"I am so happy for you, Margaret! Having found the same happiness with Dolores, I know what it's like to lose yourself in another person."

"I'm so happy for you, too, Fred!" They smiled at each other for a moment, and then Margaret yawned. They hugged and said goodnight, then went their separate ways.

Margaret opened the door to the guest bedroom and quietly entered. After closing it, she walked over to the bed and took a moment to gaze at her handsome husband. He was snoring lightly, laying on his back, and wearing nothing. Laying down next to him, she started caressing his chest and pressing soft kisses along his jaw. He sighed contendedly and brought his hands up to her back, and then opened his eyes. She chuckled.

"Yes, I need your help in getting to a state of undress similar to yours." He was only too happy to comply.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The next morning it was John and Frederick who had some time alone as the two women slept late. Frederick regaled John with stories of Margaret as a child, which John enjoyed immensely. He wasn't surprised that she had been just as opinionated when she was four as she was now, although the specific things she was opinionated about had changed.

John thought back to Margaret's determination that he talk to his workers. She had been right, of course, he knew that now. At the time he had thought her naive, but now that he had Higgins to go between him and the workers, things ran a lot smoother. He mentioned that to Frederick, who smiled.

"That sounds like my sister, all right! She seems naive, but when it comes down to it she has some pretty good ideas." John nodded in agreement.

"I have come to learn that when she brings one of them to me, it would do me much more good to listen than to try to ignore it. She has improved my Mill immensely."

"And you would do good to remember that!" he heard Margaret as she came down the hallway, and smiled.

"Don't let it get to your head, Darling," he chuckled. She came into view, her robe on, and sat on his lap.

"Oh, don't worry, my love," she retorted. "You'll keep me in line, no doubt." He wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"That I will," he murmured in her ear, sending a thrill through her. She laid her head on his shoulder and snuggled close.

"I look forward to it," she whispered back, and he hoped she stayed where she was long enough for him to recover from the thoughts that came to his mind.

Once Dolores woke, they made their plans for the day. Frederick wanted to show them a few local sights, and then they decided to go to the beach again. Margaret and John got into a splashing contest that quickly turned into her challenging him to catch her, and him rising to the challenge admirably. He grabbed her around the waist from behind and she turned so she was facing him, both of them laughing and breathing heavily from the exertion. He bent down for a kiss, which she willingly gave.

Frederick and Dolores were amused, knowing that if she weren't so close to having her baby they would be doing that too. Frederick did lean over to give Dolores a kiss, and they smiled at each other. The siblings were similar in their love for their spouses and their unabashed delight at showing that love, even in public.

Not long after sunset the two couples went home again, had a leisurely dinner, and headed off for bed. Margaret was expecting retaliation for her impertinence that morning, but John seemed to have forgotten about it, which disappointed her a little. But she quickly forgot about it herself under his tender ministrations, after which they fell asleep.

She needn't have worried about his forgetting, however, as she discovered when she woke some time later to him nuzzling the back of her neck. One arm was holding her close while the other hand explored. She was reminded of the afternoon they got caught in the rain, on their honeymoon, when they had been in a similar position. As he teased her nipples to attention and then moved lower, she moaned softly. He found her ready for his attentions, and lavished them on her until she was squirming and pleading. She tried to turn, but he whispered softly in her ear.

"Not yet, dearest. You are in need of some instruction after your impertinence this morning." She shuddered and moaned with delight. She was close, he could tell, but he was expertly holding off, not allowing what he knew she wanted.

"Please, John," she begged, her breath coming in short gasps.

"Are you sorry for the way you spoke this morning?" he asked softly, and she nodded, unable to speak. He chuckled and urged her leg up and over his, as he eased into her. She gasped, surprised that he didn't release her to turn toward him, but quickly discovered that she liked this position too.

He kept the slow pace, his hand back up at her nipples, which added to her pleasure without bringing her to completion too fast. Her arm went behind her to rest on his back as her passion built to a tipping point. When he started kissing her neck, she lost all control and shattered, trembling in his arms. He continued thrusting, a bit faster, until he joined her. Only then did he release her, and she rolled over until her head was on his chest.

"John, you make me want to be impertinent all the time," she said softly, and he chuckled.

"I would by no means wish for you to stop your impertinence, my dear." With that, they fell back into sleep, content in the afterglow.

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