Dark Passions

23.

Derek hurried through the corridors of the manor, straightening his cuffs, and adjusting his cravat. He ran a hand through his dampened hair, trying to control the curls. Finally, he paused, opening the door leading outside to the back gardens. Hodges had stopped by Derek's suite shortly after Meredith left, and informed him that Eleanor was holding luncheon outside, on the enclosed portico, and that he should hurry. The ladies were waiting on him.

For a moment, he watched the trio of women gathered around the table, set with the delicate china and dominated by a huge bouquet of roses. His mother, looking serene and regal as always; his sister, laughing happily and pouring tea; and Meredith, his sweet Meredith, looking innocently demure, listening to something Eleanor was saying. His pulse quickened, and a smile tugged at his lips, as the memory of how erotic she had looked just before this, kneeling before him, taking his cock in her mouth, giving him intensely hot pleasure. Her hair was now caught up in soft curls that trailed down her back, and a velvet ribbon circled her throat, reminding him forcefully of their first night together.

Then she looked up and saw him, and the slow smile that graced her face went straight to his heart. Time seemed suspended as they stared at each other, and he almost forgot where he was. He started to walk towards them, drawn to her without thinking.

"Ah, Derek, thank you for gracing us with your presence," Eleanor said, chiding her son affectionately, as she spotted him heading towards them, breaking the spell.

"I'm sorry, Mother," he said, stopping beside her chair, and dropping a kiss on her cheek. "I was unavoidably detained," he commented, letting his eyes slide across Meredith. She blushed, but hid her smile behind the tea cup.

"Yes, Derek, we were wondering where you were," Meredith said sweetly, as he came around to sit beside her. His fingers brushed the nape of her neck as he passed behind her, sending a quiver down her spine.

"My apologies, sweetheart," he smirked, giving her a look that only increased the color in her cheeks. "I know you did not wish me to arrive smelling of the stables."

"No, of course not, Derek," Kate said, smiling at the blush on Meredith's cheeks. "And you're not that late." She poured him some tea as well. "We were just talking about the date of your wedding. Mother thought late in August, how does that sound to you? I know we discussed this last evening at dinner, Meredith, after Derek left, but..."

"I did not have an opportunity to mention it to him," Meredith murmured.

"Yes, what was the urgent matter that took you away last night?" Eleanor asked, her bright eyes curious.

Derek frowned. "It was Lady Addison, she was... well, she tried to surprise me, shall we say? But her plan was foiled. She has left now, thank god," he finished, drinking his tea thoughtfully.

"Yes, thank god," Kate murmured. "She drove poor Belinda to distraction with her demands."

"And to answer your question, yes, August will be fine," Derek said, taking Meredith's hand. "Does that give the rest of the family enough time to get here?"

"We will send the announcements right away by messenger, and arrange for the banns to be posted. Then of course, we must decide who else to invite. This will be a grand event - and to introduce Meredith to society, we must do it properly," Eleanor commented. "Perhaps I will return to London briefly myself, and invite some of them personally."

Meredith felt a small flutter of apprehension. This was turning out to be much larger than she anticipated. Derek felt her small hand tighten in his, and he gave her a warm smile. "And whom would you wish to invite, my dear?" he asked, squeezing her hand in reassurance.