I thank you all for the reviews on the last chapter - rest assured I won't be going into detail on their birth control methods every time, but I figured I should bring it into the story after they had their talk about babies and whether or not to conceive! I want to mention as well, that you will see more of the other characters (like Rose) once the story returns to Gracewood.
As far as Rhys, I appreciate your concerns about whether or not he will sabotage the race...time will tell in that regard. In the meantime, it's a rainy day at Windsor Castle...let's see what's happening...
Chapter Seven
A Rainy Day
The next morning, Meredith woke up to the feel of Derek still wrapped around her, and she was vaguely disoriented for a moment. Ever since they had come to court, Derek had been off to the stables early, leaving her with a lingering kiss before going to watch the grooms exercise the horses. After their late night ride on Midnight, they had managed to return to their suite without encountering anyone other than two of the guards who let them pass by without comment. Even slightly disheveled, Derek had still been exuding that unmistakable aura of masculine authority and she was grateful they were able to escape any questions about their risque escapade. Even now she was tingling at the remembrance of what they had done.
"Derek..." she whispered, touching his shoulder. "Shouldn't you be at the stable?"
"Raining..." he muttered into the pillow, and she listened for a moment, realizing that it was indeed raining. "No need to rush away from you today, love..." His fingers skated along the curve of her hip, coaxing her body into erotic wakefulness.
"Oh..." she sighed happily, "however, I am sure that the Queen will still be awake at her usual hour..." But her body was already responding to the feel of him. She moved slightly, and then her body ached in a different way, due to the bouncing they did on horseback. "Ah...!"
"What is it?" He lifted up on one elbow, his expression concerned.
"Just a little sore from last night..."
"Where does it hurt? I can massage you if you like...or kiss it better..." he grinned suggestively.
"I'm sure you could, and then I will be very late," Meredith sighed again. "She has come to expect to share tea with me first thing in the morning, to discuss the plans for the day Besides, it's your fault that I am sore, even if it was quite pleasurable at the time..." Still she was reluctant to move, too warm in the soft bedding with her husband all attentive and loving, and she wished they were back at home so they could linger like this longer.
"I understand, but forgive me if I'm still somewhat interested in keeping you captive here for the moment," he told her, pulling her beneath him in a swift move that took her breath away. He kissed her, his tongue delving against hers to make her even more breathless, while his body covered hers from top to bottom, skin to skin. When lifted his head to give her that lazy, seductive smile she knew so well, it was impossible to deny him anything, and he knew it.
"Derek...after last night you still want more of me now?" she managed to ask, with a soft smile, touching his cheek.
"Always, I always want more of you." His cock between her legs gave no doubt of that desire. "Just indulge me, vixen..." Even as he spoke, his knee was nudging her legs apart wider, seeking the warmth between her thighs.
"Indulgence is too easy to give in to..."
"I hoped you would say that..." Derek grinned, his hips moving against her already and he was inside of her before she could say another word. The little aches seemed to disappear as the climax surged through her core, and she moaned in pure delight. His thrusts were determined and deep, and he let himself lose himself just as quickly. "Now, love...come again now with me..." he urged her, kissing her deeply again, glorying in the moment of intimacy.
It was still raining when Meredith reluctantly left Derek in their bed, but she discovered with dismay that the Queen had not risen, leaving word with her maid that she had a headache and needed to rest for the day. Due to the inclement weather, it would turn out to be a day of enforced indoor activities, obviously, so she decided to check on the children, before anything else.
She made her way towards their suite, wondering if perhaps Derek was still there as well. Caught in her thoughts, she rounded a corner and found herself face to face with Lord Rhys. His greatcoat dripped water onto the floor, and he wiped errant drops of rain from his face as he blocked the corridor in front of her.
"Well, this is a lovely surprise," he said happily, after giving her a courtly bow.
"Lord Huntington," she murmured, trying to sidestep him, but he moved quickly, leaning against the wall as if he had all the time in the world. His eyes seemed to rake her from head to toe, taking in the demure day dress of light green. Much too sedate for his taste, but still alluring in her own way.
