Learning to Love the Spinster

Chapter 11

Inviting Jack to Scotland with them was the biggest mistake of his life. Jack refused to let Philipa and him in a carriage alone together. Simon had helped Philipa up into the carriage and sat next to her. Jack protested by insisting he sat next to his sister, but was denied by both parties with an emphatic “No!” In return for sitting next to is wife-to-be, Simon had to endure scowls from Jack the whole trip. If Jack wasn’t scowling he was muttering something along the lines of his poor nose.

“Jack if you don’t stop scowling, and muttering to yourself I am going to ask Simon to throw you out of the carriage,” Philipa stated exasperated with Jack. Simon couldn’t restrain a chuckle, which prompted another scowl from Jack. Philipa glared at Jack until he finally said,

“You expect me to be all right with this?” Jack gestured from him to Philipa’s belly.

“Of course not, you are my brother after all. However, you can pretend to act civil until you get past your upset.” Simon couldn’t help but smile over Philipa’s choice of words, Jack however was not happy about it.

“I am not a bloody chit!” Jack exploded. “I am not having an ‘upset,’ and if you say it ever again I will not be held accountable for my actions.” Philipa rolled her eyes at Jack’s outburst, and Simon couldn’t help it, he laughed.

“I will kill you Stoneville,” Jack threatened ominously. Jack’s threat only made him laugh all the harder, and Philipa joined in as well. Jack simply gave up his ravings and crosses his arms against his body like a petulant child. This action made Philipa and Simon laugh all the harder. Jack’s face resembled a thundercloud,

“I will go and sit with the driver before I lose my temper.” Jack jumped out and onto the top of the carriage before either one of them could reply.

“Well done my sweet,” Simon said staring into Philipa’s eyes. Philipa moved into Simon’s opened arms and settled against his chest.

“No one knows Jack like I do, he’s fairly predictable.” Philipa told him and let out a large yawn.

“Get some rest love,” Simon said and dropped a kiss on her forehead. Flip closed her eyes and started to dozed with a smile on her face.

Simon wanted to know when she would know him better than anyone and vice versa. Soon, he hoped, real soon.

When Simon was young he envied Jack and Philipa for the love they had in their home. When he got older he envied their parents’ love for one another as well as their children. When he was young he wished to find a woman to love, however his father’s death made him forget his dreams and desires. Until now. He wished that Philipa could love him, as he was half afraid he was starting to love her. How could anyone such as this beautiful woman love him back?

…

Lady Philipa, now Duchess of Stoneville was walking on a cloud of happiness since they left the carriage and went into the church to get married. Jack through all of his grumbling muttered something to the effect of, ‘I am glad to see you happy.’ Jack walked her down the aisle and handed her to Simon. Philipa could not remember a word the vicar said, she simply stared into Simon’s eyes for the whole ceremony. Simon had to give her a little shake when her vows needed to be stated. Philipa repeated her vows with enthusiasm. She knew in the instant that they were declared man and wife that she loved Simon, had always loved him. Simon gave her a kiss that she felt deep in her heart.

Currently Philipa, her husband, and her brother sat at an inn eating a quick meal before it was time for them to part ways. Philipa had come back from the necessary when she heard her brother and Simon arguing about where they were going to be residing. She heard something about too dangerous before they caught sight of her and abruptly changed the conversation. They had spoke about mundane things until it was time for them to leave. Philipa embraced her brother and cried,

“You and father will be visiting soon right? The baby should be here in eight weeks.” Jack pulled away from her and replied,

“Of coarse we will be there, sooner more than likely once father hears you have wed.”

“Not too soon right Jack,” Simon put in leaving no one to think it was a question.

“No I wouldn’t want to interrupt,” Jack stated and leaned down to kiss her forehead. “I will miss you little sister, more than I can say.”

“I will miss you too Jack,” Philipa replied with a tear streaming down her cheek. Jack turned away from her, gave Simon a handshake,

“Stoneville.” Jack nodded and left the inn. Simon put his arm around her, and said,

“Our carriage is waiting sweetheart.” Philipa let her husband lead her into a waiting carriage and within minutes they were off. Despite the fact that it was early afternoon, Philipa was tired and fell asleep on Simon’s shoulder minutes after the carriage swung into motion.

Simon studied his sleeping bride; she was enchanting he only wished it didn’t take him this bloody long to see that fact. No matter how much he wished it, he could not go back in time to fix his past mistakes. Life had a funny way of working out though, he couldn’t imagine his life being any different.

In a matter of hours they were approaching a village, the coach man, William, informed him it would be the last place to get food and fresh horses for several hours. Simon considered staying the night here, but William told him that as long as the stop here was brief they would be able to make it to the next inn before night fell. Simon decided that was their best coarse of action;

Though he hated driving this far with Philipa being so far along with child. However, he didn’t want to make the trip twice as long and still just as taxing on her body. The babe was taking a lot out of her. Simon moved closer to her, and gently shook her awake.

“Philipa sweet, it’s time to wake up.”

“Simon?” she whispered as she started to rouse.

“Yes sweet, it’s time to wake up we are changing horses and getting food.” Philipa sat up and rubbed her eyes. The sleep cleared from her eyes, about the time they pulled to a stop next to an inn. Philipa immediately went to use the facilities while he went to the tavern and got a basket full of food. Philipa came up to him while he was still waiting.

“Do you need anything before we leave?”

