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Mrs. Betty Dodsley and Mr. Sam Hodges, the housekeeper and butler of Birchington House, had the servants arrayed for the new marchioness to greet when the newlyweds entered their home as husband and wife for the first time. The senior staff passed on congratulations on behalf of the servants.

“My husband and I appreciate your greeting us with this welcome and wishing us happy on this most special of days. Over the next few days, I will have time to meet each of you and hopefully it will not take me long to learn your names,” the Marchioness addressed the assembled servants, earning her much approbation.

“Mrs. Dodsley, my husband and I are going to get some rest before the ball. Please have a tray sent up at five this afternoon.”

The housekeeper gave her new mistress a curtsy as the butler dismissed the assembled servants.

Husband and wife quickly ascended the stairs and entered their suite.

As soon as the door was closed, they dismissed their personal servants until they were summoned to prepare baths later that afternoon.

Once they were completely alone, Lord Tom Bennet took his wife in his arms and kissed her, neither intending rest that afternoon.

The newlywed Darcys were greeted by the Killions.

His Grace had conveyed his then betrothed’s request that the servants not be pulled from their duties to greet the couple as she intended to meet with each and every one as soon as she was able to.

The housekeeper and her husband welcomed the Duke and Duchess home and asked to let them know if they needed anything.

To his wife’s delight, he picked her up as if she weighed nothing and walked up the stairs, putting her down once they reached their shared sitting room.

The tinkling sound of the new duchess’s delightful laugh filled the halls of Darcy House, putting a smile on the face of any servant who heard the melodic sound.

As had been arranged earlier, they were alone in the master suite. Spying extra pillows on the settee, Elizabeth laughed again. Evidently Mrs. Reynolds had informed Mrs. Killion that the new Mrs. Darcy liked a few spare pillows on the settee in their private sitting room.

Her laugh was silenced as her husband gently placed his hands on either side of her head and drew her to himself.

He leaned down and lightly brushed his lips against hers.

His kisses became more and more ardent as she responded in kind, and soon their tongues were dancing the dance of love.

Darcy pulled her sleeves down a little more so he could have unfettered access to her neck and shoulders as he reverently kissed each inch exposed.

Soon he was suckling the exposed parts of her upper breasts and was almost undone when she purred with pleasure.

He took her hand and led her into his bedchamber, and she followed with no hesitation and much anticipation.

They helped each other undress, revelling in being able to see the other as each part of them was revealed and was, something both had been dreaming about, albeit he a little longer than she.

The last piece of his fantasy came to life as he removed the pins from her hair and the raven locks were freed from their restraints.

As he drank in the sight of his naked wife, he was struck all over again at her beauty.

Her breasts were ample, but not too large and her brown nipples were hard with anticipation.

Her body was well formed with no excess, as would be expected for one who walked and rode as much as his wife did.

He saw the triangle of dark hair between her legs and knew that he would soon be exploring that, and all of her body that had been forbidden until this moment.

As he watched her, his desire for her was great.

For her part, Elizabeth was enthralled by the Adonis that was her husband as he stood naked in front of her.

She had seen some statues that displayed the male form and a few plates in a book that her father kept in his study, but none of that prepared her for the sight that greeted her eyes.

She had dreamed of seeing his neck exposed to her, and had imagined what the rest of his body would look like, but the reality far exceeded the dream.

He had a broad, well defined muscular chest that she expected of a man who did not sit back and did nothing.

He had a sparse covering of hair on his chest that tapered down as she followed it path over his flat stomach until it met a patch of dark hair around his appendage.

What an appendage it was as it stood proudly to attention for her, none of the statues that she had seen had prepared her for the size that her husband sported.

His legs were well muscled as expected from one who exercised often and rode as much as he did.

Darcy took is Elizabeth in his arms as he laid her down on his giant bed with their lips searching for the relief only their bodies could grant.

His lips travelled down her neck, then her shoulders, until he finally had his whole mouth around her breast while he teased her nipple with his tongue.

She arched her back in pleasure in a bid for more, which was granted when his hand caressed and teased the other.

