“Mayhap. Although I’ll never fully know all you did.”
“Nor shall I.” A furrow stole over Margaret’s brow, “But I only regret the ‘mistress’ comment. I truly never meant to offend you.”
“I have been reflecting on that as well, truth be told. And I have to say thank you for that comment. I never thought myself to be beautiful or passionate. I saw myself as the docile bookstore’s daughter, but through all of this, I have come to a new perception of myself. I am passionate, and beautiful in my own right. Though I would only admit such vanity to you.” She blushed. “Thank you for seeing in me all along what I never saw in myself.”
Margaret blinked tears back and embraced her newly minted sister. “You are. You are. You are. You are.”
A throat cleared. Jonathan stood a couple of feet away. “May I?”
Margaret harrumphed in his direction and then flew a glittery smile back at Mary, “We shall talk soon, sister.” She squealed and left the two to talk.
“I wish I could remember more so that I could say more,” Jonathan stood awkwardly still. “Gregory tells me we were all quite close before.”
Mary nodded.
“I wish I could remember,” he repeated. “Maybe one day I will.”
With a light touch on his forearm, Mary leaned in, “I believe one day you will.”
Jonathan’s eyes fleetingly begged hers to fill the empty recesses of his mind. “There is no place for any melancholy today, only merriment. So for today, I will say that you are the most beautiful bride. But ‘O how much more doth beauty beauteous seem.’” Jonathan surprised himself with the Shakespearean reference, and then surprised himself more with a smile. “Gregory is a lucky man, and I know the two of you will make the happiest couple. One the rest of us will eternally strive to mirror.”
She bussed his cheek. “You have always flipped the Spanish Coin, but I will take these words as genuine.”
Jonathan ambled off to find a drink and then without delay, Lyle approached. “Well, well, the better man won. That is to be sure.”
Mary smiled. “Thank you Lyle. For everything.”
“Your husband is the one to thank, and I’m sure you will do just that.” He winked and Mary blushed.
“You played your part, and we are both grateful.”
“I’m not so sure about Gregory, but time will blur any offense and our business venture will be better off for it. By the way, when will you have completed your next play?”
Mary chuckled, “I have a feeling I might be a touch busy this next while, but of course I will continue writing.”
Suddenly, Gregory miraculously appeared by her side. “As if anyone could stop her.”
Then he whispered to her alone, “Let’s get out of here.” He inclined his head to Lyle and made to depart.
With great anticipation, Mary nodded and practically flew alongside Gregory as he led her back to the house.
Gregory opened the door to his bedchamber and realized he had never brought a woman to this room. How fitting that only one woman would experience this with him. He drew Mary into the room and closed the door.
He walked toward the dresser and pulled his necktie loose, saying, “You should know that in this space, we can fulfill our desires.” He turned back to face her and leaned back against the dresser to tamper his urge to simply ravish her. Staring back at him was a disheveled bride from having strode too quickly in her eagerness to be here with him. A few tendrils had flown loose from her pinned curls, her white satin puffy sleeves had slipped further down each shoulder, and her empire waist with a low v-cut shape exposed two creamy white swells.
Just looking at her made his cock twitch. He was going to have to force himself to slow down and cherish her pleasure, or he would spend before she could fully undress.
As he watched her trying to catch her breath, her chest rose to almost spill over her bodice. He couldn’t help the demanding throaty tone, “Come here.”
She looked trapped.
“Now.” He placed his hands on his thighs as he waited for her to float over to him. If he didn’t hold his hands down, he would tear the dress off of her.
She walked closer until she stood between his legs. She had her eyes fixated on his chest which he puffed out in an attempt to breach the short distance between them.
“What do you want?” his voice was more hoarse than he intended.
She slowly pulled her gaze up to his what must be smoldering look by now. Tentatively, she towed her arms up to his chest where she lightly touched her index fingers, then trailed them down his torso to rest at the top of his breeches.
