Page 52 of One Bed for the Bluestocking
Nathaniel was studying her more closely than she cared for.He didn’t look entirely convinced.“I’m relieved to hear that you have such a wonderful sister.But surely you found it distressing for your father to act in such a manner, regardless of the ultimate outcome.”
Kate shrugged.“My father has always been this way.His actions may be shocking by society’s standards.But my sisters and I did not find them particularly surprising.”
There was a white lie buried in this statement.It was true that her father had always been callous, and that her three sisters had understood his true character for years.But Kate had been caught off guard.She now understood that her desperate longing for him to love her and to value her as a father should had clouded her judgment.She had looked at her father through blinders, seeing him only as she wanted him to be, rather than as he actually was; his betrayal, therefore, had been a deep blow.She couldn’t bear to admit to Nathaniel that at first, she had assumed he intended to take her with him on the Smithers Expedition, that while he might abandon her three sisters, she had honestly believed that she had somehow been different.She felt her cheeks heating, recalling the horrible moment she had learned that she was wrong, that in spite of everything she had done to help him with his scientific work, he didn’t care for her, after all.It was still hard to even think about that moment, much less talk about it.
Nathaniel took her hand in both of his, stroking its back with his thumbs.“I know you’re incredibly stoic.You’ve proved it time and time again these past few weeks.But I’m honestly flummoxed to see you brush aside his actions so easily!”
Kate shrugged and strove to make her voice light.“I am a Weatherby Wallflower, after all.We’re a tenacious bunch.”
Nathaniel tilted his head.“A Weatherby what?”
“A Weatherby Wallflower,” she replied.At his blank stare, she continued, “It’s a nickname given to my sisters and me by the papers.”
Now he looked truly befuddled.“The papers?What papers?”
“Pray don’t ask me to list every paper that referred to us thus, because it will have grown dark by the time I conclude.The short version is that my sister, Clarissa, was jilted, and then most every paper in Britain ran a nasty series about the hopelessly unmarriageable Weatherby sisters in their gossip columns.”
Nathaniel drew back.“Did they really?”
“They did.”She peered up at him.“Have you truly not heard about it?”
“Not a word.”He shrugged.“I don’t read the gossip columns.”
Kate tried to keep her expression solemn, but the corner of her mouth was threatening to turn up.“It’s frightfully dull compared toPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London.”
Nat threw back his head and laughed.He caught her around the waist, pulling her to him.“I regret to inform you that you’re marrying a frightfully dull sort of fellow.Do you mind?”
“Not at all.”Her voice emerged slightly breathless.“I’m afraid you will find your bride equally dull, but also notorious in some circles.”She glanced up at him.“Will you mind?”
“Not in the slightest,” he said at once.
She bit her lip, studying his face.“I’ve been making light of my situation.But I’m serious, Nat.My reputation was extremely bad before my sister became a duchess.And even now?—”
He cut her off with a quick kiss.“I don’t care.”
She gave a bleak laugh.“You might care more than you think.When we were in London, whispers would follow us wherever we went.People would point and laugh behind our backs.I know you want a quiet life, and?—”
This time, he silenced her with a long, passionate kiss.
When he lifted his head, they were both breathing hard.“Now hear this, Katherine Weatherby—there is no amount of petty gossip that could make me change my mind.I don’t care in the slightest about the opinions of a bunch of petty fools.You’re perfect for me.You are literally everything I’ve ever wanted.You won’t change my mind, so quit trying.”He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.“Now, don’t we have more important matters to attend to than this conversation?”
He was still holding her close, so she had an idea whatpressing matterhe had in mind.Speaking ofpressing, it was currently pressing into the soft flesh of her stomach.
“What did you have in mind?”she asked, her voice breathless.
By way of answer, he swooped her off her feet and held her high against his chest.“Why don’t I show you?”
He carried her into the shieling.
By the time they got around to preparing supper, it was pitch-black outside, and they ate their smoked fish and potatoes beneath a sky brilliant with stars.
Chapter25
The last week of their excursion was like something out of Kate’s dreams.
They alternated between observing the eagles by day and making love by night.Although neither she nor Nat had any experience when it came to lovemaking, together they did what scientists did best—experiment.They tried a half a dozen different positions, each one more pleasurable than the last.Kate’s favorite was when Nathaniel lay on his back, and she rode him.She liked it because the sight of her drove him wild, and that roused her further in turn.And because his thick cock hit her atjustthe right angle in that position.And also because in that position, Nathaniel could easily reach up and rub that magical spot at the juncture of her thighs.In that position, Kate could climax two or even three times in a single bout of lovemaking.
She even gathered her courage and tried pleasuring him with her mouth, as he did for her each and every evening.Nathaniel rather obviously enjoyed her ministrations, but he would never let her bring him all the way to his peak.But he assured her that this was only because he loved being inside her so much.She could tell that he delighted in the pleasure she derived from his cock; she could feel him swelling with pride—literally—when she shattered around him.
