“You think to gain twice the pleasure? Make your toes twice as warm? No, it doesn’t work that way. Let’s do it again. Slowly this time, Jack. You decide when you want to slide your thumb into my mouth.”
Jack was thorough, very slow and very thorough. He finally had to grab her wrist. “No, stop, Jack. That’s quite enough of the thumb lesson.” He drew a deep breath and said, “I’m strong. I have grit. I can do this. Kiss my throat, Jack, then go down to my chest.”
She straddled him as she worked her way down, every so often raising her face to see if she’d gained his approval. Soon, he was beyond nodding. She was right over him. He was saved, or cursed, finally, when Georgie said in a soft whispery little voice, “Freddie, what are you doing on t-t-top of Gray?”
Jack twisted around on him and he thought he’d expire. Her flesh was naked and warm and very soft. “Georgie, good morning, little love. How are you feeling? Your voice sounds all clear and sweet as you are.”
“I’m f-f-fine, F-Freddie.”
“Let me climb off Gray and we’ll get you the chamber pot.” As she brought her bare leg over him, sliding slow across his groin, he nearly wept. “No more lessons, Jack, no more. I’m just a man. A pathetic creature who suffers more than you can imagine from your defection. No, go, there’s no choice. I will gird my loins. I will survive this.”
She laughed, leaned down, kissed his belly, then sang out, “Now, where did I put that chamber pot?”
Gray heard Sir Henry yelling from the entrance hall. Darnley was nowhere in sight. Excellent.
He whistled as he quietly let himself out the front door of Carlisle Manor. It was a lovely morning, not a rain cloud in sight—an unusual occurrence in England on any morning. He breathed in the sweet smell of freshly scythed grass. He saw three gardeners tending bushes and plants on the east side of the house. Carlisle Manor was a beautiful property, a gem set amid green rolling hills and a thick oak forest.
Gray stayed away for a good hour. Upon returning, he saw Sir Henry standing on the stone front steps, hitting his riding crop against his boot. His face was red. Gray waved, dismounted, and gave the gelding over to a waiting stable lad.
Gray dusted off his charm and bonhomie and gave his host a big smile. “And just how are you this fine day, Sir Henry?”
“It’s about time you deigned to come back here. Damnation, I won’t allow this to continue.” Sir Henry raised his voice to the heavens and yelled, “Get the child out of here or I’ll send her to York forever.”
“Child? York? Excuse me, Sir Henry, is there some sort of problem?”
“I told you my household wasn’t running smoothly. I told you the meals weren’t cooked well and were late. I told you my valet even nicked my neck. Well, now Darnley and Mrs. Smithers tell me it’s either the child or them. They say they cannot tolerate further disarray. I’ve thought about it. Winifrede wants her little sister. Well, she can have her. Take her, my lord, today.”
“I beg your pardon, Sir Henry. You’re saying that you want to give away your only child?”
“If it were a boy child it would be different. The child is a girl, she is absurd-looking with her mismatched eyes, and now she’s begun to stutter. Mrs. Finch doesn’t like her, either.”
Gray walked past Sir Henry into the manor.
“Well, my lord?”
Gray turned slowly and smiled. “May I inquire how you intend to make it worth my while to take the child?”
Jack pulled back beneath the stairs. Oh, Gray, she thought, please don’t push him too hard.
?
?What do you want?”
Gray struck a thoughtful pose. “Money,” he said.
“You want money to take the child?”
“Yes,” Gray said. “Let us say you’ll give me one hundred pounds a year. This will take care of feeding and clothing the child.”
“Clothing her like royalty! Ten pounds and not a sou more!”
“All right, fifty pounds, but that’s the lowest I’ll go. Don’t forget I’ll have to pay her nanny, Dolly. Also I’ll require a signed paper from you that I will be Georgina’s guardian. You will relinquish any and all authority you have over her, Sir Henry.”
“Yes, yes, certainly.” Sir Henry was nearly rubbing his hands together. He believed he’d won a mighty victory. So much the better.
“Let’s see it done, then,” Gray said. “Jack doesn’t particularly like it here, as you can imagine. We will leave as soon as all the papers are signed. Is there a solicitor in the neighborhood?”
At three o’clock that same afternoon, Gray stepped up into the carriage and sat down on the seat opposite his wife and her little sister, wrapped up warmly in one of Jack’s old cloaks. He tapped his knuckles on the carriage roof. He said nothing until they had turned out of the Carlisle drive and onto the country road.