Page 56 of Alessandra (Chisholm Manor #1)

After giving Elizabeth her final feed for the evening, Alessandra and Edward left the nursery and walked quietly back to their bedchamber.

Alessandra wondered what she could tell him about her meeting with the lawyer, without causing him pain.

In turn, Edward wondered what he could ask her.

Upon entering the room, Alessandra moved to stand in front of the fireplace, letting the warmth from it seep into her.

Edward watched her, uncertain from the day's events what she would want from him.

Should he approach and ask, or should he stand back and avoid questions?

As if hearing the question in his head, Alessandra reached back with her hand and pulled him so that he was standing behind her.

With both of his hands wrapped around her, together they watched the flames in the fireplace.

"Kiss my neck," she whispered to him.

Edward obliged, enjoying the way she moved her head to allow him access, and the sound of her breathing deepening and the quiet moan that escaped her lips.

Feeling not only highly aroused, but also completely empowered, Alessandra moved one of his hands upward onto her breast, and immediately felt him start to caress her nipple through the layers of fabric.

Even through their clothing, she could feel him grow hard against her.

She reached back with one hand and touched him, driving him to groan against her neck.

They stayed that way for some time, both enjoying giving and receiving the clothed pleasure, until Alessandra turned around and faced him, wrapping both arms around him and kissing him passionately.

In doing so, she pushed him to another level of arousal that Edward knew he would have to satisfy.

He turned her away from him again and with slowness and patience, undid and removed each article of her clothing, one piece at a time, kissing the skin before him as it became visible.

When she was naked, he hurriedly removed all of his clothing.

They stood together, naked in front of the fire, holding one another tightly and kissing.

Everything about her was intoxicating to him.

Even in seeing how her body had changed since having a baby, Edward still yearned for her, hard and extended in desperation to be much closer to her.

Alessandra revelled in the high degree of arousal she felt.

Holding him close, hip to hip, she felt him nestle between her thighs - not inside of her but still enclosed by the tops of her legs.

They stood like that, kissing each other while in no hurry to move from that spot.

Finally, eager to pleasure her husband, Alessandra edged Edward back onto the sofa and knelt before him, taking her time to tease him with her hand and her mouth, doing what she could to not drive him to climax too soon.

"Oh, Alessandra, what you do to me!" she heard Edward exclaim as she worked to draw the pleasure out for him.

The feelings she felt when knowing he was so aroused made her want to please him.

She no longer cared that she knew women were not meant to enjoy marital relations.

To her, it was a beautiful thing that she shared only with Edward. She would not feel bad about that.

"Oh my darling, I'm going to..." she heard him say before he convulsed before her, making her giddy in delight and arousal herself at his climaxing.

She knelt before him, watching his face as he relaxed back in recovery, and waited until he opened his eyes and looked down at her.

Edward leaned forward and kissed her passionately, wanting to give her everything in the world in that moment, as full of love as he was for her.

He pushed her back on the rug on the floor in front of the fire and knelt between her legs to pleasure her in return.

Leaning over her, he kissed her all over - her lips, her nipples, and down over her belly.

Finally, he came to rest as she placed her hands on his head and guided him. As aroused as she was, it took only minutes before she felt the release, and all stress that had been inside of her, flow out.

Edward pulled away and lay down on top of her, nestled between her legs on the rug, enjoying the flames beside them.

He took his time kissing her lips over and over, in between the two of them looking at each other and saying nothing.

Alessandra looked at the face of the man she had come to love so deeply.

She felt the heaviness of having not immediately talked to him about the matter of Tom's will, and suddenly felt the need to make sure there was nothing unsaid between them.

As if sensing the change in her, Edward pulled away and held out his hand to help her up.

"Come and get into bed, my love," he said quietly, coaxing her but letting her lead.

They settled themselves under the covers and lay facing each other quietly.

"Edward," Alessandra started, then found herself uncertain how to go on.

