Page 42 of The Virgin Duchess (Unwanted Brides #2)

Seven Years Later

“Children!” Charlotte watched the two of them fly about, running in a circle around the small set of furniture in the drawing room. “You’re going to run into a table!”

All her sweet, rambunctious children did was giggle, and soon, little Gene was sprinting to catch up with his older sister while, of course, Lenora was enjoying the fact that she had much longer legs than him.

Taking in the scene, Charlotte was forced to laugh right along with them. The children adored each other, and Gene had become such a mimic of Lenora. He looked up to her like Lenora had hung the moon.

Charlotte understood that very much as she’d always been such a kind girl, and she brought Gene with her on all her adventures, teaching him her tricks as if she were his mentor for imagination skills.

“Mama!” Charlotte turned to see Lenora coming up from the other side of her and offered a smile. “Is it time to eat yet? I am famished!”

“Hungry, Mama,” Gene added, his small, three-year-old hand gripping Charlotte’s sleeve.

It was nowhere near time to sit down for a meal, but the children ate like ravenous wolves, so Charlotte stood from her chair in the drawing room and gestured for the door.

“Well, then, we shall acquire some food before you both waste away. Come now. To the kitchen.”

The two little devils bounded for the door, tearing off down the hall for the kitchen. Charlotte laughed, grateful that although they were relatively far apart in age, her children got along as well as they did.

Lenora had been so curious about her growing belly when Charlotte was pregnant. Still, once the baby arrived, her daughter’s fascination waned. It wasn’t until big sister realized that she could play with the baby that Gene became interesting again.

Seven and three. My, what little beasts they can be. Our poor housekeeper…

“Darling.” Frederick appeared before her as he stepped out of his office, Richard tagging along afterward. “Where have the children gotten off to?”

“I’ve sent them to the kitchen.” She stepped forward, laying a gentle kiss on Frederick’s cheek. “I was just behind them. But they are quite fast.”

Both her husband and Richard laughed, and then Richard stepped forward, eyeing down the hall where the kitchen lay.

“Charlotte, I was speaking of this to Frederick as well. Amelia and I are planning to take some time in the country. You are all more than welcome to join. I am certain a bit of fresh air and ample room to run free will do the children good. It always works rather well for Lilly and James.”

Smiling, Charlotte remembered seeing how her dear friend Amelia’s children enjoyed the outdoors, and she gave a nod.

“That is a fantastic idea. I believe we would be thrilled to join you, and I know that the children will enjoy the time of running amuck without furniture to slow them down.”

“Excellent.” Richard nodded, turning to Frederick to clasp his hand in the Duke’s. “I shall let Amelia know, and we can plan out the best time for our departure. Have a wonderful afternoon to you both.”

Charlotte gave Richard a brief embrace, and then he was off to join Amelia at home. The two of them had been discussing new business ventures in Frederick’s study all morning, and it was time that they both left the finance talk for their wives.

“All right, darling,” Frederick said, walking up to her and taking her arm, “shall we to the kitchen?”

She chuckled. “Yes, indeed. Oh, and before I forget, the children will both be having baths today.”

Frederick cocked a brow, the corner of his mouth lifting in a suspicious grin.

“I shall not explain more aside from mentioning their speed and an unlucky jar of marmalade.”

They laughed together, walking down the hall toward where the sound of an overwhelmed cook echoed out of the kitchen.

***

That evening was much quieter, and as Charlotte walked with Frederick out in the gardens following supper, she smiled up at the twinkling stars, a sense of peace finding her after such a frenzy of a day.

“And how are you, my love?” Frederick asked, pausing near the fountain and taking both her hands.

“I am well, dear. Tired, but well.” Charlotte grinned down at Frederick’s hands before casting a glance back at the house. “Your children can be quite exhausting at times, but I love them with all my heart. As I do you.”

“Ah,” Frederick nodded, “yes. That’s understandable. And I love you, my darling wife. As much as ever.”

They enjoyed the stillness, holding each other eyes before starting up their walk again further into the garden where the light from the house was less effective at revealing them. While Charlotte had not said anything, she had hoped that by suggesting a private evening stroll, she might elicit memories of their many previous walks—and how they usually ended.

“So dear Charlotte,” Frederick pulled her deeper under the trees until they were obscured from sight, “you have asked me out into the gardens. Shall I take this to mean that you wish for…a more intimate time together?”

As he angled her so that her back met the thick trunk of one of the taller oak trees on the property, Charlotte could feel the thickness secured behind Frederick’s trousers press into her—even through the thicker fabric of her skirt. A gentle moan slipped free, and Charlotte nodded, but a thought she’d told herself to remember rang in her head like a bell.

“I do…so much.” Charlotte’s eyes rolled closed as Frederick pressed kisses to her neck and collarbones. “Though, I should mention that I am likely in prime position to become with child. If you are not interested in another, you will have to be creative.”

A low rumble echoed from within Fredrick’s chest—a growl that he made only when he was especially hungry.

