"Love is a Choice" by Gratiana Lovelace, 3/15/13 (Completed)

Ch. 3-4: Pillow Talk and Morning Cuddles, March 18, 2013

“Love is a Choice”, Ch. 3-4:  Pillow Talk and Morning Cuddles,  March 18, 2013 Gratiana Lovelace

(An original story by Gratiana Lovelace; All Rights Reserved)

[From time to time, I will illustrate my story with my dream cast of:  Richard Armitage as Lord Rafe Wingate, Carla Gugino as Lady Katharine Wingate, Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Plunkett, and others, etc.]

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Author’s Mature Content Note:  “Love is a Choice” is a story of love and romance set in the early to mid 1800’s.  I like Regency sensibilities with regard to comedy of manners, but Romantic period modes of dress.   Ha!  As such there will be some passages in this story involving heartfelt love scenes (perhaps some R rated) and some passages involving highly dramatic moments.  I will label the maturity rating of those chapters accordingly.  Otherwise, the general rating for this story is PG or PG-13 due to some mature situations and topics.  If you are unable or unwilling to attend a movie with the ratings that I provide, then please do not read the chapters with those labels.  This is my disclaimer.

Note:  This is my Monday, March 18th story post for my blog--published a day early here on my Wattpad site.  The next installment will post on Friday, March 22nd.

Author’s Recap from the previous installment: Lord Rafe Wingate married Lady Katharine Southwick this fine Spring Day.  Not long after they entered their wedding night bed chamber, he fell asleep from too much alcohol at the reception--and she bolted. But, he found her at their estate’s retired cook’s cottage.  Lord Rafe convinced Lady Katharine to return with him to the hunting lodge on his parents’ estate, Dearing Manor in Warwick, England.  But when faced with  a wedding night in their bed chamber [(2) right], the 18 year old Lady Katharine was skittish to the point of a panic attack about the whole being married and the marriage consummation yet to happen.  So, Lord Rafe agreed to a truce for the night to calm and soothe her--he will not touch her to claim his husbandly rights, for now.  And since Lady Katharine feels that the nightgown her Grandmere gave her to wear is only suitable for a wedding night, Lord Rafe agreed to lend her his night shirt.  However, navigating these logistics of their sleeping arrangements is now upon them.

“Love is a Choice”, Ch. 3:  Pillow Talk

Lord Rafe:  “Good!  Now that we have that settled--no lovemaking tonight--…”  He shakes his head in bemused wonder and she winces.  “…  Kate, let me find my night shirt for you and help you into it.”  He smiles broadly.  Yes, he muses, his marriage--not even 8 hours old--has turned out to be quite unpredictable, he smiles ruefully. 

Lady Katharine:  Still uncertain about her husband’s promise to not touch her, she asks.  “And will you abide by our agreement to just sleep, my Lord?”  She returns to the formal to remind him to keep his distance.

Lord Rafe:  “My name is Rafe, my dear Kate.  And yes, on my honor, I promise not to touch you tonight--however much it pains me to make that vow.”  His hand is on his chest--and his other hand is at his side, without his fingers crossed behind his back.

Lady Katharine:  Steeling herself for the inevitable, she stands.  “Very well.” 

Lord Rafe:  He stands.  “I will get you my night shirt.”  He moves toward his side of the bed where his valise sits on a chest.  Opening it, he removes the garment and hands it to her.  She nods in accepting the voluminous amount of material that will keep her well covered.  “Now what assistance do you require in getting undressed?”  He tries valiantly not to smile eagerly, but fails.  Without a maid to attend to her at this late hour, Lady Katharine will have to rely on her husband to assist her with her garments--to her chagrin.