The Lucky Florin Ch. 04
As he traced imaginary lines between the freckles on Lady Roxanne's shoulders he said "My lady do not marry him, he is not good for you and I fear that you will live to regret it."
It was the second time they had met by the willow since the night that they had first made love, both knowing the risk they where taking but neither of them able to resist.
"Sir Joseph I already regret it but I have promised my uncle that I shall take the baron's hand" she murmured "as well you know sir it is done and cannot be undone."
"My lady we could elope, I have some portable property that we could use and I could...."
"You could do nothing my lord and in the cold light of the morning you will realize this." She scorned.
He gazed over to the willow tree, she was right of course but it did nothing to ease the turmoil in his mind.
"My lady, I implore you to consider your happiness in this, is it not important?" he asked.
"Oh my lord since when has a lady's happiness mattered in the face of hard truths" she said. "As for eloping sir, would you have me as a fox on the run? Scampering from den to den avoiding the hounds?"
"No my lady I would not wish that upon you." He whispered defeated.
"Good and well then my lord. Now I will be away shortly to reach home before the dawn but before I go perhaps I might prevail upon you to use your sword again." She wriggled her posterior suggestively against him.
####
They made love slowly at first with a gentleness. Sir Joseph kissing Lady Roxanne's neck and nibbling her ear as he cupped her breast, rolling her proud nipple between his fingers.
"Faster my lord, I am nearly at my pleasure!" She gasped.
He increased his rhythm and thrust harder causing Roxanne to groan. He grasped a handful her long copper coloured hair causing her to arch her back and hook her leg over his trying to pull him closer. Her moans became louder until they reached a crescendo, and he felt the wetness increase on his pubis and manhood.
"My lord, my lord oh my lord, your skill is unmatched" she panted in a thick voice.
"I am glad that my lady is satisfied with my efforts" he replied "I have never felt such a grip upon my member, I feel my lady possesses her own talents."
As he gently rolled onto back and straddled her legs he said "Now Lady Roxanne I must achieve my own pleasure before I burst!" With that he loosed his seed onto her stomach and breasts, moaning "I have claimed you my lady, I have claimed your body and never will it be for anyone else."
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Lady Roxanne shifted nervously from foot to foot, glancing nervously at the vestry door knowing that soon there would be a knock and a voice calling her through to the church where her Groom stood and her fate would be sealed.
It had been a week since she had last seen Sir Joseph when she had allowed herself a glimmer of hope that things could different, but she was now resigned, accepting that she was forever destined for unhappiness with a man she not only didn't know well but also didn't care for.
"My lady, may I enter?" Came a male voice from the other side of the door.
"Yes, please do" she answered presuming it to be the vicar but was startled when a nobleman entered.
"I apologize for interrupting you on your auspicious day but I bear a message and a gift from a mutual acquaintance of ours." He said in a sonorous tone.
"Sir Joseph?" she breathed, her heart jumping a little in her chest.
"Yes my lady, he sends his best wishes on this day and also asks that you accept this as a token of his esteem" he said holding out a small golden coin.
Lady Roxanne's heart sank a little as she took the Florin from Sir Richard's hand, there would be no grand rescue, no declaration of undying love before she got to the altar. "This is his lucky token my Lord, does he not require it?"
"No my lady" said Sir Richard "he asks that you keep it close to your heart in memory of the time you and he had together."
"In that case I will take it gladly" she said "and please inform him that the time we spent together was special to me as well."
####
Sir Joseph stood in the shadows at the back of the chapel as the Lady Roxanne recited the vows that wed her to Baron John.
As the baron leaned over to kiss his new bride Sir Joseph slipped out of church his eyes moist and his heart aching.
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INTERLUDE
"What will you do now Joseph?" Said Sir Richard as he dealt another hand. They had been playing rummy for an hour steadily with Richard winning most of the hands, it was obvious that Joseph was distracted and that his heart wasn't in it.
"Calcutta at first and then wherever I get posted" said Joseph as he peered at his cards.
"By God Joseph, India!" Exclaimed Richard "is there not a posting closer?"
Joseph rearranged the cards in his hand. "My dear Richard I have no wish for a posting nearer, in fact further the better as far as I'm concerned."
Richard stared at his cousin thoughtfully. "It will get better over time Joseph, surely you realize that?"
"I pray that you are right Richard but I have no great confidence this feeling will dissipate." With that he dropped his cards on the table."