Longing for a Governess’ Kiss – Extended Epilogue

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“Quintin, are you certain that this is a good idea?” Matilda sighed even as they went through the finalisations for the upcoming dinner being held at Thistledown Manor. 

“Why ever would not it be, Your Grace?” Quintin responded and Matilda cringed. That was still taking some getting used to. Even three months after their wedding, she still could not get used to the fact that she was now technically a Duchess and as such a lady of the ton. Though she had been to several small gatherings on the Duke’s arm and with her new stepdaughter in tow, this would be the first dinner they had hosted as a family since she had become the Duchess and she had to admit that she was more than a little nervous. 

She opened her mouth to admit as much and then clamped her jaws tightly shut once more. Admitting it out loud probably was not going to do anything but make her even more nervous. 

“Your Grace,” Quintin began but Matilda quickly cut him off with a shake of her head and a wave of her hand. 

“Quintin, please, I may be a duchess by marriage now but we are still friends and I still insist that you call me Matilda, if only when we are in the privacy of our own home,” she told him firmly but with a smile upon her face. 

“Matilda, you have taken to being a lady like a duck to water and I am adamant that the Duke could not have picked a better wife,” Quintin assured her, and thinking deeply about it, Matilda could not help but think he was right. Both Quintin and Helen had taken to the idea immediately right along with Lady Amy. Though Burns and Stevenson, the butler and the housekeeper had been a little less pleased with the sheer unorthodox nature of it, they too had come around. It was the maids that Matilda had been most concerned about and although it had taken them a few weeks to get used to the idea, they now treated her just as they would any other noble lady. Though it was a surprise, it was one that Matilda welcomed with open arms after how standoffish several of the staff had been when she first arrived. 

“Your Grace, Matilda,” Quintin assured her, “I would not worry so much. His Grace made his choice and so far the two of you have weathered to storm beautifully.” 

Matilda’s cheeks flushed at that and she nodded, knowing that Quintin was right. She was just about to speak when she was stopped by the sound of the doorbell ringing throughout the house. Both she and Quintin looked at each other with a raised eyebrows. “The Duke is not expecting anybody,” she commented even as she turned to leave the dining room where the maids had arrived to finish setting up the table. 

“I shall return momentarily,” she promised Quintin over her shoulder. Even though Burns was already well ahead of her, gone to answer the door, Matilda’s inquisitive nature had her arriving in the entryway just as he did so. 

“Ahh, Mr Hayman!” Mr Burns exclaimed upon opening it and although Matilda could not quite see past the door, it took only a second to recognise him when the butler gestured him inside. “Is the Duke expecting you?” 

“No, he is not,” Mr Hayman responded and he paused as he looked around, his gaze meeting Matilda’s awkwardly for a moment, “Though he did tell me I could stop by any time.” 

Relieved to see the close friend of her husband after so long of him keeping away, Matilda cleared her throat and quickly took it upon herself to greet him. “Of course, Mr Hayman, you are always welcome.” 

She swept further into the room and could not help but smile when she noticed the basket of books he was holding in his hands. 

“Watson was quite insistent that I return to continue with Lady Amy’s education,” Mr Hayman explained, indicating the basket. Matilda nodded and smiled at him, knowing that after the wedding both her husband and Mr Hayman had sat down for a lengthy discussion. Though she had not been invited to it, she had been unable to stop herself from eavesdropping outside the study door and she had overheard Mr Hayman exclaiming that he never would have tried to court her if he had known what Watson’s intentions were. She had also heard him tell of how happy he was that they had found each other and that Watson had finally found someone to fill the hole that had been left by his late wife. At first, those words had stung Matilda, until Watson had spoken up about how she was not filling anybody’s hole but rather her own. 

“I am so glad you could come,” Matilda assured him, holding out her hand for the basket. “Perhaps you will join us this afternoon for Lady Amy’s lessons?” 

“I would truly love to though I was only stopping by on my way to another study session with a rowdy bunch of children down the way,” Mr Hayman explained, “Though I shall gladly return soon for another lesson with our little genius.” 

Matilda was pleased to hear him say so and she smiled even wider than before. “Then we had better not let her see you or she might try to hold you captive,” she pointed out with a roll of her eyes, “You know how well Lady Amy loves her lessons with you.” 

“I do indeed,” Mr Hayman chuckled and bowed, “Good day, Your Grace.” 