He touched her cheek and ran his fingers lightly over the side of her neck and onto her shoulder, in an attempt to relax her.

"What is it, Alessandra? I can see that you have something consuming you."

"Tom's will..." she started again and paused until Edward prompted her to keep going.

"Mr Hogelby informed me today that the will has been set up in such a way that I must accept what is being gifted to me.

Not only did Tom state that I was to become the owner of everything he left behind, but he also expressed that his wife was to not have anything."

As Edward listened, Alessandra saw his face change in disgust about what she'd said.

"But his family..."

Alessandra shook her head.

"There are none.

His mother was the last remaining relative in their line, and she died shortly after his death."

Edward let the information process in his mind, focusing on not letting his anger toward the man who had tried to ruin his marriage, affect anything that Alessandra had to say.

Aware that she was waiting patiently, as if to reveal more to him, he encouraged her to keep talking.

"There is more..." he said and saw her nod, with a slight blush forming on her face.

"I ... he ..." she stuttered, trying desperately to muster more confidence in her words.

"The will states that everything left to me is to only come to me - to be only mine."

"Yes, you said he did not leave his wife anything..."

"No, Edward, you do not understand.

Everything is to come to me, and it is not to come to you."

Edward let out a sigh.

"Oh, Alessandra, is that what you have been worried about all day? That I might want to make some claim on whatever he has left to you?" he asked and saw her silently acknowledge just that.

"Oh my love, no.

When you came into this marriage, your parents gave everything they had to my parents, for the sake of the estate.

I have been aware from our wedding day that it is difficult with you not having any money of your own. I know it has been hard for you, always having to rely on my parents for things like your dresses, or things for Elizabeth," he said and paused in silence for a moment before continuing his words. "As much as I despised the man, if he has left you a small income for you to enjoy, I want you to enjoy it."

Alessandra revelled in the words she was hearing, wondering why she had thought Edward, of all people, would want to take anything from her.

"Yes, however, it is not a small income he has left me, Edward," she said timidly, looking into his eyes so she could gauge his reaction.

"He left me a considerable fortune, which I have asked the lawyer to pay me a small allowance out of, but there is much, much more.

I have asked the lawyer to invest it for the moment, until I know for certain what I want to do with it."

Edward thought about what he was being told - that his wife was now wealthy - and found himself slightly insecure.

He endeavoured to keep the feeling as well hidden as he could.

"Is there more?" he asked, sensing she still had not finished her news.

"His entire family estate has been left to me also, Edward.

I have an estate property not far from my parents' home.

In that, I do want us to make choices together.

I need to explore whether to keep the property, with the income that it produces, or sell it. I would like that to be a decision we both make, because I want us to think about it in terms of the future of Elizabeth, and any other children we might have."

Edward was silent for some time, letting his mind flow through a myriad of thoughts about all that he had been told, but he could not think what to say in response.

Surprised at how silent he was, Alessandra kissed him softly.

"We do not need to make any decisions now, but I would like us to travel to the estate and deal with things that must be done there.

Staff are there, uncertain what is happening..."

"Yes, of course," Edward responding, understanding fully the importance of staff and tenants on a large estate.

"And the property is near your parents' home, you say?" he asked and saw his wife nod.

"Then we shall go, if you wish.

We will need to bring Margaret with us, to help with Elizabeth - or would you prefer they stay here?"

"No! Oh no, Edward, they must come also, so my parents can spend time with Elizabeth.

Perhaps the four of us could travel to my parents' home, and from there you and I could go alone to the estate for one night to assess things," Alessandra said.

"But Elizabeth's feeding..." Edward started to say.

"No," Alessandra responded.

"She is weaning off my milk and on to cow milk, so Margaret will be able to feed her."

"Very well.

Winter is not far off.

Should we go soon, or on the other side of that?"

Their conversation continued far into the night, discussing different options and deciding to leave as soon as Elizabeth was fully weaned.

Eventually, they fell asleep in each other's arms, both feeling much better that, once again, nothing was being hidden between them.