“Thank you, Widdy,” Ludo said, sending her such a warm smile that poor Widdy looked quite flustered. “For such a lovely welcome. I know we shall be very happy here.”
“Ah, well. All is as it ought to be at last, my lord,” Widdy said, dipping a curtsey before she left them alone and closed the door behind her.
Bunty watched as Ludo moved to the dressing table, touching perfume bottles and silver-backed brushes that must have belonged to his mother with reverent fingers. He lifted one of the crystal bottles and took out the stopper, lifting it to his nose, and smiled. Placing the bottle back with care, he stood by the window and looked out. The light was fading now, twilight settling upon the snow and leaving the landscape hushed and silent. Bunty moved to stand beside him, and he slid his arm about her waist, pulling her close.
“Over that way is Sedlescombe and Battle Abbey, and that way to Hastings. In the summer, we can go to the beach and you can sea bathe. Pevensey Bay is over there, where William the Conqueror landed. There was always a lot of society to be had here, too. A good community, or at least my mother found it so. I’m afraid you may struggle there, what with my black reputation to overcome.”
“Nonsense,” Bunty said briskly, not wanting anything to spoil his good humour, though there was truth in his words. “Soon enough, they’ll see that you’ve turned over a new leaf and are a good husband and a wonderful man, and until then I am more than content to keep you all to myself.”
“Are you?” he asked softly, touching her cheek with a fingertip. “For I don’t doubt the rumours are flying already. The neighbourhood will be bracing itself for wild parties and tales of scandal and debauchery.”
Bunty snorted.
“Well, they must content themselves with my scandal, and how I trapped the wicked Lord Courtenay into marriage and tamed his wild heart. That should entertain them through Christmas at least.” She moved closer to him and laid her head on his chest, hearing the reassuring thud of his heart. “And yes, you daft creature. I am in no need of society just yet. You are all I want for Christmas.”
“I have always hated Christmas,” he said his voice low. “Since mother died, at least. We had wonderful Christmases here. The house was filled with greenery and Widdy cooked up a storm. Mother helped her, too. She liked stirring the plum pudding, and I always put the charms in.”
“Then let us have a Christmas like that,” Bunty said, excitement bubbling through her at the idea. Christmas with her parents had always been a bit dull. It had been a blessing when her friend Freddie had been with them to add some fun to the proceedings. “We’ll have a wonderful celebration, just as you did when you were a boy. We’ll fill the house with food and laughter, and it will be the best Christmas ever. I can make you love it again, Ludo, I’m sure. With a little help, at least.”
“I already do,” he said, laughing now. “I love you, Bunty. My word, I love you so much I get these moments of sheer terror when I’m afraid I’ll wake up and discover I dreamed it all.”
Bunty stared at him, so touched by his words she could not speak for a moment.
“I’m no dream, Ludo,” she said, pulling his head down for a kiss. She pulled back, whispering the words against his mouth. “I’ll prove it to you.”
Ludo’s breath caught as Bunty pushed his coat from his shoulders, allowing it to fall to the floor in a heap before reaching for his waistcoat buttons. He’d meant what he’d said. Everything that had happened since he’d accepted that note had brought him such joy he lived in terror of losing it, of waking and finding it a dream, or of something crashing down upon him that would ruin everything. Yet, looking into Bunty’s eyes and seeing her certainty, her confidence in him, he knew now that he was worrying for nothing. This was no dream. This wonderful woman, this home, this future… they were all his. He did not doubt that there would be challenges ahead. There would be difficulties, good days and bad days, for that was life and no one could escape its vagaries and quirks, but he could face it now. Such a short time ago, the world had looked bleak and lonely, and his efforts to change his life had seemed like climbing a mountain with one arm behind his back. Not now. Now he felt he could face anything if Bunty was beside him, and she was. She always would be.
She’d made short work of his waistcoat and had flung his cravat across the room with a wicked grin. He watched, delighted by the anticipation in her eyes as she tugged his shirt from his breeches, and slid her hands under the fabric.
“Christ, your hands are cold!”
Ludo sucked in a breath as goosebumps chased over his skin, but she only laughed at him.
“Wicked creature,” he murmured with affection. “Just see how I’ve corrupted you.”
She nodded, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Indeed you have, my lord. Just think of all the dreadful things I’ve learned these past days in your company.”
“And nights,” he added gravely. “Don’t forget the nights.”
“Oh, Ludo,” she said, her voice trembling with laughter. “I could never forget the nights.”
She made him strip off the shirt, and then stood for a long moment, staring at his chest in a way that made Ludo feel like king of the world. He watched as she bit her lip, considering, and then moved towards him and rubbed her face over his chest like a cat, her hands caressing his skin as she sighed happily. He thought perhaps she might purr.
“Oh, I’ve wanted to do that for an age,” she said, looking up as he quirked an eyebrow at her. “You’re just so….”
“Hairy?”
“Well, yes, but… big and hot and… cuddly.”
“Cuddly?” he repeated doubtfully. “I’m not a kitten.”
She snorted at that. “Certainly not, though you rather make me feel like one, which is lovely.”
He grinned at her, aware he must look smug, but the expression was swiftly wiped from his face as he realised she’d undone the fall on his trousers and was getting to her knees. Her fingers brushed through the trail of hair that arrowed down his belly to the thick thatch from which his arousal strained, begging for attention.
“I found a book when I was packing, Ludo,” she said conversationally. “I’d never seen anything like it.”
“Oh?” Ludo said, not paying much attention, not when her mouth was so close, her breath a teasing whisper of warmth over his taut skin.
“It had pictures.”
“Did it?” he murmured, before his mind snagged on the only book he had with pictures. “Oh!”
“Oh, indeed,” she said, though to his relief she did not sound disgusted, or cross, rather amused and curious.
“It was most… illuminating.”
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes, please. His brain kept up an internal monologue as she trailed a fingertip along the crease at the top of his thigh, making him shiver.
She leaned closer and her tongue darted out, giving him an experimental lick, and Ludo groaned. She did it again, and he held his breath. With excruciating tenderness, she took him into her mouth and sucked gently. He felt dizzy.
“You like that?” she asked, pleased.
Ludo whimpered.