Lady Molly smiled at her husband as he helped her down from the platform.
The night was going very well. It seemed as if everyone who had been invited to the previous ball was at this one. Everyone was very kind, and many people had made mention of the fact that they were relieved the Marquis and Marchioness were safe.
Every time she looked at Lord Sherlock, her heart fluttered. He was looking at her with such open love, and she could see the desire in his eyes. It transformed his face into that of a man who seemed much younger.
She was so glad things had worked out with the two brothers as well. When Moriarty had been talking to them, the Marchioness had picked up on the fact that Irene had been in his employ, but had abandoned him when she truly fell in love with Mycroft.
Lady Molly had taken her father aside on Sunday and asked him to locate Mycroft Holmes and his wife. She only knew they were in Dover, but was certain one of her father's contacts would be successful in finding him. The Marchioness longed to give her husband a gift, to restore the relationship with his brother. She was very pleased her father had been successful at locating the man, and informing him about the ball tonight, for which she had then issued an invitation.
Before Mycroft arrived however, her friend Kaitlyn had taken her aside for a private chat.
"Molly! I haven't seen you since the wedding. You have to tell me everything that has happened. You and your new husband look very happy. I take it you were successful in getting him to fall in love with you?"
The Marchioness beamed at her friend. "Yes, we love each other."
"I knew it!" exulted Kaitlyn. "Was it your kidnapping which made him realize he loved you? I'm so glad you are both okay."
"Actually Kaitlyn, we had been getting to know each other. I told him I would not allow him to make love to me unless he loved me. Sherlock was very angry at first, but he is a gentleman, and he left me alone."
"So, how did things change?"
"The first four days were difficult, but then my husband decided he wanted to get to know me. Oh, Kaitlyn, it has been so wonderful. We share so many interests, and he kisses so well."
"Only kisses?"
"We have not made love yet," confided Lady Molly, blushing. "On the night of my father's ball, I told him I was willing to have a baby with him after all, because I felt he had grown to care for me."
Kaitlyn put her hands to her mouth. "What did he say to that?"
"It was very strange. Instead of accepting it, he asked if I loved him. I couldn't say the words, Kaitlyn. I thought it would just hurt too much for him to know the depth of my feelings. He kept asking me why I wouldn't say the words. Finally, I said it was true. But I told him to say the words first. I thought at least I could pretend he meant it."
Her friend was wide-eyed. "What happened?" she pressed.
"He told me he loved me. I wasn't certain if it was the truth, but then he said it again. He looked right into my eyes, Kaitlyn. I knew he was telling the truth."
"That's so romantic! But if you have loved each other for two weeks, why is it your husband has not taken you to bed?"
The Marchioness blushed again. "My husband suffered a severe blow to the back of the head when we were kidnapped that night. After we were rescued, his doctor said he must not exert himself in any way for two weeks, for fear of the wound opening again."
"Two weeks!" gasped her friend. Then she thought a moment. "That means tonight...after the ball?"
"Yes Kaitlyn. Sherlock's doctor has told him he is free to commence regular activities." She could feel herself blushing yet again.
"So tonight is to be your real wedding night, then?" asked Kaitlyn with a grin.
"You're embarrassing me Kaitlyn!" said the Marchioness, glancing over at her husband. "Oh, I need to go to Sherlock now. "I think, although I am not certain, he may be with his brother. I'll talk to you later." She was rather glad of the excuse to leave her friend. Kaitlyn was the type to ask questions about every intimate detail of her relationship with Sherlock.
Meeting Mycroft and his wife had been interesting. The couple was obviously in love. Lady Molly felt a little twinge of jealousy when she saw the other woman was with child. She hoped she would soon be in the same condition.
When Lord Sherlock had generously offered to buy a cottage for his brother and Irene, she felt so proud of him. She instinctively felt he would not have offered though, if he had still been relying on her father's money. For someone who had locked his emotions away for so long, she could see how he was opening his heart as well, when he had insisted on publicly acknowledging his brother.
Now, Lord Sherlock took her hand and whispered, "Why don't we go out onto the terrace for some fresh air? It is getting rather stuffy in here."
There were large doors leading from the ballroom to the outside which were open. Most people at the ball were congregated in groups and talking. Some had moved into a reception room to eat and drink. There was even a gaming room set up for people who wished to play cards.
Lord Sherlock drew Lady Molly outside. There was nobody on the terrace save themselves, despite the summer evening. It was a little cooler outside than in the ballroom, which was quite welcome.
The full moon shone brightly and its light illuminated the terrace, casting a glow over it and the surrounding garden.
"It's so beautiful out here," said the Marchioness, looking out over the garden.
The Marquis turned her towards him, saying in a very deep voice that thrilled her senses, "Not as beautiful as you."
