The Honorable Officer by Philippa Lodge

Author:Philippa Lodge [Lodge, Philippa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Marriage of Convenience, Fairies
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc
Published: 2016-04-05T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Ondine refused to sleep, so Hélène said she would lie down with her until she calmed.

In his smallclothes and a dressing gown, Jean-Louis paced in his bedchamber, wondering if his wife was going to come to him. Unable to wait, he paced the hallway for a while before tapping on his wife’s door.

Charlotte opened it.

“Is my wife coming out?”

Charlotte giggled.

Jean-Louis continued pacing. After an eternity, Hélène came out in billowing linen nightclothes, her red hair unbound. Had it faded already? He longed to see it glowing golden instead of copper. She jumped slightly to find him a few feet away and raised her glass to her eye. She had only started to smile when he closed on her, kissing her with every ounce of desire he felt. Her lips parted under his, and he pressed onward until he finally had to pull away to breathe. “Come with me.”

He led her by the hand and opened his door, pulling her into the room.

****

Hélène lifted her lorgnette to her eye and glanced around. The room was very like hers, but it smelled like Jean-Louis already. She supposed it was the perfume Fourbier dabbed into his clothing or the mud and gunpowder her husband carried in his skin. His things were already in their places, surely Fourbier’s doing, though how he had time to unpack before leaving again, she didn’t know.

She sighed. Was it just that morning they had married?

Jean-Louis went around the room, checking the candles. She fidgeted, wondering why he would want lights to sleep. “Please, Jean-Louis? Could you put out the candles?”

He paused, then nodded. “However you want, Madame.” He went around again, blowing out candles.

She couldn’t see anything at all. Her vision at night was terrible, having grown worse in recent years. She listened to Jean-Louis’ steps approaching and then felt his arms slide around her waist.

“Come,” he said. “I cannot wait any longer.”

She let herself be led the few steps to the bed, then felt him unbutton her robe and slip it from her shoulders. When he started to undo the laces holding her nightdress closed, she grabbed at his hands.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

He stilled, but his hands didn’t move from their place at her neck. “I am undressing you. I consider it a luxury to sleep naked whenever I can.”

She shivered violently. Naked? Her hands loosened as he kissed the side of her neck. She felt the nightdress open. She was glad he couldn’t see the blush burning her face.

“What if Ondine needs something?” Her voice was loud in the silence.

“She has Charlotte and Aurore. If that is not enough, they might come and get you. I will help you dress again.” His hands moved to the next ties. The nightdress slipped off her shoulders and down her arms.

“Ah, Hélène.” His voice was scratchy and choked.

“You can see me?” She stepped away, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Only a little in the firelight.” As he pulled her toward him, she stumbled, uncrossing her arms to steady herself against his chest.

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