Page 78 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

The steward came out of the bathroom with an empty bucket.

“Your bath water has been prepared sir,” he said.

“Thank you,” William replied.

Lord James walked behind the steward, halting at the door.

“I’ll be in the sitting room, William,” he said.

William nodded his head as his friend went out. He walked to the bathroom. The bowl of water was there on the marble floor. Small wisps of steam twirled upward, climbing to meet William’s face, wetting and warming at the same time. William looked into his reflection in the water.

This is the same me I see every day. I still have a full mass of blond hair, clean-shaven chin, slightly bigger top lip and eyes that have always been expressive. But everything has changed. My heart is no longer mine. It beats for someone else.

The steam condensed to become water as it hit him and a dribble of water flowed down his fore arm. William saw the fluid flow down Joane’s taut thighs. Her pink puckered clit pointed in his direction, telling him to take her. She was ready, warm, wet and willing. He felt a dull sweetness coursing through his cock but he couldn’t take her. She was a virgin and he would not take her, not on this premise. The image cleared before his eyes once again, returning him back to his bathroom.

“Oh, Joane,” he cried before bending to scoop water and pouring it on his head.

*******

William walked out of his room. The morning was far gone so he took his bath before leaving his room. He knocked on the door of the next room.

James must have slept here.

“Come in, if you are William. If not please stay out,” Lord James said.

William walked in and closed the door behind him. Lord James was not fully dressed. He had no shirt on but he had worn his trousers.

“Are you leaving immediately?” William asked him.

“No,” he responded. “I’ll leave when you go to Norfolk, I will be back tomorrow.”

“So you will have breakfast with us?”

“Yes, of course. I hope the Duke’s health is completely fully restored now. I would love to have him at the table,” James said.

Father.

“He should be well enough to join us at the table now. I miss him, in a way,” William replied.

Lord James wore his shirt; he didn’t put on the jacket. He walked to the door and opened it.

“After you,” he said to William.

William walked out of the room; Lord James closed the door behind him. They walked to the dining room to meet the table already set. His father sat at the top of the table, beside him on the left was his mother. Two seats to his father’s right had been reserved. After his mother was Regina, who was the first to look up at him and Lord James.

“Son,” his father said in a strong voice.

The man is well again.

“Your mother predicted that you would join us at the table this morning especially since your friend is around,” the Duke continued.

“How do you feel father?” William asked after sitting down.

“I am strong as an ox son, no need to raise your whiskers. It is bad manners to speak of such at the table though, don’t you think?” the Duke answered.

William nodded.

The man is in a mood for combative banter. I am not going to give that to him this morning.