Jane Feather - Venus

"With Buckingham exiled for a spell, you may be able to work some good with the king," Nick said thoughtfully.

"We'll do what we can, though I doubt that Villiers will

be easily unhorsed," Richard said. "But we'll keep trying." He held up his hand to the mounted man. "Ye've a honeymoon waiting, my friend. Get to it. I'll explain matters to Killigrew, in as far as they are explainable."

Nick nodded, pressed his friend's hand in thanks and farewell, and put Sulayman to the gallop in pursuit of his fast-disappearing wife.

"I think," Polly declared, stretching with languid pleasure, "that I am well and truly wed, my lord." She reached a hand to stroke the rich auburn head pillowed on her breast. "You will not be rid of me now."

Nick raised his head, bracing himself on his elbows to regard her quizzically. "Instead, I must endure afternoon upon afternoon watching as my wife becomes the property of half London."

A tiny frown creased her brow. "Would you have me leave the king's company, love?"

Nick shook his head. "Nay. I will assuage my husbandly grudging with the knowledge that I am the envy of all, and I have a most faithful wife, despite the promises she makes upon stage." He smiled lazily. "I think, madame, so that there shall be no doubt of that, I shall insist upon the most proper modesty, the most decorous dress, whenever you are not performing. We will have Margaret choose you a wardrobe of a Puritan severity-"

He fell back, laughing, under the vigorous assault with which this provocation was received. "Nay… nay, peace, my shrew!" Still laughing, he pulled her on top of him, holding her hands at her sides, pinned to the mattress. "Will you cry peace, or must I compel it?"

The hazel eyes glowed with laughter, the residue of loving, and a sparking anticipation at the feel of him, again hard and throbbing against her belly. "And how would you compel it, my lord?".

"Why, quite easily," he said, parting her thighs with a hard knee. With a slow twist of his hips, he entered her

again, and Polly gasped with the delight that was as familiar as it was always different.

"So this is the manner in which you will enforce your husbandly authority," she mused, moving with his rhythm in a dreamy circle.

"Rule a wife and have a wife," he mocked gently. "And I intend to have this wife, madame, for all time."

"And I this husband," Polly replied with a contented smile.

"And we shall count the world well lost for love," Nick promised, sliding his hands beneath the fragrant curtain of her hair to cup her face, drawing it down to his. "For all time, sweet Polly."

"They say, 'Love, 'tis a noble madness,' " Polly whispered, "and I did wed a madman, did I not?"

"For all time," he averred.

"Aye, for all time."