Light and heat suffused her, sparking to the tips of every limb. Seen and loved like never before, she was his and he was hers. She knew this as surely as she knew he’d make love to her again, taking her to new heights of freedom from all her fears and inhibitions.
She reveled in the life—the family—they might create here in her whoreson husband’s bedroom, and in the world at large.
Free to be their honest selves, they were worthy of one another’s love, at last.
EPILOGUE
1840, ONE YEAR LATER
All morning long Milton’s wife had fussed and flitted about the house like a gnat on fruit or a fly on shite. In fact, nothing Murdoch or Ginny or anyone said seemed to have any effect, though the servants tried their best to slow their mistress. Lady Milton, however, would not be deterred. She appeared hell bent on ensuring every last detail was in place.
Perhaps ‘bee on clover’ was a kinder analogy?
Milton loudly cleared his throat,ahem, three times while his wife remained oblivious, bent over a list with Gerald. Only when he barked, “Lizzie!” did her head snap up, at last.
He flicked his eyes to her dress, making her look down, with a gasp, at the two damp spots on her chest. She sheepishly took their daughter from his arms. “Forgive me, Jasper.” She settled on the settee and began to loosen her smock as Gerald and the others slipped out.
“I told you this was too much, too soon.” Milton frowned.
Their daughter latched and began to suck emphatically.
“Only it’s not. We’ve hidden ourselves too long. It’s time we show the world?—”
“Youare my world,” he told her. “I don’t give a tinker’s curse about anyone else.” Especially when he watched Elizabeth nurseGemma. There was no more perfect sight in all the world than his two gorgeous girls, together.
Lizzie pursed her lips. “But it will matter toher.” She looked down at their daughter. “And to future children. We do them no favors by?—”
“Elizabeth, I’ve enough blunt to leave a whole brood of children the kind of inheritance that should last for generations. I don’t know why you insist on throwing a formal ball so soon after giving birth.”
“Gemma is nearly six months, Jasper; I should hardly call half a year too soon. Moreover, Annabelle has been of great assistance, as have your mother and Li, and Murdoch and?—”
“I’m aware I married a ridiculously capable woman, and have an equally capable staff. That is not the issue. What concerns me is?—”
“What concernsyou, sir, is the fact you, or rather we, must present ourselves again in society.” She pursed her lips. “I have organized the best possible way to do this, under our own roof, with friends in attendance. Thus we may entertain aswechoose. Is that not better, love, than attempting to resume polite company elsewhere, forced to dance to theTon’stunes?”
Milton harrumphed, though Lizzie was, as usual, right.
“We will never be fully accepted, Jasper, but we must try to reenter society in small, deliberate ways. That begins tonight, so that tomorrow our guests all talk. They will spread word of your good health, wealth, and fortune. How your family now thrives. How your wife now?—”
“Adores me?” Milton leaned in to kiss Lizzie’s brow, then bent to kiss his daughter’s tiny forehead. And then, before she could argue otherwise, he sat down beside his wife, released her other breast from her smock, and began to draw deeply from its tap.
Heaven.
***
Elizabeth sucked in a breath before she grinned. He was greedy, her husband, and she loved the bastard for it. “You will steal all her milk and grow fat,” she chided, letting her free hand fall to his soft, dark curls. More and more he let her touch him without having to ask.
He let go, only to trace the swollen slope of her still-dripping tip. “You’re altogether too tense from organizing this ball, wife. Therefore, as soon as you are done feeding wee Gemma”—his finger landed on their daughter’s tiny nose, buried in Elizabeth’s other breast—“you’ll take yerself straight t’ me chamber an’ await yer master.”
Elizabeth’s insides flipped; they always did when his speech slipped—a portent of things to come. He commanded her in the bedroom even as she commanded his respect more and more outside it. He still tanned her bottom too, when least expected—yet most needed.
“Of course, sir,” she acquiesced, her own lust rising.
He kissed her forehead once more before he slipped from the room.
Elizabeth leaned back, her breasts drained of all pressure. She took immense pleasure in her ability to provide for two such precious beings as her husband and daughter. Though she would derive even more pleasure if this ball went off without a hitch.
Four hours later Elizabeth was refreshed, dressed, and greeting their costumed guests.
