Page 24 of An Impulsive Kiss (Captivating Kisses #2)
A s they reached the city limits of London, Judson asked Lucy, “Are you certain you do not mind missing some of the Season?”
She laced her fingers through his. “The Season, for some, is strictly about the social events they attend. Ariadne has a different view, which she has shared with me. She said the Season is time for family to come together. While she and Julian attend some of the events, she told me as their family grows, they will begin to choose only a handful of social affairs to go to.”
Lucy squeezed his fingers. “You may not realize this, but bringing Penelope with them to town is quite unusual for parents to do. It is almost unheard of to bring children to town while the Season is in full swing. That is why Ariadne, her brother Val, Con, and I have all made a pact.”
His wife smiled at him. “I told you a little about it before, but we were also engaged in other things.”
“I do recall you mentioning it.” He grinned. “But I am hazy on the details because my mind was on you.”
“Then I will simply remind you. We agreed to bring our own children to town each time the Season begins. We ten cousins only met one another one time, and we are of a mind to raise our children together so they will know one another.”
“I am all for that, love. Since I do not have a family, I have made yours mine. It would be delightful to have our children play with their cousins while we adults get to spend time together.”
“I am glad we are of like minds,” Lucy told him, resting her head upon his shoulder. “I also am so grateful that you have agreed to spend part of the year at Huntsworth. I believe raising children in the country is what is best for them. They need a place to roam and enjoy being children. They need to learn to appreciate the estate their family owns and learn about it. I am looking forward to seeing Huntsworth.”
He remained silent, fear gnawing at him. Judson had not seen his country seat since he left for university. Mr. Baker had given him a generous quarterly allowance, which allowed him to maintain rooms year-round during his studies. Other young men had gone home at intervals. Not Judson. He had no desire to return to a place where he had been terrorized, to an uncle whom he feared might poison him to gain the title. He had made a deliberate decision to stay away from Huntsworth even after graduating. It was only because he loved his wife so much and wanted to please her that he was willing to go back now and live there most of the year.
“It amazes me that we will be at the house in Surrey in such a short time. I know because of the orphanage, Ariadne and Julian are able to travel to town for a couple of days each week when the Season is not going on. Somerset is far from London. It took us several days to journey from Marleyfield to town, staying at inns along the way.”
“Is that the reason you did not see your cousins but the one time? The distance was so great?”
“I assume that to be the case. Uncle Charles and Aunt Alice, Ariadne’s parents, live in Kent. My family was all the way on the western coast, while Uncle George and Aunt Agnes live in the north of England, in the Lake District. At least Aunt Agnes and the children do. Uncle George died several years ago. My cousin Hadrian is now the Earl of Traywick.”
She sighed. “As an adult, I understand how travel is not easy, especially over great distances. That is why, not knowing where all we cousins will land after our marriages, Ariadne suggested we bring our children to town each spring. Eventually, our sons will be off at school during that time, but they can always join us in town once their spring term ends. The girls will have governesses, so they can continue their education.”
She lifted her head, their gazes meeting. “Thank you for agreeing to bring our family to town. It means a great deal to me, Judson. Con, Dru, and I always felt abandoned when our parents left for a good portion of the year.” She smiled ruefully. “Not that they paid much attention to us in the country, especially Dru and me.”
He pressed his lips to her brow. “We will be different parents to our children than yours were to you and your siblings, love. We will form close bonds with them. After all, we only have to look to Julian’s and Ariadne’s example.”
She chuckled. “Ariadne is a good mother, but I am most impressed at Julian as a father. I wish every titled gentleman in England could witness how batty he is over his daughter and be likewise.”
He raised their joined hands and kissed her fingers again. “I hope I will have daughters to spoil in the same manner. Sons, too. Being an only child was lonely. If you are willing, I hope to fill Huntsworth with many children.”
“Well, it will not be from lack of trying,” she teased.
They switched horses at the halfway point of their journey, and by noon, they pulled into Alderton, the nearest village to his estate. Judson had written to Mr. and Mrs. Paul, his caretakers, as well as Wayling, his steward, so they would be expected.
Their carriage pulled up at the local inn, and he handed down Lucy. They went inside, where he found the Pauls waiting for them. He introduced Lucy to them, and Mr. Paul handed over the keys to the house.
“Everything is in good shape, my lord,” the gray-haired man told him. “I walk the outside of the house once a week, while Mrs. Paul checks the inside for things such as leaks. And Mr. Wayling, of course, handles everything else on the estate.”
“Thank you for taking care of the property for me, Mr. Paul,” Judson said. “Lady Huntsberry and I will be living at Huntsworth for a good portion of the year in the future. We will open the house back up, so I want to thank you both for your service to me.”
“It’s been a pleasure, my lord,” Mrs. Paul said, beaming at them. “And it’s so good to hear you’ll be back in residence with her ladyship.”
“We will be sending servants down soon,” he shared with the couple. “We have hired a butler and housekeeper, as well as a cook, but we’ll need several maids and footmen.”
