A Prudent Match Read online

  Ledbetter shifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed, where he sat down with her in his lap. She could feel his hardness beneath her, and it made her a little nervous. But he distracted her with kisses and the incredible touch of his hands on her breasts. She could feel the need rising in her like yeast, swelling her flesh, making her feel ripe and on the edge of a luscious precipice.

  And then he stopped. He drew back from her to study her face and her dazed eyes. “I'm going to take my clothes off now,” he announced.

  Prudence flushed but made an effort to help by loosening the knot of his cravat and tugging it off. Ledbetter shifted so that she could assist him out of his coat as well. She rose from his lap to hang the coat over the back of the chair, and fold the white linen cravat carefully on the seat. In the meantime Ledbetter had removed his shirt and was in the process of stripping down his pants and drawers together when Prudence turned back.

  “Oh, dear,” she murmured, seeing for the first time his male member in such a state. She turned her head away, her hands fluttering helplessly.

  He rose to stand behind her, gently taking her into his arms, but not turning her around. “That delicious state of arousal that you've been feeling, Prudence, well, in a man, it's even more evident. That's all it means, that I'm aroused. I've promised you that I won't enter you tonight, haven't I?”

  “Yes. But you want to.”

  He laughed. “Of course I do. How could I not? But I'm not going to, my sweet, even if you beg me.”

  Prudence gave a gurgle of laughter at such absurdity. “I shan't beg you,” she promised.

  “No, I didn't think you would.”

  He turned her around and she kept her eyes on his, but she could feel his male member pressed against her stomach. And then he took one breast into his mouth again and she felt her body arch against him, felt his hardness leap with the same excitement that she felt at the pull of his lips and her eyes flew to his. “I see,” she said.

  “Yes, I thought you would. It's nothing to be afraid of, any more than I would be alarmed by your arousal. They're perfectly natural states for a man and a woman to be in. Shall we finish taking off your shift?”

  Prudence blinked uneasily at him. “But, William, I have my courses. I would be a little embarrassed to remove the shift.”

  Since she stood before him bare-breasted, with the shift caught around her waist, he merely sighed and lifted her into the bed. When he climbed in beside her, she asked, “Have I disappointed you?”

  “Certainly not. How could I be disappointed when your lovely breasts are here for me to see, and to touch.” He moved his hands provocatively on her flesh, instantly calling forth the heady excitement she was becoming familiar with. “But there is more of you to touch, lovely Prudence. And I wish you will not be embarrassed for me to do so.”

  As he allowed his hands to wander down her body, Prudence stiffened slightly. But his stroking felt comforting along her sides and down onto her legs. When his hands moved to the insides of her thighs, she murmured a protest. Instead of removing his hands, Ledbetter brought his mouth to her breast and teased its peak with his tongue. She was so distracted by the sensations that she didn't notice that his hands had commenced a rhythmic stroking which approached the apex where her legs joined.

  And then he touched her in the most private place of all and her mouth, prepared to protest, instead uttered an altogether different sound. She heard her own moan with a mixture of surprise and longing. There was something he touched that felt even more remarkable than his lips on her breast. Something that made her body writhe with a desire for more.

  But his hands had withdrawn, and his lips had moved to her mouth. While his kiss was pleasant enough, it did not convey the excitement that his touch had given her. Prudence wanted him to touch her again as he just had, but he seemed unaware of her wish. He probed her mouth with his tongue and she found it exciting, but still she wanted his hands to explore her again. She was totally unable to tell him so, and knew a certain frustration with her own cowardice.

  In her dilemma, Prudence reached out to her husband, her hands clasping his hips. She loved the texture of his skin, the firmness of bone under flesh. As his kiss deepened, her hands moved to cup his bottom and she found it almost as exciting as when he had touched her. The roundness of his buttocks seemed as alluring as that of her own breasts; she heard his moan of pleasure.