Then his lips sought hers and his arms went around her. Lady Molly lifted her arms to thread her fingers gently through his beautiful raven locks. Her heart started to pound as her mouth opened under his in mute invitation. He deepened the kiss, holding her more closely.
When both of them were finding it hard to breathe, Lord Sherlock released his wife to say huskily. "I wish this ball was over already. All I want to do right now is carry you up to your bedchamber and make love to you all night."
Lady Molly hid her face against his shoulder,suddenly feelinh shy at his words. "It is what I want above all things too Sherlock, but we can't leave just yet. Soon we will have to lead everyone in the waltz, when you let the conductor know it is time."
He pressed his forehead against hers. "I know, darling. It just feels as if I have been waiting a lifetime for you, which of course is the truth."
He took his wife's hand and they left the moonlit terrace behind.
They had no sooner returned to the crowded ballroom when Lestrade came up with his new lady love, a sweet bespectacled lady named Lori. "There you are!" he exclaimed. I was telling Lori about some of the cases we have worked on together. She couldn't believe we managed to track down two killers in the same night, just by studying evidence at two different crime scenes."
"Oh Greg," Lori said, smiling indulgently at him. "One I can believe, but two in the sane night? How is that possible?"
"Indeed, Lestrade is telling the truth. We solved a case in the late afternoon, and another later that night. It was a good day, wasn't it, Greg?"
"The best!" agreed the inspector enthusiastically.
Lady Molly watched the exchange with interest. It was obvious that her husband enjoyed solving crimes as well as conducting experiments. Perhaps she would be able to assist him with those sometime.
As the evening wore on, the merriment continued. Lady Molly even spied her lady's maid Kayla, dressed in a fairly simple, but still lovely gown. It was quite a surprise to see that her escort was none other than Dr. John Watson. When the Marquis and Marchioness went over to talk to their friends, they discovered that the good doctor had met Kayla by chance on one of his frequent visits to check on Lord Sherlock's wound, and the two had got along well, resulting in John asking her to accompany him to his best friend's ball.
"Kayla, why did you not tell me of this?" inquired Molly. "I would have gladly lent you one of my gowns."
"Oh, I could not have done that. Besides," her lady's maid said, "I had nobody to help me into such an elaborate style of gown. I am quite happy with my best Sunday gown."
"I think you look simply lovely," stated the doctor.
"Indeed you do," agreed the Marquis.
As the pair left their friends, Lord Sherlock remarked, "I am glad to see that John is finally picking up the pieces of his life. I hope he is able to find happiness again. He is a good man."
Molly squeezed her husband's hand. "I agree. He needs another mother figure for his precious babe, and Kayla is a lovely woman."
As the evening wore on, he Marquis and Marchioness walked amongst the guests, nodding and smiling. They were the centre of attention, whether they liked it or not, which made it next to impossible for them to slip away.
Lord Sherlock spoke to the conductor, who began the music for a waltz, and the crowd parted to allow the Marquis and Marchioness of Sherrinford to lead it. Eventually, other couples joined them.
Lady Molly felt like a princess in her husbands arms, dancing in her beautiful emerald gown. It was like something from a fairytale. Once the waltz had ended and other music was once again playing, Lord Sherlock took her hand again.
"We should have something to eat. I don't want you to faint from lack of food when we go upstairs, my love," he told his wife.
Lady Molly obediently followed him to the reception room. Chef Ramsay had outdone himself, providing dozens of different dishes, both savoury and sweet ones. The couple sampled a little of most of the dishes so that they would be able to offer their compliments to the chef later. Lord Sherlock even playfully fed Molly a piece of cake, sharing it with her.
"Mmm, this is delicious," she praised, enjoying the rich chocolate flavour.
"You have a little piece of cake at the side of your mouth," her husband said.
"Where?" she asked.
"I'll take care of it," he responded, moving in to kiss the side of her mouth.
Lady Molly giggled. Fortunately there were not many people in the reception room, and if anyone noticed their little display of affection, they pretended not to.
"Champagne, my darling?"
"Why not?" assented the Marchioness.
With glasses in hand, the couple walked once more to the door to the terrace. Itbwas feeling uncomfortably hot again in the ballroom.
This time there were other people also enjoying the cool night air. The moon still shone brightly overhead, giving the terrace an unearthly glow, illuminating the garden, where there was a dimly lighted path with benches and hedges along it.
"Shall we take a little walk in the garden?" asked the Marquis. "I don't think you've seen this area before, have you?"
"No, I've only seen the other side of the house, the garden which leads to your workshop."
The newlyweds stepped off the terrace and into the garden. There were many semi-private areas that had obviously been designed with guest in mind. Lady Molly thought she could hear whispers of conversation here and there. She was almost certain she recognized Lestrade's voice in one of the secluded areas, no doubt enjoying a little privacy with his Lori.
