotte’s sole tutor.
For she enjoyed the practice, and she found herself even more invested in the girl’s success; Charlotte was her daughter now, after all. And because, despite all her fine gowns and her newly acquired home in Whitby, on the beach, Susanna would always be a governess at heart.
A sense of contentment settled upon her, and she placed a hand on her belly and waited, hoping to feel a kick. Just as she was about to shift her weight and stand up, the little one responded, a firm elbow or foot pushing up against her hand.
Susanna’s heart fluttered. For once in her life, she did not have all the answers, did not know what would come to pass when it was her time. Ajax had already engaged a nursemaid, but everything beyond that seemed a great unknown.
And she did not mind.
The little one settled, and Susanna stood and shuffled over to the window.
Charlotte and Ajax were coming up the drive, back from their morning ride, their faces flushed and happy. Well, Charlotte was placid, her cheeks rosy, which was as decent of an indicator as any that she had enjoyed herself. Ajax seemed satisfied, that sly grin on his handsome face.
A heat surged between Susanna’s legs. Never had her husband been so handsome and appealing as in these past months. It seemed as though her mind had been nearly completely overtaken by lustful thoughts and urges that grew in intensityover time as her belly swelled. She felt lush and impatient, constantly driven by this gnawing want—nay,need—for him.
She pushed back from the window, then shuffled back to her couch and sat down heavily. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to reminisce about the previous night, when he’d had her on all fours with her back to him, her massive middle shifting her entire center of gravity with each vigorous thrust.
A warmth spread through her chest, and she idly slid a hand up her neck, wishing it were his.
She did not know how long she’d lain there, touching herself in anticipation of his arrival, when the heavy metal handle clanged against the door.
“Dearest, Mrs. Nathan was asking if there’s anything she might send—oh.” Ajax paused, then made a low, smooth growl that she felt in her core.
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him, and his brows lowered, his jaw set as he removed his gloves and tossed them to the floor. “I see. You’ve started without me, you saucy little minx.”
“Little?” She laughed, then shifted so her wrapper might fall further open, exposing the lace trim of her nightgown lying ever so enticingly upon the swell of her breast.
He ran a hand through his hair, an arousing gesture when paired with his cocky grin. Coming toward her, he removed his coat and threw it to the ground, then undid his neckcloth with an alacritous efficiency. And then he was on her, lavishing kisses upon her mouth, her jaw, her neck, her chest.
They came together in a slow, languid fashion, drawing out their pleasure as if their limbs were made heavy and their minds muddled by an imaginary heat. Although in Susanna’s case it was true; her movements were indeed slowed by her condition. She did not complain, though, unless one counted low, pleasedmoans as a protestation. Ajax waited until she’d come to climax three times, then allowed himself to finish as well.
They remained there for several peaceful minutes afterward, both of them flush with pleasure and warmth. Ajax lay on his side behind her, their fingers intertwined and resting upon her belly.
“I’ve been thinking,” Susanna started, only to pause when she felt him shift against her, then let go of her hand as he sat up properly. “Once the baby arrives, we should consider inviting your family. Up here.”
There. She’d put the idea out there, and now it was in his hands. She’d been pleasantly surprised at his willingness to embrace his family over the past year: Marcus Hartley, as well as Harmonia and her husband, Thomas Rickard. They’d even spent Easter in London, dining at Oswine House with all of them, including Tiberius, who had been hale enough to make it downstairs for the occasion. Still, Gallox Castle remained their own private sanctuary, a window to the past they and Charlotte could escape to when the stresses of London became too much. Ajax had never mentioned wanting visitors, but several weeks ago he’d suggested she might invite her own relations up to meet the baby. It had surprised her, and she’d readily agreed.
And now Susanna fostered a small hope that he might extend the same hospitality to his own kin.
She released a breath, then reached for his hand once more and squeezed it.
He responded in kind, then brought her hand to his mouth, placing a kiss in her palm.
“Would you like that, love?” He spoke in a low purr, and a shiver ran through her.
She forced the feeling aside. “It is not whetherIwould like that, but whether you would wish it.”
He remained silent long enough that she strained to turn around and look up at him. He was absentmindedly brushing her knuckles against his lips, lost in thought.