  And his hand moved again to that intimate spot that made her almost faint with aching. As he stroked her, she kneaded his buttocks, gripping them firmly as her need rose. Her breathing came faster and everything about her seemed caught up in a heightening spiral of urgency. His mouth moved again to her breast, tugging at it as the ache tugged between her legs. Oh, God, she could not bear this need. She would burst if it weren't satisfied.

  Frantic, she begged, “Ledbetter, I . . .”

  And then all hell broke loose in her body. All that pent up energy burst forth in a shattering release that overwhelmed her senses. She could hear nothing but the rushing of her blood, nor feel anything but the rhythmic response in her body. Tears seeped from her closed eyes, and Ledbetter kissed them on her cheeks.

  “Are you all right, Prudence?” he asked gently.

  Even as the tears streamed faster, she nodded. “I'm sorry to be such a ninny. That was astonishing. And wonderful.” She opened her eyes to meet his inquiring gaze. Her voice shook a little when she said, “Thank you. I had no idea. You must think me the greatest fool in nature to be resisting an experience such as that.” And then shyly, “Is it like that always?”

  “It can be, with luck and patience.” He kissed her forehead and wiped away the dwindling tears. “You're not distressed?”

  She shook her head. “No, it was the relief that made me cry, I think. But I feel exhausted.”

  He laughed. “I'm sure you do. We'll go to sleep now, my dear.”

  “But you . . .”

  “I'll be fine.” He gathered her against his body, nuzzling her hair with his face. “Goodnight, baroness.”

  With a sigh she closed her eyes again and allowed her body to relax against his. “Goodnight, William.”

  * * *

  Chapter 14

  When he awoke in the morning, Ledbetter found himself still holding his wife. She lay softly against him, her breathing slow and regular, and he had little doubt that she was really asleep. It would, of course, take very little to waken her. And his promise had only been for the previous night, had it not? He could, in good conscience, attempt to seduce her this morning.

  At the very thought his body stirred. But Ledbetter sighed and rolled away from her. Better by far to seduce his innocent Prudence in the dark of night. Her fears and embarrassment would only be heightened in the light of day.

  So he climbed carefully out of her bed, donned his dressing gown and smiled ruefully at the diamonds that still winked in her ears. Hell, he'd meant to remove them; they must have been very uncomfortable to sleep in.

  Her face looked relaxed, though. Her lips were slightly parted and those funny little puffs of breath escaped them from time to time. Ledbetter was tempted to bend and kiss her, but forced himself to turn away. He had a great deal to do today and he would be wise to get started.

  * * * *

  It was another hour before Prudence stirred. The first thing she noticed was that she was still wearing the diamonds, and very little else; the second thing that Ledbetter was not there with her in bed. That disappointed her—a little. It seemed to say that he wasn't as interested in her . . . physically . . . as he had indicated. But of course it was all to the good, because he wouldn't expect her to . . . well, be available for him.

  Prudence tugged the shift back up over her naked chest even before she got out of bed. And the minute she was on her feet she reached to unhook the diamond necklace. When she held it in her hands, she gazed at it with wonder. It had not occurred to her, somehow, that marrying Ledbetter would mean that she was showered with dia
monds. After all, he had married her for her money.

  Hadn't he?

  Frowning, Prudence laid the diamond necklace carefully in the worn case. Then she removed the earrings from her ears and placed them there as well. Perhaps they were entailed and Ledbetter hadn't the right to sell them. Not that that had stopped any family she'd ever heard of from having a paste set made and disposing of the valuable ones to meet their debts. At the very least the baron could have borrowed money against them.

  Prudence shook her head, not understanding at all. There must have been any number of ways Ledbetter could have raised even as significant an amount of money as she'd brought to their marriage. Frustrated as ever by the question, Prudence rang for Tessie. Together they needed to accomplish a great deal in preparation for the party in less than a week's time.

  * * * *

  In the early afternoon Sir Geoffrey Manning and Lady Manning arrived at Salston. It was apparent to Prudence that they had informed Ledbetter of their impending visit, but he had neglected to mention the fact to her. Which would have made little difference, except that she would have preferred to be wearing a more attractive gown in which to receive them.

