Chapter 17: Sharing the News
Meredith settled into the wing chair adjacent to the fireplace, and smiled happily at Lexie, who was seated across from her. It was the first week in October, and they were ensconced in the London town house. It hadn't taken long to make the move out of Windsor Castle, and she was grateful to have their privacy again. They decided to spend some time in London before trekking back to Gracewood before the weather turned too cold. Derek had arranged to have Storm escorted back to Gracewood, but he had kept Midnight here in order to ride him along the way home; he was well aware he would need to spend time out of the confines of the carriage.
Lexie sipped her tea, and tucked her feet underneath her, before gazing out the windows. A steady drizzle had started, but inside by the glowing fireplace it was cozy and warm. Derek and Marcus were at their club, catching up on current affairs, and likely playing a hand or two of cards.
"It is so good to be here," Meredith sighed. "It was quite an experience, but I am glad it's over."
"What happened with Jane? Is the Queen that determined to summon Lord Rhys back from his estate?"
"It would seem so. Jane was resigned to the outcome, I suppose. Sometimes I wish society was different."
"Mmm...we are lucky indeed that we have married men who adore us," Lexie laughed, resting her hand on her rounded belly. "I would hate to have the kind of husband who married me for duty, and then abandoned me in the country while he had his mistress here in London."
"Yes, far too many men believe once they have an heir and a spare they are absolved of their marital duties," Meredith observed. "Sad but true."
"If Marcus ever thought that, I would be forced to hurt him..."
"You know he would never, and neither would Derek. Both of them are too loving and too honorable...however, Lord Rhys on the other hand..." Meredith frowned again. "Poor Jane..."
"You did what you could, Meredith. The girl made her choice, and they aren't your children, after all. If the Queen cannot understand that, it is her loss." Lexie was practical in many regards. "Now, just put it behind you and let's talk about you...are you expecting yet? I am sure you convinced Derek that you could handle it!"
Meredith smiled over her teacup. "We came to a mutual decision, you could say…and while it may be too early to tell, I am feeling like it could be possible."
Lexie clapped her hands happily. "I knew it! Have you told him yet?"
"Not yet. With the move here and the plans for heading to the country, there hasn't been much time for discussion; besides I want to be sure about it before saying anything."
"You must be glad he was able to leave court with you and the family."
"Indeed, though I'm sure the King would prefer him there, Derek was very adamant he would not stay without us. He negotiated a brief return in the spring, in time for the foals to be born, but it would be a short stay." Meredith was quite sure Derek had been very persuasive in his arguments, as only he could be.
"Mmm…and if you are pregnant, you would not be able to travel then either. Knowing Derek, he would not be away from you long. His own child will take precedence over horses, no matter how expensive they may be!" Lexie reached for one of the sugar cookies on the plate next to the teapot, indulging her sweet tooth.
"I agree, he will want to be there for the birth, and I do prefer to have him with me. Even though I nearly puncture his palms with my nails during labor!" Meredith laughed.
At that moment, Winston appeared at the doorway, carrying an envelope on a silver tray. "My Lady Meredith, pardon me for interrupting." He paused as she acknowledged his presence.
"What is it, Winston?"
"This just arrived for you." He crossed the room and held the tray out for her. The creamy vellum enveloped was addressed in a flowing script, and Meredith instantly recognized the handwriting.
"Thank you. Can you please bring in more tea?"
"Oh, and more of those little cookies?" Lexie added hopefully. "I seem to have a craving for them, and your cook makes them so well."
Winston took the empty plate, and the cooling teapot. "Very good, ma'am. I will convey your compliments to the cook."
"Lord, Meredith...I should stop eating, or I will be as big as a whale," Lexie sighed. "Who is the letter from?"
"Amelia. I haven't heard from her in months." She opened the envelope and pulled out the paper inside. Derek's sister and her husband, Alex, lived far to the north of London, close to the Scottish border. It meant for few visits, and Meredith missed the other woman's company. Amelia had become closer to her than any of Derek's other sisters in their time spent at Gracewood.
"Oh, lovely."
Meredith scanned the letter quickly. "This is wonderful! She wants to know if we would be able to have them at Gracewood for the Christmas season. She says it has been too long since we spent time together, and Alex has business in London early in December."
"That would be a wonderful time," Lexie said, just as Winston returned with a laden tray with fresh tea and a plate of cookies and also fresh scones and jam. "Oohh...and this is wonderful too!"
"Thank you, Winston," Meredith murmured, as he bowed and backed out of the room silently. Before she could pour any tea, they could hear the sound of the front door opening, and the masculine voices in the foyer. "Ah, the men have returned."