He was about to turn to leave when a spark suddenly lit in his eye and he turned back to exclaim, “Oh, I almost forgot.” 

Matilda’s inquisitive nature left her anxious with anticipation as she awaited whatever news he had to impart. 

“I have heard tell that Lady Florentia is finally off to London after having been unable to secure herself a husband out here,” he explained, looking a little mischievous in the telling, likely not having forgotten the animosity between the two of them. Though mention of her made Matilda’s skin crawl, she did not allow Mr Hayman to see it. 

“I wish her all the best in finding exactly what she is looking for,” she said with a smile. Genuinely, she truly meant what she said, even if she did dislike the woman. 

“You are a good woman, Lady Worthington,” Mr Hayman assured her before dropping into a bow. Matilda curtseyed in automatic response and followed him out onto the porch, watching as he travelled down the steps toward his carriage at the very same moment that Watson arrived home, climbing from his own. 

Matilda watched anxiously from the top of the steps as the two exchanged words and was relieved when they embraced each other as they had once done, as if they were brothers. It was more than a little relieving to see and Matilda offered them both a smile as they broke apart. 

Joining her atop the stairs, Watson gripped hold of her hand and kissed her knuckles before they both turned and waved Mr Hayman out of the driveway. 

“I was rather hoping he might stay for dinner,” Matilda admitted sadly and Watson held her for a moment. 

“His coming around is a start,” Watson pointed out, “and I have been seeing him more at the club recently. I think things are well on the mend.” 

Even before Matilda could respond, her husband gripped her hand more tightly and began to half-guide and half-drag her into the house. Only stopping to remove his hat and coat, he quickly grabbed her hand once more and said, “Matilda, I must speak with you in my study immediately.” 

Hearing the urgency in his voice, Matilda was all too happy to follow him. When he swept her into the study, she almost stumbled over her own feet during the flourish, only to find herself swept into his arms the moment that the door closed. 

It turned out that talking was the last thing on the Duke’s mind and his lips were instantly on hers. The pleasure of the kiss was almost overwhelming and there was only one thing that stopped Matilda from losing herself entirely to it.

 I have news of my own, she thought, trying to pull away just long enough to tell him so. 

Yet her husband’s kiss was filled with passion and need and it was clear to Matilda after so many months of marriage that there was only one way to calm him. Her news would wait. 

Lifting her hands to his face, she kissed him back as passionately as he was kissing her, hoping that he would sense her own need for him also. It worked as well as she might have hoped and she quickly felt him hooking his hands in her skirts, pulling them up to her waist. Lowering her hands to stroke down his chest, she did not stop until she found the buttons of his breeches. Popping them open with practised ease, she slipped her hand inside, feeling the rockhard member that was barely hidden beneath. 

“I feel as though I have been waiting a lifetime to have you,” he growled against her lips and Matilda could not help but chuckle. They had made love only the night before and likely would have again that morning if he had not been off to business in town. She had hoped to tell him her news then but he had been in such a rush it did not seem prudent. 

“Watson, take me by the fireplace,” Matilda instructed him, wanting to feel as if she had the first time they had made love together. Silently, Watson obeyed, picking her up into his arms and carrying her across the room to lay her down on the sheepskin rug. Hiking her skirts up to her waist and finding that she had nothing beneath save for stockings, the Duke’s eyes flashed with delight. 

“It looks as though you were prepared for me.” He chuckled and Matilda rolled her eyes at him. 

“Am I not always?” she pointed out, reaching up to hook her hands around the back of his neck. She pulled him down to her, kissing him with renewed passion and angling her hips up toward him so that he could tell exactly what she wanted. “Be gentle with me, Watson, I am feeling delicate today.” 

“I did not hurt you last night, did I?” Watson asked, pausing where he hovered over her. She could feel the tip of his manhood hovering between her thighs and she had to bite her lip to stop herself from snapping at him to get on with it. His passionate kisses had awakened the sensual beast inside of her and there would be no calming it until he was inside of her. 

“No, no, just be gentle with me,” she told him, unable to stop from smiling. She could feel happy tears already pricking her eyes. 

It was there that they made love just as they had the first night. Matilda felt the sheepskin rug caressing the bare skin of her legs even as he thrust himself inside her. Though he was gentle, he was also passionate and he kissed her lips, her neck and the ample curve of her breasts, seeming as though he was hungry for every single part of her. 