  As this was her first opportunity to entertain company at Salston, she would also have liked to confer with Mrs. Collins and the cook as to what tea consisted of for guests. But in the event, it hardly mattered, because the Mannings had not been there half an hour when Catherine Manning experienced the first sign of impending childbirth.

  One moment she was seated quite comfortably on the red velvet chair next to Prudence's, and the next she was standing horrified in a pool of fluid. “Oh, God, I'm so sorry,” she cried. “I've ruined your chair. I told Geoffrey coming out this close to my confinement might not be the best possible idea.”

  “So you did, my love,” he replied, contrite. “We'd best start for home instantly.”

  His wife stared at him with understandable astonishment. “I can't ride home in a carriage, Geoffrey. Riding in a carriage would be agony if not disaster. You know how fast the babies come.” She looked helplessly at Prudence.

  “You are not to concern yourself,” Prudence said, calm in the face of emergency. “I'll have a room prepared for you straightaway. Shall we send for your midwife?”

  “Oh, if you would.” Catherine smiled tremulously at her hostess. “Though I must warn you that she hasn't made it in time for either of the last two births.”

  Ledbetter looked a little pale at this announcement. “Then who delivers the baby?”

  “Oh, the housekeeper did last time. The time before Geoffrey's mother was with us.”

  Prudence had pulled the bell cord and instructed the footman who arrived to have Mrs. Collins see that a room was prepared immediately for Lady Manning, and to have the midwife sent for. Then she turned to Catherine and hooked her arm through her guest's. “Come. I'll take you upstairs. Once we have you comfortably in bed, we'll allow Sir Geoffrey to have a word with you, if you wish.”

  Catherine was looking considerably distressed by her situation, but this prosaic plan seemed to relieve her. Prudence turned to her husband and said, “Ledbetter, would you have Mrs. Collins bring up a cup of tea for Lady Manning? And some toast perhaps? When she's there we'll consider what else needs to be done.”

  “Certainly, my dear,” her husband replied, looking rather pleased with her.

  Prudence refused to allow Catherine to murmur further apologies as they made their way up the stairs and down the hallway to the largest of the guest chambers. “You haven't a thing to apologize for,” she assured her companion. “I shall find it immensely exciting to have a baby arrive right here at Salston. But your children will be so disappointed not to see the new babe at once.”

  “They will,” Catherine admitted. “They've been looking forward to seeing which side gets added to—the boys or the girls.”

  Prudence laughed. “Well, Sir Geoffrey will just have to bring them over to see you and the child as soon as you're rested.”

  “But I couldn't stay here!”

  “There is nothing else you can do,” Prudence said reasonably. “Don't distress yourself. You have more than enough to concern you at present.”

  As a pain gripped her guest at that moment, the two paused to wait it out. Prudence had been ten when her youngest sister was born, so she was not entirely unfamiliar with the routine surrounding childbed. When they came to the guest chamber, a housemaid was just finishing setting out towels. Prudence asked her to have Tessie bring a nightdress from her own room and the girl hurried off.

  “Just how quickly do your babies come?” Prudence asked when she saw that Catherine was having another pain.

  “In less than two hours,” Catherine confessed. “At least the last two have.”

  Prudence grinned. “Well, we shan't have long to wait, then. Let me help you out of your gown.”

  But Tessie arrived then and took this task upon herself, efficiently ridding the baronet's wife of her clothing and disposing her in bed in one of Prudence's soft cotton nightdresses. “I'll be pleased to help, if you'd like me to,” she said. “I've been at my sister's lying ins.”

  “Thank you. That would be very kind,” Catherine agreed.

  Prudence pulled a chair up to the bed and talked gently with her visitor until another pain came. Then she held her hand out for Catherine to grip tightly as she withstood her body's assault. “All in such a good cause,” Prudence murmured sympathetically.

  “Well, I do love the little dears,” Catherine said when she was able to reply. “But I wouldn't mind having them a little less often.”

