Snowflakes and Scandals

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Septimus made his way to his brother. “I have to ask you how you managed to convince Meg to fall in love with you.”

“I can tell you that.” She smiled up at him. “Kisses and refusing to leave my side. Why do you and Margaret not take a stroll in the garden?”

That was an excellent idea. “Thank you. I believe I will ask her.”

He ambled back to her and her father. “Margaret, would you like to take a walk?”

She glanced at her father.

He patted her hand. “You go. I wish to take a nap before luncheon.”

Looking up at Septimus, she rose. “It has been such an eventful morning I had not even realized that it was not yet noon.”

He twined her arm with his. “I know what you mean.”

Margaret stopped and turned to him. “I assume your family will remain for a few days at least. I have never hosted a house party.”

He drew her to him and kissed her. “They are very easy to please.”

At his urging, Margaret opened her lips, and their tongues tangled. He slid his hand from her waist to her derrière. God how he wanted to make love to her. Her breasts pressed against his chest, and he grew hard. How much longer would they have to wait? If only they could marry today, but the special license hadn’t even arrived, and his family would gladly murder him for not waiting. Not to mention Meg after all the thought she’d put into making sure everyone was there.

Margaret’s arms had slid up over his shoulders, but now her palms pressed against his face as she deepened their kiss. “I want to know you.” He was about to urge caution, when she broke the kiss. “I know we cannot do everything, but could we not do something ?”

“Come with me.” They skirted the house and entered though a small garden door he’d seen the day before. “There is a parlor. I’ll light a fire, but it might take a while to warm.”

“It might already be lit.”

He hoped she was right. He opened the door, and, to his relief, a small fire burned. “Let me add some wood.”

Seconds later she was back in his arms. “I am going to unfasten your gown and stays.”

“In that case, I shall untie your cravat.” No courtesan could have been more seductive. Her bodice dropped. He lowered her chemise, and pressed his lips to her neck, kissing and licking his way to her ample breasts. She faltered as she unbuttoned his waistcoat, and the laces of his shirt.

“Take them off.” Margaret leaned back and watched as he discarded his jacket, waistcoat, and shirt. “I must learn how to do that.” She pushed her gown down and stepped out of it. Now for his trousers. The buttons were tight, but she managed to unfasten them. Oh, my. He wasn’t wearing anything else. His member landed in her hand. “This is soft.” And hard. And fascinating. Thank God Amanda had told her what it was called. “What do I do with it?”

Septimus groaned. “Nothing yet.” He picked her up into his arms and carried her to a chaise lounge, then gently set her down. “Let’s remove our shoes and—his look made the part between her legs throb—"your stockings.”

She did not understand. “What is so interesting about my stockings?”

“You’ll see.” He took off he shoes and removed his stockings, then knelt before her and undid her garters. His lips and tongue trailed along her legs as he rolled down her stockings. Nothing had ever felt so good. The feeling between her legs intensified. Squirming under his hands and mouth, she did not think she was going to last until the second one was off.

“You are so responsive.” He started on the other stocking. “Like a fine instrument when it’s played.”

Margaret moaned, and then he pressed his mouth to her mons, and her world seemed to fly apart. When he slipped a finger into her passage the convulsions became stronger. To think she had never known about this. Might never have known if she had decided not to wed. Septimus removed his finger and held her until her body stopped shaking. Then it finally occurred to her that he had not experienced anything like what she had. “What can I do for you?”

“Nothing. I’ll be fine.” He stroked one of her cheeks, down over her breasts. “Are you ready for more?”

“There is more?”

“Umm. More ways to make you come for me.” He took one of her breasts into his mouth, and her body clenched again. This was heavenly. She touched his hard, naked chest. Running her fingers through the soft hairs covering it. He switched breasts but kept a hand on the one he’d abandoned with his mouth. Rolling her nipple between his fingers. The throbbing started again as he kissed his way down her body. This time she knew what would happen when he pressed his tongue to her center. She tried to hold it off, but his finger entered her, and his tongue touched a part of her she had not even known existed. And it was like being a Catherine Wheel exploding.