“We are heading out again?” Philipa queried, and Simon looked down at her.

“We will reach the next inn before nightfall, I don’t want to make the trip any longer than it already is.”

“How long of a trip is that?”

“It will be three days, maybe more depending on how much we have to stop.”

“Okay I will do what I can so that we aren’t stopping on my account, Simon can we get some pastries?”

“A sweet tooth to rival my own,” Simon chuckled. “I already asked for some.” Philipa smiled up at him, and the inn-keeper came up with the basket, and he gave him the amount agreed upon. Simon grabbed the basket and led Philipa out the door, with his hand on her waist. Simon had her settled in the carriage and down the road before she could blink.

.

.

“Simon?” Philipa asked trying to get comfortable in the small bed, and Simon couldn’t help but smile. As promised they made it to the inn by nightfall. The inn had a decent room, in which they managed to get Flip a bath to get all the dirt and grime from the days worth of traveling off. It was a test in patience for Simon not to join her in the tub and have his wicked way with her.

“Yes?” Simon said and laid on his side facing her.

“Why does Jack not want us to go to your estate?” Simon hesitated for a moment before replying,

“It’s nothing, something about the distance being too great.” Simon hated the thought of lying to her, but she didn’t need to worry about such things. Philipa abruptly turned her back on him, so quickly that his arm had fallen onto the bed instead laying across her back. Simon lifted his arm and draped it over her belly. Philipa did not let his arm be on her for a second before she tossed it off. Simon frowned as to how much that act hurt him, “What’s wrong Philipa?”

“I am not a simpleton Simon, so please refrain from treating me as such. If you don’t wish to tell me something just say so, it’s better than being lied to.” The denial that came to him died when he realized that she was right, lying to his wife of sixteen hours was not the best approach to take.

“You are right Philipa, I apologize for lying to you, I simply do not want you to worry about matters.”

“If it is your worry than it is mine as well now that I am your wife.” Simon was more warmed by that declaration than he would have liked to admit, even to himself.

“I don’t want you to worry, especially in your condition. There is nothing to fear as I realized that your brother was right and so we are going to a smaller ducal estate.”

“Will your family be there?” Simon almost laughed at the dread in her voice. Philipa thought less of his siblings than he did, which was really saying something.

“No sweet they only come back when their accounts are empty, I made sure they had plenty before I left.”

Philipa rolled over and tried to not let the hurt show on her face. She was upset by Simon’s refusal to discuss his worries with her. She knew that something was occurring on the estate in Essex, she had totaled the ledgers several times and informed her father of the issues. Her father had told her that he would have the matter addressed, and he told her nothing else.

Philipa knew that Simon didn’t love her, but she was hoping that he would come to love her, and she was willing to let go of her hurt to make their marriage what she wanted. She simply smiled at him, and took his hand and draped it over her where it had been resting. She saw relief in Simon’s eyes over the gesture then his charming smile appeared in the candlelight.

“My beautiful wife,” Simon whispered before he leaned and sealed her lips with his. Philipa immediately opened her mouth to his questing tongue. Philipa couldn’t believe the lust and desire that swept through her at Simon’s kiss. Philipa squirmed against him as she felt him caress her breast. Simon pulled down her chemise, and took her hardened n****e to his mouth.

“Oh Simon!” Philipa exclaimed as her head fell back against the pillows. Simon laved her breast with a mixture reverence and desire. Philipa felt his hand move up to her upper thigh and onward up to her core. “Simon, we must stop.” Simon looked up to her with desire filled eyes,

“Why sweetheart?”

“The babe Simon, we can’t risk the babe,” Philipa said panting from her unspent desire.

“It will be fine sweet, no harm will come to the babe.”

“Are you sure?”

“I swear it,” Simon said and lifted her from the bed so he could remove her chemise.

“Simon no!” Philipa did not want him to see her like this, her body so swollen with the babe, and herself. Simon stopped trying to remove it, looked in her eyes and said,

“Philipa Grayson, Duchess of Stoneville you are gorgeous and I am anxious to see your body. I have never seen you fully naked, and I am quite anxious to do so; the fact that you are carrying our child only makes me more impatient to see your beautiful body.” Philipa melted and helped take off her chemise.

“Beautiful,” Simon said and stared at her naked form, and Philipa believed him. Simon ran his hands along her body, while he leaned in and kissed her roughly. Simon pulled away from her mouth and dropped nipping kisses down her neck and her chest.

“Simon!” Philipa could not help crying his name as he latched onto her breast.

Simon let out a low growl as he felt the wetness at her core. God but she was the sweetest and most giving woman he’s ever been with. Philipa’s gasps of pleasure were real, and for him only. Simon plunged a finger deep inside of her, and smiled to himself as she gasped and moaned her pleasure. Simon’s thumb circled her nub of pleasure as he added another finger inside her.

“Oh! Simon! OH!” Philipa exclaimed as her climax hit her. Simon watched in awe as she climaxed. Simon continued to stroke her until he climax ebbed and her moans turned into sighs. Philipa’s eyes stayed closed as he moved down to her splayed legs. Simon kissed her inner thigh, and he felt her jump.

“Simon! What are you doing?” Philipa asked him. Simon couldn’t help but smile at her question.

“I’m getting to know you,” he said with a lopsided smile.

“You already know me,” Philipa hissed at him.

“Not as well as I’d like, so sit back sweetheart.”