“I see. Well, dearest,” Frederick paused to kiss her, sliding his tongue through the seam of her lips as he bunched up her dress in his grip, “I will admit that the thought of filling you with another child is actually quite appealing. Seeing you round and carrying life has been one of the most beautiful sights of my life.”

Charlotte blushed, her skin so warm as her heart pounded in her ear. She’d had an inkling that Frederick enjoyed the notion of bedding her to create a child, and it pleased her—likely a little too much—that she was correct.

“Then, by all means, husband,” Charlotte held Frederick’s face with both her hands, “fill me up.”

That rumbling sound grew, and in moments, Frederick slipped his hand between her thighs—which were wickedly exposed thanks to how he had lifted her skirt—and stroked along her seam. Charlotte moaned low, rocking her hips against Frederick’s touch and encouraging him to enter her.

“Heavens above, darling,” Frederick nuzzled into her neck, licking and nipping at her as his fingers finally slid inside her center and stroked in long pulls, “you are exquisite.”

“Frederick…” Charlotte whimpered as he worked her—effective and passionate. “Oh, yes…please.”

She knew they would not have much time before the children drove the staff to the point of madness where they came looking for the two of them, so Charlotte couldn’t risk not finishing things with her sweet Frederick.

“Yes, darling, yes.” Her husband moved within her so wonderfully, and then he was lifting her leg so that it hung on his hip, lining his length up with her core. “I must have you—now.”

In one smooth motion, Frederick sheathed himself inside her, pumping in and out desperately. They stole these moments as just the two of them so rarely, and both of them understood how essential they were. These excursions were just for them. They could just be the two of them—husband and wife—here, not mother and father, mistress of the house and furiously working Duke.

Charlotte allowed herself to fall apart, to let go of everything else, and simply enjoyed this perfect escape for what it was. Frederick was there with her, relishing this feverish coming together as much as she was. If his low grunts and intense thrusts were anything to go by, that was.

“Oh, Frederick, yes.” Charlotte moved with him, reaching up for the tree trunk over her head to anchor herself. “Ugh, yesss. Claim me.”

“Always, my love.” Frederick gripped her under her bottom, the tips of his fingers brushing over where they were joined and sending lightning through her veins. “Fall apart for me. Let me feel you.”

Stroking the sensitive skin, her husband sent Charlotte flying off the edge with his incredible fingers and the way he filled her up so completely. She surged around him, clamping down on his shaft as the pleasure erupted through her entire body, making her head spin.

“Oh, Charlotte, yes. That’s my sweet girl.”

He pounded into her, the need undoubtedly rising in his blood. Charlotte threw an arm around his neck and angled her hips forward, allowing Frederick to penetrate deeper. His length nudged at the very depths of her, and Charlotte cried out, the burst of sensation nearly painful before blissfully melting into pleasurable.

Frederick clearly appreciated the new angle as well, nuzzling into her neck once more as he buried himself inside Charlotte up to the hilt. He held her so tightly, using all his strength to take them both to the heights of lust. He surged inside her, growing thicker and firmer as his release grew near.

“Charlotte,” he whispered into her ear, his lips brushing over her skin, “the most wonderful wife and mother. Ugh, my darling, I want to hear you say it. I want you to ask me to fill you with my seed so that you carry my child once more.”

“Yes,” Charlotte whined, her mind half gone from the euphoria of it all, “please fill me up, Frederick. Please.”

Her husband didn’t say another word, but he took care to set up a powerful rhythm, and before she knew it, Charlotte was soaring into release once more, just as Frederick emptied himself within her. The warmth was intense and wonderful, and she fluttered around him until she worried she would never stand successfully again.

“My darling,” he hummed, several more kicks of his shaft making her nerves go haywire before they both relaxed while they caught their breath, “you are incredible.”

They separated, and Charlotte had to rely heavily on the tree to support her weight. Her breath shuddered in and out of her, and she smiled up at where she assumed Frederick stood as her eyes were closed.

“As are you, my dear husband.”

His lips found hers, and Frederick helped Charlotte with settling her clothing and smoothing it down. She cracked a lid just in time to see him securing the fall of his trousers, and Charlotte chuckled softly.

“One of these times,” she sucked in a fresh breath, still a tad winded, “we shall try this in our bed.”

Frederick laughed, leaning forward to place a kiss on her forehead and he pulled Charlotte up to stand.

“I agree. Though, we shall have to wait for a time when Gene has not crawled into it with us because of a bad dream.”

Charlotte nodded, thoroughly exhausted. “Ah, yes. That is why we rarely use it. How could I forget?”

They both laughed and laughed. Then, after finally calming enough that their skin wasn’t flushed and their breathing was level, Charlotte and Frederick began the stroll back to the house.

The children would be needing them soon, and Charlotte smiled happily as she held Frederick’s hand on the walk back. Life had always been a rather exciting and strange thing, and that had not changed. But it was all so wonderful for each moment that he was with her, and she could never be prouder about being his wife and the mother to their two incredible children.

Who might perhaps soon become three.

The End