Authors: Linda Daly
Timidly she looked up at him wanting desperately to be able to confess
what she had planned without his consent, but fearful if she did, she risked
ending this moment of blissful tenderness.
As if sensing her awkwardness, Gilbert drew her in his arms and
whispered, “I meant what I said Miranda. I love ya. You
do
believe me,
don’t ya?”
Feeling his breath on her cheek and hearing him declare his love for
her again Miranda timidly nodded her head while nestling closer to him.
“Oh Gilbert, if you only knew how often I’ve prayed you would say those
words to me. Even when you were so cruel, picking fights with me, I kept
praying that the day would come when you realized that you loved me as I
loved you.”
“My love for ya was never in question. Don’t ya see Miranda, I had
nothing to offer and my love is so deep for ya, I could not allow me own
selfish needs come before what was best for ya. Even now, as much as I
want this to happen, I know . . .”
Anticipating his words, she pulled from him and placed her fingers
over his lips. “Please don’t even think of such things Gilbert. What you
didn’t take into consideration all the while you pushed me away, was that
when a woman truly loves a man, as I love you, such love isn’t measured
by worldly possessions or standing in society. I say this not out of the
throngs of passion, nor from a lack of not knowing a privileged life. We
both know I was more fortunate than you were in this regard. For months,
I’ve been prepared to gladly to give up everything to be with a man that I
admire and respect but most of all, love. You may be stubborn Gilbert
O’Flaherty, but what you must come to understand is I too, can be equally
stubborn when I believe in something. And I believe in you, and in us.
Especially the life we could share if you would only let it happen.”
Tenderly caressing her cheek, he said, “What kind of life could I
possibly offer someone as perfect as ya? Even if I were wealthy, Miranda,
the fact remains in this country I’m judged by not who I am, but where I
came from. I cannot bring such pain and misery down on ya, simply
because ya love an Irishmen. So please be a good lass and go back to yer
fine room, back to the life where ya belong and let me have this memory
untarnished forever.”
“No. Please don’t push me away again. I’m here where I want to be,
where I belong.”
“Oh Mandy, I’m only a man, and as God is my witness, I can’t just
hold ya without wanting to make ya mine. So before I can’t stop myself, ya
better leave.”
Stubbornly she shook her head. “If you force me too, I’ll beg because
where you’re concerned, I have no shame. I want you to make me yours.”
Hungrily his mouth came crushing down on her, and she matched his
passion by clinging to him, moaning softly, feeling his hands pull her body
firmly against his. Hearing him groan, swept away with his desire for her,
Miranda gasped breathlessly. “Oh please Gilbert, love me.”
Pulling slightly from her, their eyes locked and he breathlessly said,
“Heaven help me, after tonight in the eyes of God ya will be my wife.
From here out, I promise to do all in my power to deserve the love and
trust ya have in me.”
Seeing a tear run down Miranda’s cheek, Gilbert tenderly wiped it with
his thumb before continuing. “Perhaps, yer friend Mr. Honeycutt could
bring by a parson tomorrow to make it legal. That is, if ya will honor me by
sharing a life together and becoming my wife. But before ya answer, ya
must know Miranda, that marriage is sacred to me. In the eyes of God, we
will be one, so there will be no more secrets between us, no hidden
meanings in yer words, or no more being alone with another man who
wants ya as much as I do.”
Hearing his words, she lifted her head and gazed into his eyes. “Gilbert
O’Flaherty, nothing would make me happier than to be your wife and for
us to build a life together.”
Saying not a word, Gilbert tenderly swept her into his arms and carried
her toward his bed, while Miranda silently leaned her head on his shoulder.
No longer was she fearful that she was incapable of loving another. Casting
aside what she had been taught of morality and decency, she clung to him
wanting only to give herself completely to the man she loved.
Upon reaching the bed, Gilbert knelt on the edge and gingerly released
her. A tender smile crossed her lips as their eyes locked on to one another,
and she traced his broad chin with the tips of her fingers, as he inched his
way next to her.
Dreamily she said, “That first day we met at the orphanage--even
though you angered me so--hours later, all I could think of was your eyes.
And although I saw in them such anger and hate, somehow I knew you had
a great capacity of tenderness too. I was then as I am now, bewitched.”
