“I can see that you are. I am sure everything will be well met, Jane. Worry not. This house is new to me as well.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She sounded brighter as she moved off to put away the garments Georgina had removed.
The hot water felt good, soothing and loosening her muscles stiff from being confined in the coach for hours. Jeremy hadn’t demanded anything during the long ride other than to hold her next to him and to kiss her. Georgina smiled, remembering how Jeremy had said he loved kissing her. His kisses were very welcome. No worries there. If only this bedding dilemma were as simple as kisses, she’d be much more at ease.
Georgina took a bar of violet-scented soap and drew it up her arm, returning to thoughts of her new husband. A perfect gentleman the whole trip, but intuition told her he wanted more and held himself back from displaying it. He knew what had been done to her and didn’t want her frightened of him. He said so. He came to her bedroom last night to get her used to him. That was his intention. Because he plans to come to your bed tonight and this time it won’t be merely for sleep.
They had discussed it last night. He said when they were together in that way, it would be within the bounds of matrimony. Well, that was now. Jeremy was coming in a short while to do all those things he wished to do with her, and she must allow him. Dear God, help me to do this.
She had been in so much pain…after her attack. Her body had ached in every place, and there had been injuries to parts of her that made her worry she mightn’t be able to grow a child due to damage. Please don’t let it hurt like that. The doctor had reported her well recovered though, and Georgina prayed he was right, for she truly wanted her own children. To be a mother and hold her own babies was a dream she held in her heart.
Georgina thought of her mother, Anne, and felt the pang of missing her gentle embrace and wisdom. She felt so lost and confused. There was nobody to whom she could share her fears about what was to happen tonight. Who could she have spoken to about such things? Her father? Her brother? Not likely. They both just kept telling her that marrying and starting a family was the best cure for what she’d borne and would help her to put the past away.
Please don’t let it hurt like before.
Georgina finished with the soap, rinsed herself, and stepped out of the bath. She dried her skin briskly with a thick towel to ward off the chill.
“Your nightgown, ma’am.” Jane draped a sheer yellow gown over the screen.
Georgina reached for it and drew it over her head. It was made of the thinnest cotton gauze but fully gathered at the sleeves and neckline which dipped low. It would be easy work for him to push it off her shoulders and bare her breasts. Might he leave her gown on? She shook her head with a firm shake. Somehow she knew Jeremy would wish it off. Strangely the thought of him seeing her body didn’t bother her too much. She was more worried about all of the other things he would do to her body.
Please help me to do this duty to my husband.
“Your hair, ma’am. Shall I brush it out for you?”
“Please do.” Georgina nodded and sat down before the dressing table, willing her nerves to settle. She watched Jane in the mirror, carefully removing the pins that held her hair up, one by one until at last her hair fell free. It tapered to a point at the middle of her back where Jane started the brushing. She began at the end and worked her way up slowly without painful tugs and snags. She might be an inexperienced lady’s maid, but she knew how to brush out long hair.
“You have lovely hair, Mrs. Greymont. It is very soft.”
“You have a lovely touch at brushing it, Jane. Your sisters must have long hair, for you know how to do it gently.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I have two sisters and am well acquainted with the brushing of long locks.” Jane moved through each section of hair until every strand had been tamed. “Would you like a braid, Mrs. Greymont?”
Georgina shook her head once. “I think not, Jane.” She couldn’t, and wouldn’t say any more to a servant. It wasn’t proper, but it didn’t stop her from thinking about why she wouldn’t have it braided. Georgina would leave her hair down because she knew Jeremy liked it best that way. He enjoyed touching and fingering through it as he had done last night.
“Well, I’ll say good night then, ma’am. Please call for me if there is anything I may do for you.” Jane bobbed a curtsy and let herself out of the room.
Georgina listened to the sound of retreating footsteps and then silence. She got up from the dressing table and moved to stand before the fireplace, slowly counting to one hundred in her head. It was the only thing she could think to do in order to keep her feet planted firmly on the floor and from running out the door.
I can do this.
* * * *
Jeremy’s heart thudded hard in his chest to the point of causing physical movement. Nervous was what he was. He could never remember feeling like this before sex, but here he was, nervous as a hare at a dog race. What was Georgina thinking right now? She must be nervous. How could she not?
It was hard to tell when he stepped into the well-lit room because she had her back to him. She was glorious all the same. Standing before the fire, Georgina appeared more beautiful than he had ever seen her. She wore her blonde hair down, the soft curls flowing over her shoulders and down
her back. Her nightdress, pale yellow and thinly translucent, pooled at her feet. He could just make out the shape of her mile-long legs and other gorgeous parts in the backlight of the fire, like the perfectly rounded curves of her beauteous bum.
He stopped. Waiting, looking, admiring. It was all he could do.
She turned around.
His arms shot out, and he heard himself whisper, “Come to me.”
Savoring every step, he watched as she walked toward him, her breasts swaying beneath the thin gown with each stride forward and then softly bouncing every time her foot touched the floor. Mother of God!
Once he could draw her into an embrace, he finally felt able to inhale a breath. He closed his eyes in thankfulness, so great was the relief to at last have her against him—safe and warm and smelling of sweet-scented soap.