Derek and Marcus swept inside the parlor, bringing with them the cool aroma of autumn rain, mixed with the scent of cigars from the club. Both men were in jovial spirits, and as Derek leant to kiss Meredith, she could taste the whiskey on his mouth. "Ah, love, I missed you," he whispered, and they shared that intimate smile that spoke of promised delights to come.
"Missed you too," she replied, squeezing his hand.
Marcus kissed Lexie on the cheek, smiling to see her holding the cookies in her fingers. "Sugar cookies, Alexandra...I should have known..."
"You know I can't resist them. I must get the recipe for our cook."
"Of course. Anything to keep you happy." His gaze rested fondly on his wife, still somewhat amazed that he was happily married, with a family, after being convinced he would remain a bachelor all his life. "Are you ready to head home?"
"Just let me finish the tea," Lexie assured him.
Derek settled next to Meredith, his arm resting along the back of her chair. Idly, his fingers toyed with the tendrils of hair escaping from her chignon. Tonight, they would be staying in, but then the rest of their evenings were taken up with visits with their parents, and other low-key social engagements. He was just impatient to get to the country, but he knew they had to make their appearances. He was just as impatient to have Meredith to himself.
"I trust you and Lexie had a nice afternoon."
"Lovely. I am so happy to be in our own surroundings."
"What gossip were you two discussing?"
"All sorts of things," Meredith smiled sweetly.
"Do not ask," Marcus groaned playfully. "Or we will be in for a discussion of the mating rituals of the young bucks in the ton..."
"...and how the women are gowned in their coming out parties..." Derek added, lifting his eyebrows.
"It's serious business," Meredith pointed out. "Just because you avoided all of that..."
"Marriage mart, with hopeful mamas pushing their reluctant daughters forward..." Marcus said with a mock shudder. "Thankfully, I was not the eldest son, and could take my time to decide my own mind."
Lexie patted his arm. "After you nearly made a disastrous choice with Lady Addison, that is..."
"Please, do I need to do penance for that forever?" Marcus sighed.
"I think being with Addison was penance enough," Derek said dryly. "I continue to give thanks for your actions, or I would never have been able to marry Meredith."
"Glad to be of service," Marcus grinned. The two couples were able to look back on what happened and tease each other, even though for a time Derek and Marcus had not been on speaking terms. "Of course, it was your fault I was injured, leaving Alexandra to tend to me so carefully she stole my heart."
"Poor horsemanship..." Derek quipped, so that all of them laughed, and they spent the next hour visiting and catching up on what was going on in their lives.
"That was a nice afternoon," Meredith observed, later that evening. The children were tucked in their beds, and she was ready to have a late bath. Derek lounged on the bed, brandy snifter in hand, watching her pin her hair up loosely as she sat in front of her mirror.
"It was," he agreed lazily. "I even had an opportunity to make a small purchase."
"What?" She tilted her head and looked at his reflection in the mirror.
"Just a small token of my love."
"Derek..." she protested, but he was behind her then, putting a silver chain around her neck, with a small medallion that settled in the hollow of her throat. She touched it gently, smoothing her fingers over the pendant.
"It's a cameo set in black onyx. I thought you would like it." He kissed the top of her head.
"Of course, I love it! It's so unique."
"After everything that has happened in the last while, I just wanted to give you something to see you smile."
"Thank you, but you know that just being home again with you is enough." She touched his hand where it rested on her shoulders. "I do love how you spoil me, just the same."
"My pleasure..." He pulled her to her feet, and he offered her a sip of the brandy from his snifter, but she shook her head.
"It makes me too sleepy, and I usually feel drowsy enough after my bath."
"Well, I can certainly think of something to keep you awake," he told her, arching one eyebrow. "If you wish, that is..."
"You rogue..." she smiled, turning to head towards the dressing room where the bathtub waited. "As if you need to encourage me..." She peeked over her shoulder, hearing his footsteps behind her.
"Then let me help you. I've rather missed this part of our life." He stalked across the floor, catching up with her easily. His hands grasped the delicate material of her robe, drawing it away from her, so that she moved away from it, leaving her clad only in her thin nightgown. He stopped, admiring the sweet curves of her body, and felt the heavy stirring of desire in his own core. "Take off that gown..." he murmured softly, unable to move as she turned to face him.
A smile played over her lips, as she slowly eased the dainty straps away from her shoulders, letting the silken garment skim away from her breasts. "Like this?" she teased him, holding onto the material to keep it from sliding to the floor completely. Candlelight painted her skin in honey gold, the fullness of her breasts and the nipples already hard under his gaze.
"Just like that...keep going..." he urged, closing the short distance between them in a heartbeat. "Or I will be forced to assist you."