Smiling, he placed her hand in his, then looking down at it as if it were
a delicate and rare art object, he leaned forward and softly began kissing it
tenderly. Feeling his lips move slowly across her arms sent immediate
rushes of desires through her. Pausing, he huskily growled, “Bewitched ya
say? Was that before or after ya walked away from me in a huff?”
A smile crossed her lips, recalling the look of merriment she had seen
in his eyes that morning when he knew he had gotten her goat. Gazing into
his green eyes now she saw a glimmer of amusement along with a longing
that took her breath away.
“Huff, you say . . .” she cooed, enjoying the sensation of his hands
slowly tracing her shoulders and inching up her neck that heightened as
Gilbert slowly began to kiss her skin where his hands had just been.
Leaning slightly further into the featherbed, she stretched her head
back and closed her eyes, drinking in the splendor of such sensual
caressing. Being aroused by his touch, Miranda inhaled deeply and slowly
finished her sentence. “As I recall . . . you were deliberately trying to
provoke me.”
“Aye. And now, am I still able to arouse ya, Mandy girl?” he asked
suggestively as he leaned in to kiss her. Feeling his mouth on hers, Miranda
responded eagerly to his tongue as it parted her lips while his hands began
to explore her petite frame. Never had she felt such longing, and urgently
and she grasped her hand tightly around his neck. Feeling the hardness of
his body next to her, aware that his hand had found its way into her corset
and was fondling her breast, Miranda moaned softly, causing Gilbert to
pull away from her and sheepishly apologize.
“Forgive me for hurting ya. I didn’t mean to be so rough.”
Brazenly, with trembling hands, she began to untie the cord that
fastened her corset and said, “You weren’t hurting me . . .”
Needing no prompting, Gilbert placed his hand over hers. “Please let
me,” he huskily whispered. Nodding her head, Miranda leaned back on the
bed, allowing herself to feel the full sensation of his touch as his hands
loosened the garment.
“My, but ya wear a lot of clothing, don’t ya?” Miranda smiled as he
caressed her breasts through her lacy camisole. Obligingly, Miranda raised
her arms as Gilbert removed that as well. Tilting her head back, her spine
arched, she gasped feeling his hands trailing down her breasts, softly
caressing her abdomen. Without prompting, she raised her hips as he slid
the lace-trimmed pantaloons over her thighs and gently removed her
stockings.
Completely exposed to him, Miranda rested her head on his pillow,
watching Gilbert remove the remainder of his clothing, finding it erotic.
Her heart raced seeing his aroused manhood. Never had she felt such desire
as she stretched her arms out to him.
Gingerly he returned beside her, the length of his body firmly pressed
next to her as their mouths hungrily sought the other. As their desires
increased, their hands voraciously began exploring the newness of the
other’s nakedness, all the while urgently kissing each other through their
gasps of pleasure. As Gilbert inched his body closer to her--Miranda eager
to become his-- completely grasped his neck as he slid his body over hers.
Parting her legs so Gilbert could enter her, she moaned feeling his enlarged
manhood inside the warm crevice of her body, and immediately their
bodies moved in perfect unison, intertwined until they reached ecstasy.
Between gasping for air, Gilbert, huskily whispered, “I love ya, Mrs.
O’Flaherty.”
Hearing his words, Miranda clung to him, and said hoarsely, “Oh
Gilbert, I love you.”
While still inside her, Gilbert leaned to one side and Miranda did the
same, contently lying nestled in Gilbert’s arms. Feeling their oneness, she
smiled radiantly at him.
“Now that I am yours completely, if you truly need for me too tell you
what Alfred and I spoke of, I will tell you, so there will be no secrets
between us.”
“What ya spoke of earlier with Mr. Honeycutt was as Miranda Brown,
and as much as I want ya to confide in me, that’s one secret ya can take to
yer grave if ya wish.”
Tenderly caressing his chest, she smiled, thinking what a wonderful
man she had just given herself too. “No. I want to share everything with
you from here out. I’m just embarrassed and a little frightened that you’ll
think badly of me.”
“Oh Miranda, never worry about that, especially when ya just made me
feel like the luckiest man in the world.”
Hesitating, she whispered, “After Alfred confronted me, explaining he
had known you were here and that you were leaving for San Francisco, I
told him I was going with you.”
“Oh, were ya now? And how were ya intending to do that lass, prey
tell?”
“It had occurred to me that if the trains were being searched for an
Irishmen traveling alone that you could be in danger, so I booked two
tickets, first class as Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hourigan.”