Matilda’s insides tightened until it was almost painful and when they finally released the pleasure was mind-reeling. She began to scream but quickly leaned up to bury her face into her husband’s shoulder, hoping to muffle the sound in case there were any servants about. 

With one hand propping himself up, Watson placed his other behind her head, cradling her to him even as he started to groan and gasp, his body tensing to alert Matilda to what was coming. Biting the inside of her lip, Matilda moaned delightedly as she felt her husband spill his seed deep inside her. It is a little late for that, she thought with a mischievous smile on her face even as they fell apart, lying side by side on the sheepskin rug with the fire burning constant beside them. Matilda was more than a little pleased that she’d sent one of the maids in to light it an hour early, expecting that her husband would need his study upon returning home. 

Everything appeared to have worked out perfectly and Matilda was smiling with excitement as she propped herself up on her elbow to look down at Watson. Though he was still wearing his shirt, the way his chest rose and fell as he struggled to catch his breath allowed Matilda to see the muscles rippling beneath the material. Reaching out, she rolled one of the shirt buttons with her finger, and gazed into his eyes as she said, “I thought you needed to talk with me.” 

“That was just an excuse to get you alone,” Watson admitted with a cheeky grin. A shiver of delight ran down Matilda’s spine and she leaned down to press her lips to his cheek. Pulling back once more, she looked down at him, feeling her heart racing as she prepared herself for what she was about to say. 

“Well, I am glad that you did because the truth is…” She paused, feeling her entire body beginning to tremble. “…I have some news of my own to impart upon you.” 

Watson’s eyes widened with both excitement and concern and he half-turned himself onto his side to guide her body up against his. 

“What is it, my love?” he asked, leaning in to nipple on her earlobe almost as though he was already ready for round two. Though Matilda would have happily given it to him, she was determined not to be distracted all over again and so she gently pulled away from him. The concern grew on his face and his brow furrowed, his eyes darkening. “What is the matter?” 

Suddenly, unable to speak, Matilda reached for his free hand and guided it down to her lower abdomen. Tears pricking in her eyes, she smiled, hoping he would see all she had to tell in her gaze. 

“Matilda, are you…” he began, looking dumbfounded and unable to get the words out. Matilda nodded and the tears started to stream down her face. 

“I am with child,” she said, finally managing to get the words out. Watson’s hand pressed more firmly to her stomach as though he hoped to feel the life growing inside of her and she pressed her hand into his, wishing that she could feel it too. Though she was some weeks late, having waited before telling him so that she could be sure, she had yet to feel too many symptoms other than a little sickness. 

“Are you happy?” Matilda asked when Watson continued to stare down at their entwined hands, looking as though he was in too much shock to really understand what was going on. 

“I am elated, Matilda!” he told her and he gripped hold of her face, pulling her into him so that he could kiss her with renewed passion. Matilda kissed him in return, half hoping he would not try to make love to her again just yet. Since having learned of her pregnancy, she had been increasingly sore after their times together. 

“How long have you known?” Watson asked when he pulled back, resting his hand on her stomach again. 

“Only a few weeks,” Matilda admitted, feeling slightly silly as though she might actually be wrong. Yet Watson did not look doubtful. He only looked excited. 

“We should wait at least a few more before we tell Amy,” he said after several moments of silence and Matilda was more than a little relieved. Even in his excitement, he was still her level-headed and smart husband. 

“Yes, my love.” She nodded in agreement. “I think that would be best.” 

And although they had agreed to wait, Matilda realised that she was even more excited for Amy’s reaction than she had been for her husband’s. After all, Amy had gone so long being an only child and yet she had been hinting ever since the wedding that she would have liked that to change. 

“Do you think she will be pleased?” Matilda asked, a little anxious of the entire thing. 

“Are you joking?” Watson laughed and pulled her into his arms once more. “She will be absolutely ecstatic.” 

Matilda breathed a sigh of relief at that and allowed herself to relax into her husband’s arms, knowing that she was exactly where she was supposed to be. Thinking back, she realised that all the tears she had cried in her childhood bedroom had been more than worth it. Her life had turned out better than she ever could have imagined. Though she was no longer a true governess, she had managed so much more, being not only a wife and stepmother, but soon she would have a child of her own, one that she could teach and nurture and give everything that she had missed out on when her parents had been struggling in business. 

“I love you, Matilda,” Watson told her gently, kissing her forehead, “and I will spend every day proving it to you.”

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