"Tell me, Lady Meredith, do I make you nervous?" he asked, his voice low and amused with that same tone that Derek could take. Was it something bred into these men, she wondered briefly before replying.
"Of course not, Your Grace. I have had enough experience with all manner of men," she replied evenly, refusing to give him the satisfaction of admitting anything else. "Now if you will excuse me, I must attend to my children, and you appear rather damp. I'm sure you must want to dry off."
"Indeed..." His eyes gleamed. "Rather nasty out there."
Meredith raised one eyebrow in question. "So why go out?"
"Just checking on my stallion – he gets nervous in this sort of weather. Did Shepherd tell you of our impending race?"
"Oh yes. He's prepared to win." Meredith couldn't help but smile sweetly.
"So am I, my lady. So am I," he assured her before pushing away from the wall. He leaned in closer than proper manners dictated, putting his hand on her arm. "Would you care to make any other wager on the outcome? Perhaps a more personal...wager?" There was a dangerous gleam in the depths of his eyes as he spoke quietly to her.
Meredith pulled away from quickly. "No, sir, I would not...and do not touch me again." Her voice as frosty as she could make it. From along the end of the corridor, she could a sudden sound of footsteps, distinctly feminine and she gathered her skirts to move before someone could see them and make an assumption about their conversation. "Good day, Lord Huntington...I will take my leave."
Rhys chuckled to himself, raking his wet hair back, before going the opposite direction. This time the woman coming his direction was much more amenable to seeing him. "Good morning, my lord...you looked quite cozy with Lady Meredith," she observed archly. "Care to enlighten me?"
"Ah, my lady, you are up early."
"You never know what kind of secrets you will find out if you prowl around the halls." She linked her arm with his as they strolled along to his suite.
"Quite so."
"Now tell me about Lady Meredith – are you attempting to seduce the good Duchess? She is quite above reproach, from what I see of her. I'm sure she wouldn't be your type."
"The challenge, my dear, is what makes the chase interesting," Rhys commented.
She frowned. "Are you saying that I am no longer interesting since you have caught me, my lord?"
"You are still interesting in your own way," Rhys chuckled, stepping into the sitting room and divesting himself of the coat, leaving it carelessly on the floor.
"Mmm, I do not know if I accept that as consolation." She eyed his damp hair and the dripping coat. "What you were doing out in the rain?"
"Checking on Storm," he replied shortly, ringing for the maid to bring some hot coffee.
"You wanted to check on a horse in this weather, rather than coming to my bed? Should I believe you?" she pouted prettily.
"I have no idea, nor do I care, my dear. You have your secrets and I have mine. We just need to make sure no one finds out about them." Rhys stripped off his linen shirt, letting it fall to the floor as well, before fetching a towel from the dressing room. As he dried his hair, she came up behind him and stroked her hands down his back. His body tightened at her touch. "You shouldn't do that, the maid will be here shortly."
"She can leave it here, we can be in bed, my lord…" she breathed, pressing her mouth to his skin. Muscles bunched under the skin as he waited for her next move. "You know I can please you like no other…"
"Damnation…" he groaned as desire licked his veins, and her talented hands were already sliding around his waist, and doing things to his body that he couldn't deny he enjoyed. When she stroked the rising bulge of his cock, he shuddered at the thrill it gave him. She was accomplished at giving pleasure, as he had discovered during their first encounter.
"You like it too much to stop…" she breathed, and he grabbed her and quickly spun her around to face him. "Tell me you don't…" she panted, crushed against his hard body, his arms pinning her tightly. "Tell me, Rhys…"
He couldn't speak, his whole body focused on the need he felt, his cock throbbing harder than ever. Finally he growled, "I don't want you to stop…" before sweeping her up in his arms and taking her to his bed, too anxious to satisfy his need to think about anything else.
Later in the afternoon, Derek was smoothing Midnight's coat, while the rain still drizzled down outside. He heard the sound of rushing footsteps, smaller in size, and he glanced out the stall door to see Michael running towards him, his sturdy legs pumping quickly. As soon as he saw Derek, he grinned happily, and called out to him.
"Papa!"
