The last guest had left half an hour ago and the Manor was silent apart from the gentle snores of Bertie, who was laying by the stairs asleep.
Richard and Audrey walked out of the drawing room together, she had one foot on the stairs when Richard touched her hand.
Turning back to him she saw him smile before he asked "Shall we dance".
De ja vu washed over her as she remembered him asking her the same question over 25 years ago the night of the party where she had asked him to marry her.
"There isn't any music darling" she said moving towards him
"We don't need any, I just want to hold you close" he said slipping his hands around her waist bringing her closer to him.
She ran her hands up his chest then wrapped them around his shoulders as he began to lead them in a slow dance.
Audrey sighed and rested her cheek against his, the feel of his stubble where it rubbed against her sending a shiver down her spine.
She had missed him so much, even the silly little things he did she had missed.
Richard loved the feeling of holding her close again. It wasn't the bad food or having no clean clothes that had made him desperate to get her back it was her, he needed her.
But something was still bothering him and he needed to ask her.
"Darling what did you mean earlier?"
"When darling"
Richard pulled back enough to look into her eyes "When you came in you said 'Just in time', then asked me what I had to say for myself"
Audrey looked down guiltily "Oh that, Well I...I don't know"
He ducked his head trying to get her to look at him again "Audrey..."
"I thought you'd given up on me...decided to live it up with some younger models" she confessed
Richard was shocked "I would never give up on you Audrey, I love you...and as for finding someone else, I only want you"
Finally she looked back up at him her eyes finding his "I know that darling truly, it's just I missed you and my mind was conjuring up all sorts of things" she sighed "I'm sorry"
Richard took a breath "Do you remember a few weeks ago when the rector asked what our secret to a happy marriage was?"
She nodded
"You said trust and openness" Richard continued
She nodded again "I remember and I do trust you Richard, I always have. But..."
"I wasn't open in telling you that I was Farmer Tom...Audrey, it's true I did start the company for you but I did it for me as well. I worried that if we lost the Manor you would think me a failure. I'd be the second man you'd trusted your heart to who had lost the Manor. I didn't want to let you down, I had to do something"
Audrey shook her head "Darling no you could never let me down and how many times do I have to tell you, you are more important than the Manor." She said as she ran her hand up the back of his neck, her fingers toying with the hair above his collar.
"Not telling you was a mistake" Richard continued "but I don't regret starting it up and I promise you I have no more secrets"
A thought occurred to Audrey "Just how much did you sell your shares for?"
Richard chuckled "You once told me talking about money was vulgar"
"And it was then but when I married you I found it could actually be quite an aphrodisiac"
Richard's eyebrows rose "Really? Well let's just say more than enough to give Alan Sugar a run for his money"
"Mmm...that is a lot"
"Well, is it a turn on?" He asked nibbling on her ear.
Before she could reply Bertie let out a loud bark. They both turned to look at the puppy and laughed.
"I'd better let him out" Richard said as he let go of her and went to stroke Bertie.
"Don't be long darling I'll be waiting for you" Audrey said as she walked up the stairs.
Fifteen minutes later and Richard was still outside with Bertie trying to get him to do his business.
"Come on Bertie, I've got a beautiful woman waiting upstairs for me" he pleaded
Bertie just looked at him and then went back to sniffing the grass.
Richard rolled his eyes and then tried one more trick "I'll give you a treat"
Bertie stopped and immediately did his business then wagged his tail at Richard.
"Good boy, there's a good boy." He said stroking him behind the ears.
Once they were back inside Richard gave the dog the treat he'd promised him and then started to climb the stairs.
The sound of little paws behind him made him stop halfway, turning he saw Bertie following him.
"No Bertie you stay there" he said pointing back down the stairs. He climbed a few more steps then herd the sound again.
"No, Bertie" he told the dog but then he started whimpering. Richard didn't want to leave him like that so he went back down to him.
He squatted down in front of him "Alright, if I let you sleep upstairs will you be quiet" he asked the dog
Bertie barked
Richard laughed "Come on then" he said picking him up.
Audrey was wondering what was taking her husband so long when the bedroom door opened to reveal Richard caring Bertie in his arms.
"Darling why have you brought him up here?"
"He kept following me and whimpering, I couldn't leave him on his own" Richard said as he sat on the bed with Bertie still in his arms
"Oh poor baby" Audrey said rubbing Bertie's back. "Put him on the blanket in the corner darling, then come to bed"
With Bertie laying now laying in the corner Richard removed his dinner jacket and bow tie. Undoing the first few buttons of his shirt as he sat on the edge of the bed next to Audrey.
He leaned in and kissed her gently, then moved his lips down to her neck, her hand automatically went to his head holding him to her while the other undid the remaining buttons of his shirt.
She pushed it of his shoulders and pulled him down to lay half on top of her. She was in paradise as his lips moved to her collarbone, his hand lowering the fabric of her nightdress as he touched his lips to the swell of her breast.
Audrey reached to undo his trousers but before she could get them undone Richard had sat up out of her grasp.
"Richard? What is it?"