Septimus held Margaret as she dozed. He never had any woman who was as responsive as she was. And she was his for the rest of her life. He’d like nothing more than to sink into her wet heat and come himself, but he must wait another four days before he’d be able to bed her fully and as his wife. He toyed with the idea of showing her what she could do for him, but it was too soon. Still the idea of her mouth and hands on him made him even harder than he had been. A clock chimed. It would soon be time for luncheon. “Margaret, sweetheart. We must dress.”

Her drowsy eyes were greener than before. Almost like the ocean off Canada. “What did you say?”

“We must dress. Luncheon will be soon.” He kissed her forehead. “Come let me help you.” He pulled her to her feet. “Lift up your arms.” Soon her chemise, stays, and gown were donned and fastened. The next part would be torture for him, but it must be done. “If you sit again, I can put on your stockings.”

“I will do that. You must dress as well.” Her gaze scanned his body, making him hard again. “Very well.”

She pointed at his cock. “Are you always like that?”

“No. Only for you.” Septimus quickly retrieved his clothes and donned them. With any luck at all, he’d have time to take care of himself. “Allow me to repair your hair.”

“I forgot all about it.” She touched her topknot. “It’s askew.”

“But easy to fix.” A few minutes later they were presentable. Well, except for his erection. “We’ll go up the servants’ stairs. Shall we meet again in ten minutes?”

“Yes.” Her smile reminded him of a sunny day. “Thank you.”

“Not at all. Thank you.”

“But I did not do anything.”

“You did more than you think. We both now know that we are compatible sensually. That is very important to a marriage.”

Margaret tilted her head to one side. “Passion?”

“Yes.” Drawing her into his arms again, he kissed her. “Passion. You are more passionate than I could have hoped for.”

“And you are very thorough.” She stroked one finger down his chest.

This cock stand was never going to go away. “I am glad you liked it.” He took her hand and they climbed the stairs. “Ten minutes. On the landing.”

“I will be there.” She blew him a kiss as they parted. He was going to enjoy immensely being married to her.

As he entered his room, his valet stood holding up a shirt. “Lord Hawksworth sent a message that the license had arrived.”

“Excellent.” One more fence cleared.

“Do you require anything. I must iron this shirt.”

“No, nothing at the moment.” That saved him from finding an errand for his valet to do while Septimus took care of his problem.

“I will return before you must dress for dinner.”

Septimus envisioned Margaret as he touched himself. Not being able to make love to her was going to be even harder than he thought it would be. But needs must. All Septimus could do was to pray that his brothers and sisters arrived soon. Maybe he’d be able to wed sooner.

He met her on the landing, she twined her arm with his and they descended to the hall. A footman stationed at the door bowed. “They are in the morning room.”

Septimus inclined his head. “Thank you.”

When they entered, Amanda came up to them smiling. “The special license has arrived.”

“That is wonderful.” Margaret beamed. “Now we are just waiting for your family.”

“My dear,” her father said. “Should we go home to wait for everyone? That will give us time to arrange the wedding.”

“No!” Amanda and Meg said forcefully.

“Forgive me,” Meg said. “We must all stay in one place. Despite the care we have taken, it would not do for the duke or one of his minions to arrive before you are wed. The only way we can assure that is for everyone to remain together.”

“Papa, Meg is right. I can send a list of things that must be done to Mr. and Mrs. Whittle. They are perfectly capable of taking care of the arrangements. If we need to accomplish a task they will tell us.”

“We must invite our neighbors,” Papa said a bit stubbornly.

“I will write the invitations from here and have William Coachman take them down.”

“If you are certain, my dear.”

“I am.” She patted her father’s arm. “It is a bit frustrating; I know. But Meg is in charge of these arrangements.”

“She is right, sir. My sister-by-marriage knows how to handle this situation.”

The butler entered, calling them all to luncheon.

Septimus took Margaret’s arm while Amanda took Lord Sutton’s. Septimus understood the desire to be in charge. They would simply have to keep his future father-in-law busy and involved.