"Michael, what are you doing here?" Derek put down the brush and swung the stall door open. His son came hurtling into his arms so that Derek had to back up to keep from stumbling from their combined weight.
"I know it's raining, and we cannot have our family day, but I wanted to see the horses!"
"Do Meggie and your mother know where you are?" Derek inquired, raising one eyebrow, as he crouched down to see eye to eye with his son.
Michael burrowed his head against Derek's shoulder. "Not exactly."
"I see." Derek's mouth quirked. "Do you think they might be worried about you?"
"Are you angry?"
"Not angry, son, just concerned. Give me a moment to find someone to get word to Meggie, all right?"
Michael nodded, happy to have time alone with his father, without all of the girls and baby James around to spoil the moment. Waiting as Derek flagged a groom to take word to the palace, he was content to watch Midnight.
"Mama says you are racing Lord Huntington..."
"Mmm...perhaps," Derek hedged, not sure how much to say.
"You will win, Papa,' Michael said confidently. "Midnight is faster than any other horse!"
"He is very fast."
Midnight snorted and stamped his foot as if in agreement.
"Can we watch?" Michael edged closer to the big stallion, and before Derek could stop him, he reached his hand out to stroke the massive chest of the horse, who was suddenly standing more relaxed. Derek marveled at the sight, realizing just much natural affinity his son had with horses.
"I will need to discuss the race with His Majesty, of course, but if it all works out, then I imagine there will be many that will be able to watch. Even your sisters," he added, ruffling Michael's dark hair.
"I want to be able to race horses someday!" Michael said confidently.
"That may not be a possibility. You are, after all, the first born son of a Duke, the next in line to take the title after I pass it on to you," Derek reminded him.
"But that isn't for a long, long time!" Michael protested, frowning. "I can be a jockey too!"
Derek laughed at that line of reasoning. "We'll see." He glanced out the stall door again, noting the rain was lessening. "For now, I can take you for a ride on Midnight, will that make you happy?"
The glowing smile on his son's face was enough of an answer, and it wasn't long before Midnight was saddled and trotting out of the stable with Derek and Michael on his back. They cantered out of the paddock and then Derek urged the horse into a gallop, while Michael laughed delightedly. "Faster!"
As in all things, Derek indulged his son, giving Midnight his head and they sped through the open field and down the track into the wooded area. Both of them moved with the horse without thought, just enjoying the feel of the horse beneath them and the wind in their faces.
"Did you have a good day, my Duchess?" Derek asked, touching Meredith's cheek with the back of his knuckles after finishing dinner that evening. It felt a little odd to be separated from her as much they had been, not knowing how she spent the time. At Gracewood they were never far from each other's sights. He had ridden with Michael for most of the afternoon, before returning to the castle in time to clean up for dinner and returning his son to the care of Meggie.
"It was rather quiet for a change, except for the momentary panic when I realized that our son had disappeared," she replied, raising her eyebrows at him. While going over some details of the ball with the Queen's secretary, Meggie had urgently informed her that Michael had snuck away from the rest of the children. Thankfully word had been passed to the footman about Michael's whereabouts before panic had set in, but it still left Meredith a little upset.
"I scolded him about that, love. He will not do it again," Derek soothed her.
"Mmm, we shall see, I suppose. Oh...I had a strange run in with Lord Huntington this morning."
"What?" Derek raised his eyebrow, while maintaining his composure.
"He was in the corridor when I came from the Queen's quarters. He was damp, he'd been outside," Meredith murmured. "He was rather presumptuous..."
"What? Why didn't you tell me before?" Derek demanded, his voice low and urgent, as he touched her arm. "Did he do anything to you?"
"By the time I reached our suite, you were gone, and then after that I was too busy to think about it...is it that important?"
"Trust me, love...anything like that is important," he muttered. "Why was he outside so early?"
"Checking on his stallion, he said. Have you looked at it?"'
"Yes, of course. He's a strong looking animal, but not entirely as fleet of foot as Midnight." Derek levelled a cool gaze towards Rhys, who merely nodded back at him. "Did anyone else see him with you?"
"What? Oh, no, there was no one around." Meredith thought for a moment. "However, I did hear footsteps, a woman's, before I took my leave of Lord Rhys."