Lucy spoke up. “If you know of anyone in the village who might be looking for employment, please let us know. I would like to interview them while we are here over the next few days.”
The Pauls left, and the innkeeper came to greet them, telling them their room was ready and their things had been brought up. He also assured them that Annie and Tim had been given small rooms of their own.
“Might I offer you some refreshment?” the innkeeper asked.
He looked to his wife, who nodded. “We would appreciate that.”
After a light repast, Judson asked, “Are you willing to stretch your legs a bit? The house is about a mile and half from the village.”
“That sounds heavenly,” Lucy replied. “I get stiff riding in a carriage after a few hours.”
The May day was mild, and he pointed out several shops in the village as they walked through it. When they passed the graveyard next to the church, he paused for a moment.
Lucy, ever attuned to his mood, asked, “Would you like to go and see your parents’ graves?”
They entered the graveyard, and he went straight to the section reserved for the Jarvis family. He stopped before his parents’ graves, looking at their names carved into the stone and the dates of their existence. A lump grew in his throat, and his fingers found Lucy’s, glad she was by his side for support.
“I wish I had known her,” he said softly. “Mama. Papa always said she was a gentle soul and that I favored her in looks and manners.”
Judson turned his gaze to his father’s grave, hurt welling within him. “Papa was never well. I almost feel guilty having robust health.”
She squeezed his fingers. “You should never think that, Judson. Think of how proud your parents would be of you. Of what you have accomplished.”
“They would have liked you,” he said softly. “You are good and kind and have such strength of character.” Emotion swelled within him. “I cannot tell you what it meant to me to hear you defend me to Uncle Jeremiah.”
“I love you,” she said simply. “I would walk to the ends of the earth for you. Do not say his name ever again, Judson. He is no family to you. He is evil incarnate. Banish all thoughts of him.”
“I will,” he responded, though how he would be able to do so while they were at Huntsworth would prove to be impossible. Every room—every inch of the property—would most likely remind him of the abuse he’d suffered under his uncle’s hand.
They reached the estate, and Lucy began speaking animatedly, praising the beauty of the land.
When they reached the house itself, he heard her audible gasp. “Oh, Judson! Your house is beautiful.”
He framed her face with his hands. “ Our house, love. The house where we will raise our children. The house where we become a family.”
They approached the front door, and he removed the keys from his pocket and unlocked it. The foyer was dim, so he left the door open.
Lucy said, “We shall open the curtains in every room so we might see things better.”
They went up the stairs, starting in the drawing room. He helped Lucy fling back the curtains, allowing light to enter the large room. She insisted upon pulling covers from some of the furniture, wanting to see what was beneath it.
“Oh, these are some lovely pieces, Judson. Yes, there will be things to do. Rooms to be aired. Carpets to have dust beaten from them. Furniture to be polished and painting to be done.”
She twirled impulsively, her arms wide, and he caught her joy.
Lucy flung her arms about him. “We are going to be so happy here, Judson. I promise.”
They investigated other rooms. He swallowed the emotions which continued to rise within him, especially when he showed her his childhood bedchamber. He explained how his father had spent most of this time in the room across the hall. Confused, she asked why the marquess had not occupied the rooms set aside for him.
Not bothering to hide his bitterness, he told her, “My uncle took those rooms for himself.”
She caught the lapels of his coat and pulled him down to her, kissing him softly.
“Lead on,” she told him, and they continued their tour.
Lucy was pleased with how large the nursery was, saying it was one of the first places she wanted to be refreshed. He knew how much she yearned for babes, and he found himself feeling the same.
They returned to the ground floor, looking at the kitchens and a few other smaller rooms. Then they reached the study, where Judson froze in his tracks.
“What is behind this door, Judson?”
“A world of misery,” he said dully. “Memories I wish I could forget.”
“Then we are here to conquer them,” she said firmly, pushing the door open.
She marched to the curtains and threw them open. He stood in the doorway, afraid to step inside what had been his uncle’s domain. Lucy came to him, taking his hand, pulling him into the room.
His eyes swept the length of the study. Fear seized him. He had been terrorized in this room more than any other. Beaten. Berated. Made to feel as if he were less than nothing.
A strangled cry escaped from his lips. Judson found himself sobbing uncontrollably.
His wife’s arms went about him. “Let it out, my love. All that you have kept bottled up inside you. Allow it to escape—and be gone.”
He could not remember the last time he had cried, but a river of tears came now. He should be ashamed of behaving in such a manner, but Judson realized how well Lucy understood him. He let his tears fall, the heaving sobs erupting again and again. Throughout it all, Lucy held fast to him, letting him know he was not alone. That he would never be alone again.
Once the tears ended, he understood how right she had been. They had acted as a catharsis, cleansing his soul. Judson gazed down at her, gratitude now filling him instead of fear and panic.