"I can't make love to you with him watching us" he said nodding at Bertie
"He's not doing anything"
"But I can feel him watching me"
Audrey got out of bed "I'll put him in the bathroom it's nice and warm in there, you get those trousers off"
While she was in the bathroom Audrey removed her nightdress and then walked back into the bedroom. Richard was just removing the last of his clothes when he saw her.
They were older now with grey hair a few wrinkles but she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
"Darling you are beautiful"
Audrey looked him up and down "You're not to bad yourself" she said as she laid back on the bed.
Not wasting anymore time Richard climbed on the bed and settled himself between her legs.
"Now where were we" he asked kissing her neck and grinding his hips against her
Audrey laughed as she remembered Bentley trying to do something similar a few nights ago
Richard removed his lips from her neck and looked down at her "What's so funny?"
"Nothing, it's just the other night at Marjory's, Bentley got a little over amorous with me and I told him I could get all that at home" She chuckled
"Are you comparing me to a dog" Richard asked cocking an eyebrow at her
She chuckled "Of course not darling, although you know how I like it when you..." she whispered into his ear as her hand curled around his manhood squeezing him.
Richard groaned as her fingers tightened around him "Yes I know but if you keep doing that I'll won't be of any use to you"
"Then make love to me darling" she said as she positioned him at her entrance.
Richard moaned as he entered her slowly. He would never tire of her, every time they made love felt different like they were discovering each other all over again even after 25 years.
Leaning down he kissed her passionately as he eased himself into her. Breaking the kiss he looked into her eyes as he set a steady rhythm.
Audrey moaned at the feel of him, she'd missed this, missed being so close to him. She buried her face in his neck and gasped as he drove into her faster.
Arching her hips upward she met his thrusts, driving him deeper into her. Richard growled into her neck as she ran her fingers through his hair directing his mouth to her breasts.
He ran his tongue around her nipple then took it into his mouth. Audrey held his hair tighter as he lavished attention on her breasts.
"Please darling...don't stop..." she groaned
Richard knew he would last much longer so reaching down to where they were joined, he ran his fingers in circles around her sensitive bud.
He pulled his mouth from her breast to watch her face as she came undone and cried out his name. Her body shook and she writhed under him, her still tight channel squeezing his length as she climaxed.
The sight of her had him reach his own release moments later, groaning as he spilled deep inside her.
With one final thrust he grunted and stilled his movements, holding his weight on his elbows he kissed her cheek then softly kissed her lips.
Once he'd regained his breath he rolled off of her. Audrey snuggled up to him, her head on his chest and her arm across his waist.
Richard wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her hair "God I missed you" he sighed
"I missed you too darling, so much" she said kissing his cheek
"Audrey, don't leave me again I couldn't bear it" he whispered
Raising her head from his chest she leaned on her elbow and looked into his eyes "I won't darling I promise, I love you"
"I love you to" he said before taking her lips in a gentle kiss
The next morning Richard sighed as he felt what he thought was his wife waking him in a very nice way with wet kisses to his neck.
"Mmm...Audrey...darling" Richard moaned
Audrey stood by the bathroom door trying not to laugh "I'm afraid that's not me darling"
Richard's eyes shot open, seeing his wife over the other side of the room he turned his head just as Bertie went to lick him again "What...Bertie...get off..."
Audrey couldn't hold it any longer and burst out laughing as her husband pushed the dog off him.
Richard wasn't nearly as amused as his wife was with Bertie's antics.
"It's not funny Audrey, I've got dog drool all over me" he said touching his neck
She came and sat on the bed by his hip "He loves you Richard, dogs are a very good judge of character you should be flattered"
Richard smiled at Bertie "He's lucky he's cute little chap" he said ruffling the dogs ears.
Audrey got up and held her hand out to him "I'm going to have a shower why don't you join me"
Standing under the shower Richard and Audrey laughed as they rinsed off the last of the soap.
"Do you remember the first time we did this?" Richard asked
"Mmm I think I quite surprised you darling" she wrapped her arms around his neck bringing herself flush against him as he rested his hands on her waist, the spray of the water running down their bodies.
"Shocked more like, I never realised my proper English Lady of the Manor was such a saucy minx" he said running his hands down to her backside squeezing gently.
She chuckled "It's your fault darling, I just can't help myself with you"
"Thank god" Richard sighed as he kissed her deeply, his hands ran down the back of her thighs then lifted her up into his arms.
Audrey gasped "Darling don't hurt yourself"
They were older now but Richard didn't look his age. His body still lean and muscular had no trouble bearing her weight, but she still worried about him.
"You are as light as a feather darling, please let me show you how much I missed you" he said lowering his lips to her neck and pressing her back against the shower wall.
"I thought you did that very well last night, but I wouldn't mind you showing me again" she sighed as he dipped his knees and lined himself up to her opening before sliding inside her.
In the bedroom Bertie had heard groans coming from the bathroom and had raised his head but deciding it was nothing to do with him he flopped back down on the bed and burrowed his head beneath the pillows where he promptly fell asleep.
When Richard and Audrey eventually came out of the bathroom they found BErnie with his head on Richard's pillow, snoring gently.
Audrey put her hand to her mouth "Oh he's adorable, thank you for getting him for me Richard"
"You're welcome darling, I love you"
"I love you too"