Page 81 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman (The Marlow Family Secrets #3)

Their journey north was slow and nerve-wracking, but at each inn where they stopped, she had Rob to share her bed and kiss her to sleep.

It took a week to reach their new home.

‘I believe this is it,’ Rob said, when they turned off the road.

‘You believe…? Have you not seen the house before?’

‘No, never.’ He grinned. ‘But I trust my uncle.’

She lifted her feet from the cushions and sat upright, to look through the carriage window more easily.

It was a charming red-brick house with a wisteria growing across the front.

‘I am in love with it on first sight.’ It had six sash windows along each of the two floors, and garret windows in the roof.

There was a portico, a small half-circle with two pillars supporting a decorated roof, where a cherub aimed a bow at them. ‘It is beautiful.’

‘It is,’ Rob agreed, looking at the house as keenly as she was.

When the carriage halted, the front door opened and their new servants came out as a young man hurried across the gravel to open the carriage door – their groom .

Then she recognised a face. ‘Beth.’ She looked at Rob.

‘Drew suggested I hire your housekeeper as you knew her well. She happily agreed to join us.’

Beth smiled broadly, waving as Caro waved.

A tall, middle-aged man stood beside Beth, a man who must be their butler, and another younger man and woman – a footman and a maid to support their small household. Rob had hired them all in London.

‘Sir, madam, welcome.’ The young man who held the carriage door greeted them first.

‘Sir.’ Beth bobbed a curtsy as Rob climbed out and turned to hold Caro’s hand.

Caro climbed down and stood beside him.

‘We have been keeping an eye out for your arrival, ma’am. This is Mr Birch, your butler, and Mr Brown, the groom.’ The men bowed.

‘It is good to meet you,’ Rob said.

‘And this is Keith, the footman, and Polly, your maid.’

‘Hello,’ Caro said to them all.

‘I will carry you in.’ Rob turned and lifted Caro off her feet and into his arms.

She wrapped her arms about his neck, as they crossed the threshold into their home, followed by their new servants.

Rob’s left leg had become stronger and stronger as he had carried her each day. He was quite able to manage her now.

The house was bright, with tall windows, and the rooms were large.

‘Would you rather recline on a sofa downstairs or go up to our room?’ Rob asked.

‘May we go upstairs? I am tired.’

‘Yes, of course. ’

‘All is ready,’ Beth said. ‘Your room is on the right of the stairs. Would you like me to come with you?’

‘No, we will manage.’

The bedchamber was a lovely large bright room, with two chairs and a chaise longue by the fire, and a large four-poster bed.

Rob put her down on the bed. ‘Your housekeeper has done a remarkable job of freeing everything from its covers and sprucing it up.’

Caro sat upright. ‘Look at the view, Rob. You can see some sort of ruins beyond the trees.’

‘It was an ancient abbey. The ruins are on the border of my uncle’s land.’

‘This house is perfect, Rob.’

‘I agree.’

‘Close the door, and take off your hat and coat, and your boots, and come and sit on the bed with me. Let us enjoy our new house,’ she proposed, patting the mattress beside her.

He smiled and did so, as she unlaced her short boots, left them on the floor then lay back with her hands behind her head.

He lay down beside her, smiling and reaching out a hand to caress the bulge of her stomach. He had begun calling the child Sarah. ‘You look beautiful like this.’

Caro felt a jolt. ‘She kicked, did you feel her?’

‘Yes, she said hello.’

Rob leaned and kissed Caro. Then he rolled onto his back, sighing.

She turned to her side, smiling. This was their marriage bed. She rested her head on her hand, as her other hand stroked over his trousers.

‘Is that wise?’ He smiled.

‘I think so. ’

Her forefinger traced the path of his growing arousal, up and down, just gently running over the cloth that covered it.

They had done nothing more than kiss since she told him about the child.

He must ache for more, and there was something she could give her gorgeous man.

They had shared beds at night, kissing and holding one another but dared to do nothing more because of the child.

But now there would be no more jolting carriages, and if the child had survived that…

Her fingers began freeing the buttons of his waistcoat.

His hand caught hers, stopping her. ‘Caro,’ he said. ‘Think of?—’

‘That is not what I intend. We need not have intercourse. Relax.’

He shook his head, but let her hand go.

The desire displayed in his trousers, aiming like a spear, was desperate to be known again as his hand held her head and brought her mouth to his.

She ran the heel of her palm down his length, pressing against the firm ridge, as his tongue pressed into her mouth. She loved him a trillion times more than she had loved Albert. She ached for his touch as much as he must ache for hers.

He rolled over her a little so she lay on her back, and then one of his hands covered her breast over her clothes. It hurt now her breasts were fuller, but in a delicious way.

Her fingers searched to release the buttons of his trousers, while his tongue pressed in and withdrew from her mouth and his fingers kneaded her breast.

After she freed him from the restraint of his clothes, her hand wrapped about him, and caressed, up and down.

His hips followed her rhythm, then took over the work, sliding himself through her clenched hand.

It felt like the act of sex, with his weight half over her, and his breaths releasing into her mouth, his motion quickening.

When he broke, a cry of triumph and gratitude escaped his throat as he spilled, and sighed out a ‘Thank you’ into the air.

‘You may return the favour…’ she whispered in a husky voice. ‘With your mouth. I do not think it would harm the child.’

The devilish grin that answered her was unlike Rob. ‘Your wish is my command, Mrs Marlow.’