It was a more gentle possession than the passionate couplings of the previous nights. Gentle, thorough, intense and deeply erotic as he thrust into her, his movements in tandem with his tongue, leaving her gasping, exulting in the exhaustion that came from the energy expended in loving him.
Every nerve ending quivered at the contact as she thrilled at the now familiar but so deeply missed feeling that began at her toes and spread its all-encompassing wave of sensation up throughout her body before engulfing her in ecstasy. Only her husband had this power over her, and she gladly offered him everything she had to give.
Her climax was deep and intense, racking her with shudders as he withdrew upon a groan to spill his seed beside her.
No, there would be no little angels joining their siblings in the nursery for a while, though, should it happen by chance, Cressida felt strong enough to embrace a timely addition. The control and responsibility Justin shared with her and the reinforcement of his love were her reward for the pain that had gone before.
* * * *
Justin was waiting at the foot of the stairs when Cressida emerged wearing a fashionable gown of primrose lustring beneath a white fur-edged pelisse.
“Good morning, king of husbands,” she said softly.
“Good morning, queen of wives,” he murmured, holding out his hand and indicating the open door with a flourish. “Shall we go? I believe the time has come to show our support of the love match—a great institution, for all that I was skeptical of the merits of succeeding with your little scheme when I anticipated the damage to the reputations involved occasioned by the advanced timing. I am surprised Lord Slitherton was so easily appeased when it is well known Mrs. Hardwicke could not have offered anything in the way of financial or meritorious recompense.”
Cressida looked sly as they descended the steps to their waiting carriage. “Then you clearly are unaware of the efforts I expended with a certain co-conspirator behind the scenes to ensure that matters of the heart would prevail.” She put her hand on Justin’s sleeve to explain. “There’s something about happiness that makes one want to see it enjoyed by the whole world, when one’s been blessed by it, oneself.”
“A co-conspirator?” He looked intrigued. “Catherine?”
Cressida laughed as the footman handed her up, and Justin joined her inside the carriage. “Now you’re being ridiculous. However, I am rather buoyed up by my success with regard to Miss Hardwick and Mr. Pendleton.” She chewed her lip thoughtfully. “Don’t put it past my abilities that I might yet see Catherine bask in the glow of mutual love and adoration. I’ll have her eating out of my hand, one day.”
“Just as you’ve had me eating out of yours since the day I set eyes on you.” He leaned across and chucked her under the chin as the coachman cracked the whip and they lurched forward.
Cressida returned his smile, her heart filling with happiness as she watched the playful glint in his eye be replaced by admiration. “Isn’t there a wealth of surprises hiding behind the innocent visage you present to the world, Cressy? By God, I’m a lucky man, and you know I could refuse you nothing.”
His voice had lowered to a suggestive growl by the end of this statement, and Cressida, still glowing, seized the unexpected opportunity. “If you truly mean that, my darling,” she said earnestly, “there are a few matters I would urge you to take up.”
Justin looked so concerned at this that Cressida giggled. “Oh, nothing to do with your
quite extraordinary prowess in the bedroom,” she replied throatily, feeling ridiculously naughty for voicing such things aloud, even though they were cocooned in a moving carriage with no possibility of being overheard. On a more serious note, she went on, “It’s about the girls I met at Mrs. Plumb’s—”
“Please don’t talk about the experiences you were subjected to on account of my dereliction of duty—”
It was Cressida’s turn to cut him off. “You don’t understand, Justin. It was the most liberating experience of my life. Well, almost,” she amended with a knowing smile. “The outcome of what occurred as a result of our association with Madame Zirelli was the most liberating experience of my life, but meeting the young women who worked there and learning of the sad and terrible events which had led them to Madame Plumb’s is something I can never forget. I feel that something must be done about it.”
Justin sighed and took her hand. “You wish for the impossible, Cressida dearest. I, too, share your outrage on their behalf. Truly I do. But it will take a hundred years to change attitudes toward these women who have, through no fault of their own, become society’s detritus.”
“Through no fault of their own, that’s correct, Justin.” She pushed her shoulders back and removed her hand, prepared to do battle, so strongly did she feel. “However, their falls from grace are generally as a result of a man who can behave with impunity!”
“Not all men believe they have that right, Cressy,” Justin soothed.
“Of course not, Justin, and aren’t you living proof?” She touched his cheek and smiled. “However, you are in a position to help some of these women. I met four of them at Mrs. Plumb’s. One was a parson’s daughter. Yes, can you believe it! A parson’s daughter, just as I am. She became separated from her godmother during her first visit to capital and was tricked by an evil old woman who…used her for her own ends. Now this poor parson’s daughter can only hope her parents believe her dead as her fate would appear—in their eyes —worse than death. She can never go back for the shame, she believes, will kill them.” She drew in a shuddering breath. “Tell me, Justin, is that right? Is it the fault of this country girl who knew nothing of London’s wicked ways and was tricked when she was barely out of the schoolroom? Is it right she can never go home because of the scandal it would occasion her parents?”
“Of course not, my dear—”
“And then there was an innkeeper’s daughter who’d married a gentleman who’d be disinherited if his marriage were to be discovered before he was five-and-twenty. She keeps body and soul together by dancing at Mrs. Plumb’s and must continue to do so until he is of age. Is that right?”
“Please, listen to me, Cressida…” Justin gripped both of Cressida’s hands tightly and gave them a squeeze.
Cressida, who’d opened her mouth to continue, exhaled, and let him speak.
“We are off to attend a wedding. A joyous occasion and one for which you can take almost full credit.” His lips quirked in a wry smile. “Though I’d like to imagine I played a small role.”
Cressida returned the pressure of his hands and nodded. “More than that, Justin.”
“Thank you. Admittedly, it was through more than a little cajoling on your behalf, but the fact is, you made me see that rattling society’s sensibilities does not always lead to a negative result, as I’d believed.”
“Exactly, Justin. And I tried to tell you—”