"Oh, I cannot have that, my wicked lord..." she said, but his hands were already on hers, moving the gown past her hips. Sensation laced through her, as he put his hands over her breasts, his thumbs pressing over her nipples. The gown was at her feet, and she was naked, quivering with anticipation as he bent his head, taking her lips in a long, lingering kiss. His hands played over her skin, knowing just where to touch, where to tease, until her senses were stretched tight, nerves coiled, wanting more.
Derek lifted his head finally, regarding her with lazy seduction. "Your bath awaits, my lady. You don't wish the water to get cold, do you?"
"Oh, no..." She blinked, returning to the moment at hand.
Before she could say anything else, Derek scooped her up in his arms, and lowered her into the steaming tub. She sighed in happy appreciation at the feel of the water around her, scented with lavender and oils. Water splashed up his shirt sleeves, and left drops on his chest where the shirt was unbuttoned. Reaching up, she traced the wet path along the dark hair, so that he shuddered at the sensation. He caught her hand, and then leaned closer to kiss her again, his tongue dancing along hers in a searing, demanding kiss that set every nerve in her body on fire.
"Just let me help you for a moment..." he muttered finally, reaching for the soap. With infinite care, he lathered the fragrant soap over her skin. His sure fingers stroked her breasts, and he looked at her closely. "Meredith, do you believe that our efforts have come to fruition?" One hand drifted lower, over her belly, and she gave him a secret little smile.
"Perhaps, though it could be far too soon to be sure...but after having some experience in this, I think I could be."
"Well, we should keep working on it, just in case," he grinned. His fingers delved deeper, under the water, between her legs. Sliding into her, as she gasped in delight, making every thrust of his fingers take her closer to the edge of a climax. Her body throbbed, her skin flushing as the pleasure surged through her, until he let her go slowly.
"Oh, I agree..." Meredith shifted, her voice throaty, as the water splashed along the rim of the tub, further soaking his shirt. It clung to the muscles of his chest, and she admired just how darkly handsome he was. The candlelight cast beguiling shadows over his face, and he exuded pure masculine heat and carnal desire. "I always have a fondness for sharing a bath with you, after our first time."
Derek moved away and pulled the soaked shirt over his head. "You were still rather shy about that, as I recall...even after we shared an afternoon of making love outdoors and spreading melted chocolate over each other."
Meredith giggled softly at that. "I know, and you managed to thoroughly corrupt me, my lord..."
"You enjoyed every moment."
"I always do with you," she smiled in response.
His boots and trousers discarded, he stepped into the tub with her, sliding in behind her. His legs went around her, and he pulled her close to him. She could feel his hard, demanding erection against her back, and she shivered in delicious anticipation. Derek kissed the back of her neck, and around to pull at her earlobe with his teeth. His hands slid up along her ribcage and higher, to cup her breasts, rubbing his thumbs sensuously across her nipples. She was still keenly aroused, and his slightest touch made her eager for more. Those sure and strong fingers of his kneaded and stroked her, fueling the fire raging in her veins.
"You feel like such an angel in my arms," he murmured, lifting her upwards, over his cock. He wanted her suddenly, wanted to bury himself inside of her and lose himself. Meredith whimpered in delight, spreading her legs as the water rose and fell around them. Her fingers gripped the edge of the tub, as he held her tightly against him. But the tub was too narrow, and he swore under his breath, unable to make the close contact he needed.
"Wait...just let me fix this..." Meredith laughed softly, sensing his frustration. With another splash, she twisted around to face him, in order to accommodate him properly. His hips lifted, as she wrapped around him, and with a groan of satisfaction he drove up into her smoothly. Her own cravings escalated in time with his, her nipples rubbing against his chest, her fingers threading into his thick hair. With practiced ease, his hips flexed, as they moved together as one, creating small waves of water around them. He framed her face in his hands, and his mouth caught hers in a feverish kiss, as their slick, heated skin slid together.
His hands lifted her up, away from him briefly, before he brought her down again, engulfing him into her heat even deeper. Her body quivered, close to surrender, as she moaned against his mouth. He pressed deeper still, and she lost herself in the torrent of desire that overtook her, crying out for more. Matching her climax, he rocked against her, holding her closer than ever. Panting heavily, sweat pouring out of them, he kissed her deeply, unable to stop the assault of his tongue and his lips against hers. "Damnit, Meredith…" he finally sighed, pulling away from her. "I can't get enough of you sometimes...oh, I adore you..." he muttered, "always and always..."
Meredith rested against his chest, crushed against him, lulled into contented satisfaction. "Always..." she echoed happily, unable to form any other coherent thought.