The Marquis led his wife further along the path. Little fairy lights lit the way, but were fewer in number, the further they wandered. For others it would have been too far from the house, unless they were familiar with the surrounding area.
Lord Sherlock finally indicated an arbour. Flowers were blooming over a trellis with a bench underneath.
"Father had this put here for Mother when they were young. I always thought it ridiculously sentimental, but not anymore."
The arbour was lit only by the moonlight, and Lady Molly thought it looked very romantic.
"Do you think people will miss us?" she asked, a little hesitantly.
"By this time, people are beginning to do other things, like play cards or take romantic walks. I wish to spend a little time alone with you here. Then we will make one last appearance before we head upstairs for...bed."
Lady Molly could not help the thrill of anticipation that went through her at her husband's words, and the way he had dropped his voice to its lowest pitch for the last word.
The Marquis took her champagne glass from her and put it on the grass, along with his own, before seating himself on the bench.
She would have sat beside him, but he said, "No, Molly. I want you to sit on my lap so I can kiss you properly."
"But my skirt...it is too full," she protested.
"Molly, if you can sit on a chair, you can sit on my lap. Just angle yourself slightly towards me."
She sat gingerly, moving her petticoats to one side so she could sit more comfortably.
Lord Sherlock's one arms supported her and his other reached up to cup her chin and turn her face to his. Instinctively, the Marchioness placed both hands around his neck. He kissed her, starting with feather light ones on her eyes, her nose her cheeks, before pressing his lips to hers.
Lady Molly felt her heart beat begin to quicken as he continued to kiss her, moving his hand from her face, to her shoulder, then to cup her breast through the fabric of her gown.
"Oh Molly," he breathed against her lips, and she could hear the raw desire in his voice. He squeezed her breast gently and she let out a gasp. "My beautiful Molly."
He continued to kiss her until they were both panting.
Finally, the Marquis reluctantly stopped kissing his wife. Her body was inflamed with desire for him and she whimpered in protest when his lips released hers.
"I'm not going to make love to you here, my darling. But one day I will, I promise you that."
Then he rose from the bench, helping Lady Molly to slide to her feet. He retrieved the champagne glasses and they walked slowly back to the ballroom. Lady Molly could see that her husband's face was flushed as she knew hers was. Fortunately, by the time they returned to the terrace, their breathing and flushed faces had returned to normal. Molly noticed a shrewd look on Irene's face, where she stood next to Mycroft on the terrace. She had a feeling the couple might have been enjoying some private time of their own.
Inside the ballroom things were even noisier as people imbibed freely of the choicest wine and champagne. The heat from all the bodies felt oppressive, and Lady Molly wondered how people could tolerate it for such a long period of time.
Lord Sherlock sought out his mother and found her in a gaming room, playing whist with some friends. "Mother, may I speak with you a moment?" he asked her quietly.
"Of course darling." Turning to her fellow card players, she said. "Please continue without me. I will be back later."
Lady Molly's hand was firmly clasped in her husband's as he said, "Mother, would you mind terribly seeing to the guests for the rest of the night? If people ask where my wife and I are, would you please make our excuses? It has been a long night, and I just want to spend some time alone with my wife."
The dowager Marchioness raised a knowing eyebrow. "I have noticed your absence already tonight."
"Please, Mother," Lord Sherlock entreated.
The elderly woman patted his cheek. "I'm just teasing, son. Of course I can make your apologies to the guests. I doubt too many are in a condition to notice if you slip away now. I've seen the longing glances you give each other. Go and enjoy your...wedding night."
Lady Molly knew then that the dowager Marchioness was completely aware of the way things were. She was apparently cognizant of the fact that her son had not been able to be intimate with his wife. She smiled shyly, and then blushed.
"Thank you, Mother!" The Marquis gave his mother a brilliant smile, and drew his wife from the gaming room, through the crush in the ballroom. He walked with such single-minded determination that nobody ventured to stop then.
Once in the enormous entrance way, the couple stopped for a moment, enjoying the comparative quiet. Nobody saw them except Wiggins, the footman on duty, who gave them a knowing smile and cheeky wink.
Lady Molly blushed but returned his smile. Then Lord Sherlock put his arm around his wife's shoulders, and side by side they walked upstairs.
Author's Note: until I noticed the "Love by Moonlight" title from a Barbara Cartland novel, I hadn't even thought about having Sherlock and Molly spend some time outside of the ballroom. I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out. What did you think?
Are you ready for the big love scene, finally?
Thanks to tboy1971 for suggesting a partner for John. Lestrade''s partner will be seen in my Journey story as well as an upcoming two-parter I will be publishing soon. Lori is a character especially written for reader EllemichelleP.
Your support as readers of my story is appreciated, and I am always open to suggestions for character development and improvement. Any additions or changes I make as a result of a reader's suggestion will always be acknowledged. Thank you!