Derek frowned. "I don't like the fact he was speaking to you alone – he is well aware that it's not proper. As you said about Rowena, he could use it to compromise you."
"But he must know that I would tell you..." Meredith protested.
"I know, love...but it's difficult to tell what goes through his mind," Derek pointed out. "Let's keep it to ourselves for now. The other question is why he was outside so early. I seriously doubt he was checking his horse."
"Returning from an assignation, then?"
"Perhaps, but that wouldn't mean he would have been outside in the rain. Well, unless his lady friend needs to meet away from the castle."
Meredith bit her bottom lip thoughtfully. "What if he was attempting to harm Midnight in some way before the race?"
For a moment, Derek considered this possibility, and he nodded slowly. "You have thought of something I had not, love. However, William is most careful of who comes and goes in the stables."
"But if Lord Rhys is known to check on his horse..." she pointed out, "it may not be that unusual for him to come and go at odd hours. What if he uses that opportunity to sabotage the race?"
Derek frowned and bit back a curse. "I will need to advise William and the other grooms to watch diligently for anything unusual. I agree that Huntington is capable of doing anything to turn the tables in his favor. And above all, I do not like that he spoke to you, alone..." He caught her hand beneath the table and squeezed her fingers.
Their speculation was cut short as the tables were cleared and the musicians began to tune their instruments. As Derek helped Meredith to her feet, he met the calculating gaze of Rhys again. He tried to keep his expression neutral, even as he wanted nothing more than to vent his anger in a satisfying manner; however, this was the royal court and that meant he had to maintain a civilized mask. He tightened his arm around Meredith's waist, watching the King and Queen take their turn around the floor in the first waltz. He hadn't felt this kind of jealous anger since the time he and Marcus had taken care of Jack St. Vincent and the scandalous paintings that man had done of Meredith long before she met Derek. He would never forget that moment, confronting the so-called artist in his studio.
Derek moved closer, and grabbed the front of Jack's shirt. "I want to make it clear that you can't blackmail me or threaten my wife." His voice was ice cold, as he glared down at Jack. Marcus moved in behind them, to block the exit. "What kind of man are you anyway? Taking advantage of innocent young women…tell me!"
"Meredith was very willing, I assure you…" Jack sneered. "All that lovely, virgin flesh…so soft and sweet, the taste like honey on my tongue. But then…you know what I'm talking about…don't you, my lord…?" The insinuation was clear of what the man had done to Meredith, intimately.
With lightening reflex, Derek slammed his fist into Jack's nose, and Jack staggered backwards and sprawled onto the floor. St. Vincent cupped his nose and howled in pain. "Bleeding Christ…you broke my nose, you arrogant bastard…" Blood dripped from his nose, down the shirt and onto the floor. "I'll get you for that…" He sprang up and made a move forward.
Derek anticipated the attack, and grabbed the edge of Jack's shirt as he came at him. Effortlessly, Derek slammed his back against the wall. He drove his fist into Jack's abdomen. "Not so cocky now, are you?" He punched again. "Bullying women – that's cowardly, St. Vincent. I should kill you for putting your filthy hands on innocent young girls."
"Derek..." Meredith murmured, to get his attention back to her.
"Yes, love..." Derek shook himself to bring his thoughts back to the present.
"You are staring rather obviously," she pointed out pleasantly, keeping a smile on her face. "Don't glower, darling..." They strolled along the edge of the dance floor, keeping their voices low.
"I'm sorry, I'm just rather possessive of you," he apologized, patting her hand that rested on his arm.
"I know and I feel rather possessive of you. Which is why I believe that young Lord Westcott across the room there might be a good match for Lady Rowena," Meredith pointed out, nodding towards one of the younger noblemen in the group.
Derek's lips quirked. "I see, very good. How do you propose to get them together?"
Meredith wrinkled her nose thoughtfully. "I haven't quite got that sorted out, but I will!"
"I'm sure you will, love." Derek had no doubt in his mind that his wife would manage to find a way to entice the capricious Lady Rowena to be interested in young Westcott. As far as that rakehell Rhys, however, Derek was not willing to let him off easily...
