Page 48 of The Nabob's Designing Daughter
He wrapped an arm around her. “Light a fire in the great hall and gather around.”
Footsteps scurried around her and she leaned into Errol’s warmth. His eyes twinkled down at her.
“Marrying now,” she said, smiling back at him, “will be fine.”
Errol heldher with one hand and lifted a candle with the other as they followed the elderly butler’s candle up the creaky staircase. It was otherwise too dark to see your hand in front of your face.
Which perhaps, thought Ann, was better, since she was suddenly feeling nervous. She had no more than her shift to sleep in, and this on a night so bitterly cold.
At the door of the chamber, Errol dismissed the servant. She watched his candle bob down the stairs, anticipation and anxiety rising in equal parts.
The latch turned, the door opened, and blessed warmth greeted her, along with light from the fire and a dozen beeswax candles lit about the room. The table held a covered dish and a bottle of wine. Such extravagance for so poor a household.
“Oh, I can’t eat a bite more,” said Ann. After their brief wedding in front of their witnesses, the factor and servants of Mounth Tower and Will, who’d stayed for the wedding before dashing back to the castle with Errol’s quick note to the duke, they’d been served a surprisingly good meal—plain fare, but good. She was touched by the kindness of Errol’s servants.
Her servants, too, now.
“You’ll want to eat later.” He lifted her cloak away and went to work on her lacings.
His fingers brushed her skin as he worked, sending ripples of awareness through her, and she could feel his warm breath and—oh. His lips touched her neck, even while his hands continued to move down the back of her gown, slipping it open, pushing it over her shoulders and down until it fell at her feet.
The stays came next, and then he was lifting her up and out of the pool of clothing and carrying her to the big bed. Fingers shaking, he untied a garter and slowly, slowly rolled down the stocking and tossed it aside. Then his fingers traced a path up the same leg, paused at her nether regions, making her gasp, and moved on to the other garter and stocking.
She lay back on her elbows and watched as he tore off his coats and felt the licking into blazing flames when his shirt flew away revealing a muscled chest
He unbuttoned his fall, grinning down at her. She felt the challenge in that grin and sat up, defiantly staring while her body throbbed with that same something she’d felt when Errol was kissing her.
“You’re going to make me blush,” he teased.
He turned away and it felt like a victory until he pushed his trousers down and she saw a well-muscled bum.
She fell back with a giggle and covered her eyes.
In seconds, he stretched beside her and took her into his arms. His hand crept down her leg and then back up again, taking the hem of her shift with it.
“I wish I had a better nightgown for this night,” she said, all nerves again.
“Another time,” Errol said, kissing her. “Though I’m delighted to have you in my bed wearing nothing at all. Might even prefer it.”
A gasp escaped her. His hand had found its way to her nether regions again. She sat up suddenly, tore the shift over her head, and turned fully to him.
The look in his eyes dissolved any trace of her nerves.
The fire had died backwhen an urgent knocking woke Errol. He rubbed his eyes and disentangled from his beautiful wife.
“What is it?” she said, stirring.
“Shhh. Go back to sleep.”
He found his trousers and donned them, then pulled his shirt over his head.
“Beg pardon, laird.” It was the butler, still in his nightclothes with a robe thrown over. “Message from the castle.” He handed over a missive. “Her grace is in need of you. Sent over two horses and begs that Mrs. Robillard attend also.”
Errol scanned the brief note. Her ladyship’s water had broken at four in the morning. “We’ll be down in a trice.”
As soon as the door closed, Ann pushed back the covers and searched out her shift. “The babe is coming.”
“Yes. We are both summoned. Here.” He tossed over her gown. “I’ll lace you as soon as you’re ready.”