“You have dispelled the demons from your past, my darling,” his wife told him. “You and I will create new memories from this moment forward. This is our home. We are going to fill it with love and laughter and many good times. We will have children, and they will be the center of our lives, as well as the love we have for one another. We will have our family visit us here at Huntsworth. From this day forward, this place is one you will always look upon fondly. Happiness will abound at Huntsworth.”
Judson knew Lucy was right. It was as if the chains which had bound him, chains of the past, now fell away. He was unshackled. Free to do as he wished. Live as he wanted, no ghosts of the past haunting him.
He gazed down at the woman who had changed his life in such a short amount of time.
“Have I told you today how much I love you?”
“Twice, I believe,” she said saucily.
“Then perhaps I should say it thrice—and show you, as well. Christen our new home.”
Mischief lit her eyes. “Are you thinking of making love to me here, Lord Huntsberry?”
He yanked her to him. “That is exactly what I had in mind, Lady Huntsberry.”
His mouth seized hers, hard and demanding. She yielded immediately. It was hard to explain how hungry he was for her. It was something Judson had never felt for any other woman, but Lucy set him afire.
They kissed for a long time, his mouth finally leaving hers, nuzzling her throat, moving lower, his tongue licking the rounded curves of her breasts peeking out from her neckline. She gripped his cock through his breeches, her hand massaging, teasing, stroking until he was mad for her.
Judson released her, striding to where the desk sat. Ripping off the cloth that covered it, he saw nothing upon it. Just a flat surface that would be absolutely perfect for what he had in mind.
Returning to Lucy, he captured her wrist, pulling her to the desk. His hands spanned her waist, lifting her to sit upon the edge, her feet dangling.
“My goodness, my lord,” she purred. “I think I know what you have in mind.”
He grinned wickedly. “I don’t think you have a clue, my darling.”
Easing her to her back, her legs still dangling off the desk, he bunched up her gown, raising it to above her waist. His lips and tongue moved across her belly, and Judson saw her shudder at the touch. He grabbed her ankles, placing her feet flat upon the desk, and parted her legs. Softly, he blew against the seam of her sex, sending another shudder through her.
“I cannot wait to taste you,” he growled, licking the seam and then parting her with his fingers.
His tongue plunged inside her, causing Lucy to gasp. “Judson!”
He glanced up, seeing her head raised, and pulled back a moment. “Back down, love,” he ordered, and she obeyed him immediately.
Using his fingers, his teeth, and his tongue, Judson made love to his wife, delighting in each moan. Each whimper. Each tremble. Her fingers pushed into his hair, clutching it tightly, as she panted. She tasted sweeter than any treat from Gunter’s, and he reveled in the fact that she was his. He was the only man who had touched her thus.
Lucy began to moan loudly now, releasing his hair, her head moving back and forth even as her body began gyrating. He sensed her release and then heard her shout his name. Her body shook as her hips rose, her breathing rapid and shallow. The orgasm went on for a long time, and then she stilled.
Judson stood, leaning over her, pressing his body to hers. “How was that?”
Her dazed expression told him all he needed to know.
“I... I had no idea we could make love away from our bed.” She smiled up at him. “If I weren’t so bloody limp, I would sit up and embrace you, but I cannot seem to even move.”
“Then I will move you. Give me a moment.”
Quickly, he unbuttoned his breeches, pushing them down his thighs to his knees. Joining his wife on the desk, he lay with his back flat against it before rolling her on top of him.
Lucy’s eyes lit up. “Oh, my favorite,” she proclaimed. “You know how fond I am of riding. A horse—and you.”
She quickly sat up, pushing her gown and undergarments up. “My, Lord Huntsberry. Your manhood already stands tall and proud for me.”
He groaned as she hovered over him, taking him into her, seating herself atop him. Ever so slowly, she began to move, the undulating motion teasing him. Tantalizing him. Torturing him. He reached out his arms, and their fingers joined. His wife pressed hard against his arms as she began to ride him, the tempo increasing, his groans growing louder, laughter spilling from her as the wild ride took them to heights they had never known.
They climaxed at the same time, their cries in unison as she fell to his chest, still straddling him. They lay together, their breathing finally slowing. Judson stroked her hair.
Finally, he said, “If I had known how the country air would affect the both of us, I would have abandoned town long ago.”
Peals of laughter came from her, and he joined in, hugging her tightly to him.
“No wonder men want such large desks,” she mused. “I do believe the study might become my favorite room at Huntsworth.”
“I think we should christen every room in the house in this manner,” he told her. “And there are a lot of rooms.”
“Don’t forget the stables,” she added. “And if there is a summer house or gazebo, we must not neglect it.”
He lifted Lucy slightly so he could kiss her. “And here I thought I was going to be the bad influence on you. Who knew you were the more wicked of the two of us?”
“I like it best when we are wicked together,” she declared, kissing him again.
Judson had never been happier than in this moment. He had found love with a wonderful woman, and he knew they had a bright future ahead of them.