What Love Is Worth, Ch. 9
Each day passed like a lifetime, and Aramis relished every second of it.
It was a particularly hot day as Christine and Aramis were returning to the manor from across the field. They rested at the top of the bridge, the warm sun beating down upon them. Aramis shirt clung to his back. It had been a hard day as they finished turning the fields in preparation to plant. Christine gathered her hair in her hand and piled it on top of her head. Aramis watched as a single bead of sweat made its way down her neck and disappeared beneath her dress.
He had to touch her. He reached out his hand and gently massaged her exposed neck and shoulders. He felt her tension ease away beneath his fingertips. She turned and he lowered his hand to her hip. She took a step closer to him, her eyes bright. She leant in…
…and pushed!
Startled, he tumbled backwards off the bridge into the lake below. He emerged spluttering to the sound of her laughter. He grinned up at her as she stood on the ledge of the bridge and gasped as she dove headlong in after him. She broke the water's surface and beamed at him. They tread water and looked at each other and slowly and subconsciously drew closer. Aramis feet found the lakebed as he pulled her towards him. They floated there with him holding her in perfect bliss for a moment, barely remembering to breathe. He brushed her wet hair from her shoulder.
And suddenly they were interrupted by the shrieks and laughter of little voices as Claudine and Thomas spotted them and began splashing the couple from the water's edge. An all-out water-war broke out as the adults and children shrieked and laughed, and splashed water about in the sunlight.
The children ran ahead as they neared the home. Marcel greeted them smiling as he led Peg to the blacksmith in the village to be reshod.
"Catch any mermaids today, mistress?" the old man asked as the soggy comtesse and musketeer drew near grinning.
"Almost," she responded and kissed the old man on the cheek. He grinned as she continued to the house, winking at Aramis as he passed.
They traipsed their way through the house, whispering apologetically to the maid who glared at the water droplets with her mop. Entering her room, Christine pinned her soggy hair to the top of her head, one or two long tendrils falling free. She pressed a towel to her neck and chest as she pulled her bodice's straps from her shoulders. Aramis was struck still in the study.
He couldn't move – He couldn't help it, as his hungry eyes roved over her damp shoulders and down her neck. He craved her touch, to tear that bodice off her and to make love to her right then. Looking up she caught his eyes. There was a strong sense of déjà vu as they stood there dripping. She looked at him from her doorway where he stood frozen, and looking away, she firmly closed the door.
oOo
Dinner that evening was an excited affair. The ewes were due to start dropping their lambs soon, and the whole house was restless with expectation. Aramis and Christine were walking back towards their study chatting teasingly when they were called out to by John.
"The birthing has begun," he said grinning.
"Excellent!" she exclaimed. "Come on!" she said, braiding her fingers through Aramis' and leading him to the barn behind John.
The pregnant ewes had been gathered in a large pen. The smell of the fresh straw gave off a rich earthy scent when mixed with the evening's humidity. Feathers and stray blades of grass floated down from the hayloft.
"There," said Christine pointing as she leaned over the railing, as the soft bleating of the first lamb could be heard. John stepped into the pen patting the mother who nuzzled and cleaned her baby. Taking the lamb in a soft wool blanket, he passed it to Christine who cuddled it to her chest. She laughed as the baby nuzzled against her neck.
"A boy," said John.
"Primus," she named him, passing the baby back. John smiled as he returned the lamb to its mother where it began to nurse immediately.
"Ok boys," he called to the farmhands assembled. "A male, Primus," he announced.
"Another male, Secondus," called a young lad from across the pen.
"Twins! Girls! Tertia and Quarta," called a third, younger voice excitedly.
Aramis laughed. "Latin?" he asked.
"It was my father's idea," she said with a laugh of her own. "He wanted to encourage and educate our staff. Last year was Greek, but there's also been generals, nation's capitals, and Greek gods and heroes. That bad tempered male, is called Aries," she said pointing to a large male who munched angrily away in his stall. "You may want to avoid his bad side," she whispered to him as they left the barn and returned to the house.
They had almost reached their suite when Aramis stopped her suddenly. He had been quiet as they walked back and Christine looked at him with concern as his hand cupped her elbow. His eyes were soft as he looked into hers.
"I want to thank you for sharing all this with me, your life here. It's beautiful," he said softly and earnestly. "I feel as though I'm at home here. I've only ever felt that way with my mother, at the garrison…and with you," he said.
She smiled at him warmly, her eyes sparkling with emotion. She noticed that a stray feather from the barn had caught in his hair.
"Make a wish," she said as she reached forward to pluck the feather from his hair.
He reached up and caught her wrist. She slowly lowered her arm, the feather in her fingers, as his thumb stroked the inside of her wrist. He stepped towards her and she didn't pull away. She stared up into his shining brown eyes. He lifted his free hand to her neck and entwined his fingers into her hair. He stared into the galaxy of her eyes and he kissed her. He felt her body shudder as she leaned into the kiss, their bodies pressed tightly. An eternity passed in that kiss.
A giggle from the end of the hall had the pair pull away. Marie pulled the younger maid away as they hastily swept passed, Marie looking crossly at the younger girl as she giggled.
Christine quietly slipped away; she was gone when Aramis looked back from the retreating maids. He continued to the study where Christine's door was closed, the shadows of her pacing feet were just visible in the space beneath it.
oOo
It rained the next day. Aramis joined Marcel and the boys as they repaired the tack for the horses. Victor had warmed up to Aramis once more and the two young boys compared the differences and their preferences between their lives in the country and their lives on St. Germain in Paris.
Christine was reclined on the couch by the fire when Aramis returned to the room just after noon. The Ball was in a few days and she had been busy ensuring everything was prepared. He smiled as he saw her sleeping and gently lifted her into his arms. She curled tighter into his chest like she always used to. He lowered his head and breathed deeply. He laid her on her bed and quietly closed the door, leaving with the heavenly scent of mint and lavender fresh in his mind.
oOo