Soon his other hand slid down her stomach until it found the triangle of hair.

He paused for a second and lifted his head to stare into her adorning eyes and found a clear invitation to continue his exploration.

His fingers found their way between her legs to her centre; he was delighted to find her very moist and welcoming.

Slowly at first, he started to rub the spot that sent waves of pleasure through her body, the speed of his rubbing intensified as one of his fingers slipped into the place where no one had ever touched her before.

She undulated her hips, helping him find the spot where she most needed his touch and she moaned, loudly as she achieved release.

“Make me your wife in every way!” the Duchess commanded, and the Duke obeyed her entreaty without delay.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

As the Countess of Brookfield was relaxing with her husband prior to the wedding ball that night she let out an “Oooo.”

Richard sat up, “Is everything well, my love?” asked the concerned Earl.

“Richard, I just felt it! I felt the quickening,” Lady Jane said with excitement and tears of joy in her eyes. “It felt like a fluttering, like something was tickling me from inside, just like I have heard other women talk about.”

“Does that mean that we can finally share our good news beyond Andrew and Marie, my love?” asked the very excited father-to-be.

“Yes, Richard, we can. Do you feel up to visiting Bennet House? Your parents and Aunts are there as well, so we can inform all of them together,” she said and then with a look of determination she added, “We will make a stop at Bedford House before we come home. I want Aunt Rose and Uncle Sed to know today.”

Soon after the couple were shown into the family sitting room at Bennet House, Jane sat while Richard looked to her and she nodded. “It is fortuitous that you are all together as Jane and I would like to inform you that my Jane is with child.”

“Thank you for the news, Richard,” Lady Sarah said with a huge smile on her face. “Just before you arrived, we were discussing that Jane looked like she was enceinte, and we were wondering when you would share the news with us.”

“How did you know, Mama?” Jane asked.

“You have that glow about you, Jane, and when you think no one is watching your hand invariably goes to your belly,” her mother informed her.

“Jane, Richard, I am so happy! Our first grandchild!” the Countess of Matlock gushed.

“My Jane felt the quickening just before we left the house,” a very happy Richard Fitzwilliam added.

“First I gain many brothers and sisters, and now I am to be an Aunt,” Georgiana bubbled in happiness, then looking at Mary and Kitty she corrected herself. “ We are to be aunts!”

“Congratulations, Jane and Richard,” Lord Thomas wished them, “Do you plan to share the news with Sed and Rose? I know that it would help brighten Rose’s day as she is very concerned about my brother.”

“Yes, Father Bennet,” Lord Richard responded, “Bedford House is our next destination.”

“Elaine you will be a grandmother before me,” Lady Catherine sighed. “As far as my Anne knows, she has not become with child yet.”

“Ian and Anne have been married for less time than Richard and Jane,” Lady Anne reminded her sister, “and as far as we know, Marie has not achieved that state yet.”

“I know that, Anne,” Lady Catherine harrumphed. “You know how impatient I am to become a grandmother.” Her eyes softened. “As long as my daughter is healthy, I care not when, or if we are so gifted whether it is a boy or a girl.”

A quarter of an hour later, Bedford House’s butler announced the Earl and Countess of Brookfield to his mistress. “Jane and Richard, what a welcome surprise. Are you here to inform me that I am to be a great Aunt?” Lady Rose asked with an impish smile.

“Not you too, Aunt!” Richard exclaimed. “Will we surprise no one with our news?”

“Your Uncle Sed will be surprised and most pleased,” the Duchess said as she rose and led them into her husband’s bedchamber.

They found his valet, Mr. Winters, fussing about his master, as usual. Richard and Jane were shocked at the deterioration of their Uncle’s pallor from the start of the wedding ceremony earlier that day to this point.

“Do not…look…at…me…so,” he rasped, hardly able to get a word or two out before he needed to take as deep a breath as he was able.

“Uncle Sed,” Jane said as she wiped a tear from her eye, “Richard and I have very good news to share with you. I am with child, and the doctor estimates that our babe will be born in November or December.”