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Authors: Shelley Munro
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you,” she whispered, emotion welling in her, clogging her throat and preventing further discourse.
He might have thought she was thanking him for the satisfaction that came with their bed-sport, but it was for so much more. He’d shown her tonight how their marriage could be—the promise of a happy future. They suited each other. Instinctively she’d known that, but his behavior and care proved her instincts correct. They were a good match.
“Don’t thank me yet,” he said. “I’ve barely started.”
He parted their bodies and started kissing her anew. Her muscles pulled tight with each tormenting stroke of his hands and mouth. Their breaths mingled and she clung to him, reveling in every tempestuous sensation.
“Good,” she said when their lips parted. “I haven’t finished either.”
His rich chuckle thrilled her, the echo of his amusement filling her mind as they loved each other into the small hours of the morning.
The tuneful singing of a maid roused Jocelyn. Her eyes opened to register the bright sunshine attempting to burst through a crack in the curtains. She stretched, the stiffness in her muscles bringing to mind the previous night. A faint smile played around her lips. She and Leo were compatible in the bedroom, and she looked forward to the coming evening.
Jocelyn slid from the tangled sheets and slipped on the shirt Leo had worn last night. She opened the connecting door to their chambers and stepped into her pink room.
“Good morning.” Susan helped Jocelyn don a robe. “Mr. Sherbourne said to let you sleep. I’ll go to fetch your tea now.”
Before her maid disappeared, Jocelyn asked, “Is there water to wash?”
“Of course,” the maid said. “I’ll arrange hot water while you drink your tea.”
Once Jocelyn was alone, she padded over to a window and surveyed the garden. She caught a glimpse of white from the corner of her eye. When she focused where she’d seen the flicker, she saw nothing. She shook her head and stepped away. Spending so much time with her mother was propelling her into flights of fancy. She’d most likely caught sight of one of the gardeners.
Susan arrived bearing a tray. The scent of the raspberry jam and the sight of two slices of bread brought pangs of hunger. Her stomach gave an unladylike rumble.
“Pardon me.”
Susan cast a knowing glance. “Your mother is asking after you, Mrs. Sherbourne.”
“Is she agitated?” Immediate tension tightened Jocelyn’s shoulders as she waited for more information.
“Oh, no. She was singing with Cassandra. They seemed very happy.”
“I’ll go and find them once I’m dressed,” Jocelyn said, then remembered the housekeeper. “After my meeting with Mrs. Green.”
Jocelyn hurried through her wash and changed into a serviceable brown gown to meet with the housekeeper.
Mrs. Green greeted her with a frosty grimace. Her black dress and cap were immaculate, spotless and crisp with starch. A simple bun confined her dark brown hair and not a wisp strayed out of place. Jocelyn fought an urge to check her own rebellious hair.
“I’ve brought the meal plans for the next week,” Mrs. Green said. “Mr. Woodley asked if he might meet with you later.”
“That will be fine. Please have a seat.”
They went through the menus, which were satisfactory. Mrs. Green appeared efficient, and Jocelyn didn’t want to upset her by changing everything. Not yet anyway. Thankfully, by the end of their meeting, Mrs. Green managed a wider, albeit tight, smile that told Jocelyn the housekeeper still bore reservations about the new mistress of Merrivale.
“Does Cassandra eat with the adults?” Jocelyn asked.
“She takes her meals in the nursery.”
Jocelyn nodded, deciding to speak with Leo regarding her stepdaughter. In her experience, it was best to start training a young girl for polite company as soon as possible. Cassandra would become used to conversation and able to hold her own if she joined the adults
He might have thought she was thanking him for the satisfaction that came with their bed-sport, but it was for so much more. He’d shown her tonight how their marriage could be—the promise of a happy future. They suited each other. Instinctively she’d known that, but his behavior and care proved her instincts correct. They were a good match.
“Don’t thank me yet,” he said. “I’ve barely started.”
He parted their bodies and started kissing her anew. Her muscles pulled tight with each tormenting stroke of his hands and mouth. Their breaths mingled and she clung to him, reveling in every tempestuous sensation.
“Good,” she said when their lips parted. “I haven’t finished either.”
His rich chuckle thrilled her, the echo of his amusement filling her mind as they loved each other into the small hours of the morning.
The tuneful singing of a maid roused Jocelyn. Her eyes opened to register the bright sunshine attempting to burst through a crack in the curtains. She stretched, the stiffness in her muscles bringing to mind the previous night. A faint smile played around her lips. She and Leo were compatible in the bedroom, and she looked forward to the coming evening.
Jocelyn slid from the tangled sheets and slipped on the shirt Leo had worn last night. She opened the connecting door to their chambers and stepped into her pink room.
“Good morning.” Susan helped Jocelyn don a robe. “Mr. Sherbourne said to let you sleep. I’ll go to fetch your tea now.”
Before her maid disappeared, Jocelyn asked, “Is there water to wash?”
“Of course,” the maid said. “I’ll arrange hot water while you drink your tea.”
Once Jocelyn was alone, she padded over to a window and surveyed the garden. She caught a glimpse of white from the corner of her eye. When she focused where she’d seen the flicker, she saw nothing. She shook her head and stepped away. Spending so much time with her mother was propelling her into flights of fancy. She’d most likely caught sight of one of the gardeners.
Susan arrived bearing a tray. The scent of the raspberry jam and the sight of two slices of bread brought pangs of hunger. Her stomach gave an unladylike rumble.
“Pardon me.”
Susan cast a knowing glance. “Your mother is asking after you, Mrs. Sherbourne.”
“Is she agitated?” Immediate tension tightened Jocelyn’s shoulders as she waited for more information.
“Oh, no. She was singing with Cassandra. They seemed very happy.”
“I’ll go and find them once I’m dressed,” Jocelyn said, then remembered the housekeeper. “After my meeting with Mrs. Green.”
Jocelyn hurried through her wash and changed into a serviceable brown gown to meet with the housekeeper.
Mrs. Green greeted her with a frosty grimace. Her black dress and cap were immaculate, spotless and crisp with starch. A simple bun confined her dark brown hair and not a wisp strayed out of place. Jocelyn fought an urge to check her own rebellious hair.
“I’ve brought the meal plans for the next week,” Mrs. Green said. “Mr. Woodley asked if he might meet with you later.”
“That will be fine. Please have a seat.”
They went through the menus, which were satisfactory. Mrs. Green appeared efficient, and Jocelyn didn’t want to upset her by changing everything. Not yet anyway. Thankfully, by the end of their meeting, Mrs. Green managed a wider, albeit tight, smile that told Jocelyn the housekeeper still bore reservations about the new mistress of Merrivale.
“Does Cassandra eat with the adults?” Jocelyn asked.
“She takes her meals in the nursery.”
Jocelyn nodded, deciding to speak with Leo regarding her stepdaughter. In her experience, it was best to start training a young girl for polite company as soon as possible. Cassandra would become used to conversation and able to hold her own if she joined the adults
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