The Fourth Mistress

Music Recommendation: La Fille Aux Pouvoirs Magiques by Stephan Moccio

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Louise stared back at Graham with the same intensity, her eyes fixated on him and feeling her heart stutter when he came to stand right in front of her. Standing there shirtless and so close to her that she could feel his body heat even though it was only a couple of minutes before he had got drenched in the rain.

Louise didn't know if the heat was coming from him, her, or the fireplace that wasn't too far from where she stood. But the spark that had been ignited between them burned brighter than before. In the past, several times Louise's eyes had stared or peeked at Graham's body. The man was made of strong muscles, his body firm and the skin slightly tan, unlike hers, that was pale and now turned pink because of blood rushing to her cheeks.

"If you keep staring at me like that, it would be hard to let go without doing anything right now," Graham's voice was deeper than usual because of the rain, and Louise softly gulped. Not because she was nervous, but she could feel the excitement coursing through her veins.

Louise said, "What if I want you to?" her voice was lower than most of the time. Her words had made Graham look at her in a trance and he said,

"You have a way of telling what is on your mind, my dear wife."

Graham took one more step, closing the distance in a way that Louise's body pressed against him. Louise's heart raced as if she was running a mile per minute, her eyes looking into his eyes.

"Is it bad?" asked Louise, slightly falling breathless and her neck craned up to look at him because of the difference in their heights.

Graham raised his hand and placed it on her neck near her shoulder. He replied, "No. It isn't bad. But it makes things difficult in situations like these."

Louise wondered if he had been holding back from loving her, from touching her the way he wanted. They had spent a whole month together, and it was only natural that she was drawn to him.

"Is it because the timing is bad?" asked Louise.

Graham shook his head, "It is never a bad time."

His hand gently brushed up the column of her neck, first with the front of his fingers and then turning it around to caress her neck with the back of his fingers. Though Louise was not the one who was drenched in the rain, the touch of Graham's fingers felt ice-cold that made her tremble. It raised goosebumps on her skin.

After they had discovered the skeleton, they had called Mr. Burton to the manor. And though they hadn't gotten the opportunity to take a bath, they had washed their face and hands, changed their clothes and used a wet cloth to wipe the skin quickly.

Not in her wildest dreams, Louise had imagined that something like this would happen in an abandoned manor, but she had come to realize that her life was not normal anymore. The once simple life that she had, had drifted away from the day she had met Graham.

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"You are beautiful, Louise," whispered Graham, his words echoing in her ears, and she couldn't help but bask in its sweetness. Leaning forward, he planted his lips on hers.

Graham knew just what to do. His hands circled her waist while he drew her closer to him. His lips passionately moved against hers, fanning the spark that turned into a flame. Louise didn't know how much she craved his closeness and his touch since the last time he had kissed her.

While his body was ice cold, Louise's body had started to burn hotter in need. Her hands moved to his shoulders as if in some part of her mind, she knew the lines and ridges, the curves of his body. Her eyes closed, she felt him run his tongue over the seam of her lips before slowly sliding his tongue into hers, rubbing it gently that only elicited a moan to escape from her lips.

Graham had both his hands behind her back, pressing her towards him.

Her warm hands moved from his chest, gliding across his skin to feel his muscles under her touch before they moved towards his shoulders and circled his neck.

At the moment, Louise didn't want to care about anything, and she only wanted to sink in Graham's arms while he held her protectively as if nothing would ever come to harm her. She kissed him back in the same fervour, letting him know how she felt about him. She liked Graham because he was a careful and thoughtful man.

Louise felt Graham's lips on the sides of her jaws when they pulled away from the kiss, trailing towards the bottom of her ear. A sigh escaped her lips when he paused to press his cold lips against her skin for more than a second. Her stomach was in knots, blood rushing this time towards her legs, and she felt the tingle in her body that felt achingly sweet.

Foggy vapours escaped from her lips because of the drop in temperature that now surrounded them. Graham peppered kisses down the column of her neck, and her toes curled with sighs that only continued to appreciate the affections he showered upon her.

Graham pulled his head away from Louise, watching her closed eyes and her breathing ragged. When he caressed her cheek, her eyes opened.

Louise' eyes fluttered open, her eyes meeting his, with a faint smile on her lips.

"It would be inappropriate to do anything more than this in here, which isn't our home," leaning forward, he dropped a kiss on her forehead. "Let's take a seat in front of the fireplace. The rain doesn't seem like it is going to stop anytime soon."

Taking a seat in front of the fireplace, which had the last log of woods burning in there, both of them sat closely next to each other. Who would have thought that the man whom she had once stumbled and crashed into in a soiree would one day be sitting with her, sharing warmth.

"You know," started Louise, gaining Graham's attention. "Your mother and I, we have very different ways of how we view things. We don't agree on some of the things, as we discussed a few days ago. But if there's one thing common, and we agree on it is you, Graham. I am glad that you grew up the way you are."