  At the foot of the bed Tessie cleared her throat as unobtrusively as possible. “You could, you know,” she said.

  Both women regarded her with astonishment.

  “Forgive me.” A blush stole up her face and she shrugged her shoulders. “I didn't mean to speak out of turn. Pay no heed to me.”

  There was a twinkle in Catherine's eyes, despite her present situation. “I don't think Geoffrey would take kindly to being denied. Nor, for that matter, would I care to deny myself.”

  “You don't have to—refrain,” Tessie said, looking uncomfortable. “My sister said the midwife talked to her after her second came so fast on her first. Less than a year.” She shrugged again and looked pleadingly at Prudence. “I don’t mean to put myself forward, Lady Ledbetter. Only Jane has been so pleased at the results. It's been three years now since the last baby.”

  Prudence had no idea whether this was a topic she should pursue or not, but fortunately they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Tessie informed them that it was Sir Geoffrey, and at Catherine's warm smile, Tessie and Prudence left the two alone together. Out in the hall, Tessie was apologetic.

  “I meant no disrespect, my lady. Only ever since Jane told me about it I've thought it unfair that so few women seem to know. And a lot of the gentlemen do, but they never admit it! It hardly seems right!”

  Curiosity overcame Prudence’s scruples. “What is it the gentlemen know?”

  “There's something they can wear on their . . . well, you know. They call it a French letter. Jane said some of the gentry use them with their mistresses. Imagine! But not a word to their poor wives going through childbed once a twelvemonth! As though giving birth was a rare treat!”

  Tessie sounded so disgusted that Prudence had to laugh. “I daresay they're only thinking of the end result, you know. Adding to their families.”

  Tessie snorted. “It's not as if the quality need a number of little ones to work the farm. Begging your pardon, ma'am. I know it's none of my business one way or 'tother.”

  “No, it isn't,” Prudence agreed gently but firmly. “But Lady Manning may well benefit from our discussion. I have a feeling she won't forget, and if she's interested, perhaps her own midwife can offer her some advice.”

  “Yes, ma'am.”

  Sir Geoffrey emerged from his wife's room then, looking a little distressed. Prudence hurried over to
him, asking, “Lady Manning is all right, isn't she?”

  “She says so, though how she can when one of those pains grips her I cannot understand. Think you should be with her now, ma'am, if you don't mind.”

  “Of course not,” Prudence assured him. “We'll send you word as soon as anything happens, Sir Geoffrey.”

  “My thanks,” he said gruffly. “I know you'll take good care of her.”

  “We will. Please send the midwife up directly when she arrives, but we'll be fine until then.” Prudence smiled and hurried past him into the bedchamber, followed closely by Tessie. They found Catherine grimacing with pain and rolling her head on the pillow, but she waved aside their concern.

  “Perfectly normal,” she grunted. “It's almost time, I think.”

  Prudence calmly advanced and removed the covers from Catherine's lower body. “The midwife hasn't arrived yet, so you must direct Tessie and me how to go on. Do you need anything?”

  “Tessie might warm a blanket at the fire to wrap the babe.”

  “Right away, Lady Manning.”

  Catherine motioned Prudence closer. “Did you find out what she meant?” she whispered, indicating Tessie with her head.

  “I did.” Prudence frowned slightly. “You'd best ask the midwife if she knows what a French letter is.”

  Her guest looked mystified but smiled slightly. “To be sure I shall. I would be just as happy to have a child every other year. Oh!”

  Prudence watched as Catherine succumbed to a fierce urge to deliver the child. To her astonishment, she could see the hair on the baby's head before the crown of the head receded once more. “Why, it's almost here. Tell me what to do.”

  “When I push again,” Catherine said, puffing hard, “it will start to slide out. Make sure it's breathing.”

  Though she would have liked to ask how she would know, Prudence restrained herself and awaited the moment when the baby's head emerged from Catherine's body. And then, all by itself, the little shoulders twisted and the whole body slipped right out. Prudence turned the baby's face to her and watched the infant take a great gasp of air—and begin to wail.