“Joseph Hourigan, ya say?” Clearly Gilbert was shocked hearing that
name in particular. “That was me mother’s da name.”
Timidly she said, “Yes, I know. Margaret-Anne told me.”
“Ah, so the plot thickens. Ya’ve gone to me own sister to conspire
against me too.”
She gazed into his eyes to gauge if he was angry with her or teasing
her. Seeing a twinkle in his eyes while tenderly caressing her breast,
Miranda said, “Not to conspire against you, but rather explain my
intentions and to tell her that I loved you. It was her suggestion I use your
mother’s maiden name so you would know that I had spoken to her.”
“You told her ya love me?”
“Yes. Just as I told Alfred the same tonight. Where you and your safety
is at stake, I’ve already told you, I’m shameless. Nothing was going to
keep me from you and nothing ever will again. Not Alfred, my father or
anyone else, not even your stubbornness.”
A smile passed over his lips. “And you call me stubborn?” he
whispered. “Oh Mandy, ya too good to be true. As soft and beautiful as
rose, and a heart as pure as an angel. Sweet Jesus, I may not have anything
to offer ya, but having ya, I have all the riches a man could ever want or
need. And one thing ya can be sure of, ya have my heart and all my love.”
“That’s all I ever wanted or will ever need. The rest we will leave in
God’s hands.”
Tenderly their lips found the other, and as their passion increased, they
culminated their love for one another again, bringing each other to
fulfilling rapture in the splendor of their love and desire.
Hours later, still nestled firmly in Gilbert’s arms, Miranda dreamily
said, “Oh Gilbert, this is paradise. Please tell me again about your
homeland. Do you ever want to return there?”
“Of course I do! When I’ve made a name for myself. You, me, and the
children can go there and spend as long as ya like,” he whispered, tenderly
kissing her forehead while fondling her breasts.
“The children? As in more than one?” Miranda smiled sheepishly, not
at all embarrassed of her nudity or what they had done.
“Of course! The more the merrier,” he whispered. “Oh Mandy, yer
goin’ to love Ireland!”
While Gilbert described the beauty of his homeland, Miranda turned
and snuggled closer to him as his hand moved over her shoulder hugging
her softly. Leaning down to kiss his bare chest, she marveled at how much
at ease they were with one another. Never had she felt so much at peace.
Feeling suddenly tired, Miranda closed her eyes but jerked awake,
hearing a muffled coughing from above their heads. Pulling away from
him, she whispered, “Darling, I must leave you. I’m certain that is Alfred I
hear. His library is directly above us.”
Tenderly kissing her forehead, he nodded. “When will ya be
returnin’?”
“That really depends on Alfred, I suppose. I’ll make my excuses with
Felicity and be home early. I promise.”
“Home? To our palace in paradise?”
Preferring his playful sarcasm to antagonizing her, Miranda ignored his
comment and hastily withdrew from his bed and started to dress. Gilbert
watched in silence, smiling at her as she stepped across the room to retrieve
her other garments. After securing her blouse inside her hooped skirt, while
slipping back into her shoes, she hastily reminded him that Alfred could
hear everything they said. Then tiptoeing back to his bed she leaned over
and kissed him tenderly. “I’ll return as soon as I can.”
Nodding, he whispered, “I love ya, Mandy.”
“I love you more,” she whispered while caressing his cheek.
“Impossible,” he growled. “Now be off and do what ever ya have to
do, before I change me mind.”
Hating to leave him, but knowing she must, Miranda bent down and
kissed him again. “Don’t tempt me, Mr. O’Flaherty.”
Lovingly he raised his eyebrow, and chuckled. “Now who’s bewitching
who, Mrs. O’Flaherty?”
Groaning playfully, she turned and tiptoed up the stairs, praying she
could make it to her room without being detected. As she passed Alfred’s
study, seeing the door closed, Miranda hesitated, not wanting to spoil her
bliss by having words with him, but knew she must speak with him.
Adjusting her hair, she timidly knocked gently at his door.
Hearing his gruff reply of “Enter”, Miranda suddenly wished she had
waited. Then realizing she was still in the gown she wore to dinner the
previous evening, her cheeks grew red.
Oh dear I should have changed
first
.
He’s sure to notice.
Before Miranda had a chance to react, the study
doors opened wide and Alfred looked at her in surprise. “Miranda, why
what a pleasant surprise. Come in.”