As his wife, she wanted to stand next to him and support him. He was a respectable and sensible man. Louise sat with the palms of her hands facing the fireplace so that it would catch some heat. She doubted the fire would last long as the rain continued to pour down nonstop.

"I am glad that you think that way about me. Thank you," came Graham's words, and Louise smiled while staring at the fire. "You must have had many men lined up in front of your uncle and aunt's door before you married me."

Hearing this, Louise laughed, the smile stretching on her lips, and she said, "I wouldn't go that far in assuming that," and she shook her head.

"It is impossible to think that no one has tried to pursue you before I entered your life," remarked Graham.

"You see, when we live in a town like Habsburg word is quite quick to spread around. Everything spreads quite fast," said Louise and then continued, "Men found it hard to deal with me because of my mouth and even if they were interested, their mothers were quick to refuse the idea of having me in their house."

"So you never liked anyone before?" Graham continued to question her, and Louise shook her head.

"You are my first," Louise answered with a smile, and Graham gave her a nod, smiling back at her.

Remembering the kiss that he had dropped on her neck and face had her cheeks turn warm, and she said, "There is something that I noticed when the painter had come to the manor. He seemed to have a headache."

"Maybe he was getting over his hangover?" asked Graham.

"No, it wasn't that," replied Louise. "He was perfectly fine, until I started to ask him questions. Are you sure, this headache is just something in the family? That it is hereditary?" She looked at Graham.

His eyebrows knit together, and he said, "My family has been having it for quite some time now. Once mother was unable to handle the severe pain and I took her to the physician."

"When did that happen?" asked Louise.

"It must have been around two or three years ago," replied Graham and Louise' expression turned serious.

"Everything comes back to two or three years ago," whispered Louise, while wondering what might have happened. "It feels like everytime I try to find something, something tries to stop it."

When the rain slowed down and finally stopped, an hour had passed, and Graham's shirt had almost dried. When stepping out of the manor, they caught sight of the coachman, who came running to them.

"My deepest apologies, sire!" he bowed his head. "I didn't know I would be stuck in the rain."

"That's fine, Harvey," responded Graham. "We are ready to leave now."

"Yes, Sire!" The man bowed his head once again before following them to the carriage. Graham turned around, pulling the main manor's door to close and lock it.

By the time the couple returned to Reed's manor in their carriage, it was night.

After finishing dinner, Louise made her way through the corridors with a candle in her hand. While passing the place where the paintings hung, she looked at the people in them—staring at the individual and group painting pictures, where two of them had the family as well as the servants who worked for the Reeds. It was good to know that the family was thoughtful where everyone was made to feel part of the family every once in a year, thought Louise to herself.

Hearing footsteps in the corridor, Louise turned to her side and saw Alison make her way to where she stood.

"It feels like it was only yesterday, when we were all getting ready for the portrait and the painter. But now to think that Uncle Ernest isn't here anymore, it is hard," stated Alison with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Times like these are hard and we can only strengthen ourselves while supporting each other," Louise offered her consoling words. It was hard to speak about peace because she doubted Mr. Ernest had his hand in someone's death.

Alison let out a sigh and then asked, "How are you doing? It must have been traumatizing to fall into the water."

"It was, but I am okay," assured Louise. "I was just shocked."

"Anyone would be," replied Alison, shaking her head as if she couldn't believe it. "I have never taken in deaths very well. It puts a toll over my health. I wanted to apologize about something to you."

Louise had a questionable look on her face.

"About the wedding gown. I really didn't see it in there and trust me when I say this, none of us did," said Alison looking at her.

"I believe you, Alison," Louise smiled at her.

"Thank you," whispered Alison, nodding her head in appreciation.

While they stood there in the corridor talking, a maid appeared carrying a glass of milk in her hand, walking to where Louise and Alison stood.

"Would you like me to bring it to Ms. Molly's room, Lady Alison?" asked Emily politely.

"It is alright. I will give it to her as I am on my way to tuck her. Thank you, Emily," Alison took hold of the glass and turned to look at Louise, "Have a goodnight rest."

"Goodnight," Louise wished Alison, watching her sister-in-law leave the corridor with the glass of milk.

Seeing Emily bow her head and turn to walk away to head to the servants quarters, Louise stopped her by calling her name, "Emily."

The maid quickly turned and asked, "Yes, milady?"

"You have been working for this family for a long time, haven't you?" asked Louise, her voice dropping down. "Do you remember people who come and go by the manor?"

"People who stay by for tea, yes, milady," answered the maid.

Louise looked back and forth and asked, "No, I mean when you were younger and working in the previous manor. Do you know anything about the children who used to come to play at the manor, when Graham and Alison were young?"

"Friend? I don't think I remember, milady," replied the maid. She tried to remember, and her face scrunched as if in pain. Louise' lips pursed, noticing another person who was subjected to the headaches.

"It is okay. I was just curious, you can go to sleep," Louise offered the maid a smile, who bowed her head and left before Louise made her way to Graham.