The wedding was the biggest event in town. Busybodies wanted to see Lucia Willis in the Convent's uniform and longed for something, anything that would make Lucia lose her mind and confess her love for Adam. Others wished to see the immaculate Sophia dressed in pure white walking down the church's aisle. Women watched sadly, with tears on their eyes as the most desired bachelor was about to be a married man.
The church was so full that spectators burst out the door, just for a glimpse of the beautiful bride. The ceremony was as expected. Sophia, in her simple white dress and the white veil over her face, was by far the prettiest bride Lakewood has had in the last five years. Adam looked handsome in his black suit, making women sigh lovingly. The Pastor went on with the ceremony as loud as he could. The vows were said, the rings were exchanged, and at the end of it all, Sophia had at last, fulfilled her dream of marrying a gentleman.
The party took place at the new Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster's new home. They danced, they cut the cake and they danced some more. Late at night, around midnight, the guests were becoming less and less. The party was tiring and they all wanted to leave the newly wedded couple enjoy their first night together. That is when Sophia started to feel her nerves taking over her body. Her hands trembled, her rapid heartbeats made it difficult for her to breathe, several times as she walked the guests out to their carriages, she found herself bending over trying to get some air in her lungs.
In the master bedroom, Sophia stands in front of the mirror as Gilda strips her from her wedding gown. Usually done by the servant but she was busy cleaning up after the party. Gilda, as a farewell, volunteered.
"You have been married, right Gilda?" Sophia asks trying to distract herself.
"Yes, a long time ago," Gilda replies as she holds the wedding dress in her hands studying its beauty.
"And were you nervous?"
"No. My marriage wasn't arranged, I married for love."
"Oh." Sophia takes a deep breath and faces Gilda.
"Do you need anything else?"
Sophia shakes her head and faces the colossal bed.
Gilda reaches for her hand and squeezes it. "You look beautiful."
Sophia smiles in reply. Gilda slips out the room quietly leaving Sophia with her own thoughts. She takes a deep breath but it hurt her chest. It is the time to accomplish her duty as a wife. She stares at the white bedspread, the white pillows, she reaches out at an attempt to unwind her mind, and she pulls on the covers making even the smallest crease disappear. She then turns back towards the mirror studying herself. Her nightgown, a gift from her mother, is just as white as the covers. It's thin fabric hugged her body in a way that makes her feel naked, the neckline is lower than she was used to, she contemplates changing into something that would make her feel more comfortable when she hears footsteps approaching the bedroom. Sophia holds her breath as she hears the door being opened. She doesn't dare to look back.
"What did you think of the party?" she hears Adam ask from behind her.
"It was good."
"You didn't think it was too much?"
"Perhaps a bit, but that's how mother intended it to be." She replies lowly unable to hide her nerves anymore.
"Are you scared?" asks Adam after a moment of silence.
"I am," she admits weakly.
Adam places his hand on her bare arm, the feeling strange but delightful at the same time. He slowly turns her to face him, Sophia drops her gaze.
Adam lifts her face with his fingertips. "We are not going to do anything you don't want."
Sophia takes a deep breath searching for her voice. "Mr. Lancaster, I..."
"Adam," he corrects.
Sophia smiles shyly. "Adam, I know I have an obligation as a wife but I..."
"Sophia," interrupts Adam gently. "I promised you that I was willing to wait as long as it's needed, to give you time, and I intend to stand by it."
"I..." she takes another deep breath unable to shake her nervousness aside. "I am your wife now, and if what it is expected of me is to..." She hesitates as she's unable to think of the appropriate words. "Then I must..."
Adam brings a hand to Sophia's face interrupting her thoughts. "I am not expecting anything. We are not going to do anything unless you are ready. Now." He takes a few steps closer, Sophia feels his heat radiating from him. "We will take it slow, one step at the time."
Sophia, unable to reply nods shyly.
"For example. I've never shared a bed with anybody, have you?"
Sophia lets out a laugh. "I have not."
"I suggest we start from there."
Sophia laughs again her nerves slowly disappearing. Adam runs his arms down Sophia's arms until he reaches her hands, he grabs them and pulls them up to his lips gently. He lets go of them and cups her face, Sophia holds on to her breath. He runs his thumbs through her lips slowly, she closes her eyes yearning for his lips.
He leans forward slowly, and very gently, his lips cover hers. Sophia's heart flutters as she brings her hands against his chest. He pulls away leaving her breathless, she didn't want him to stop, but she fears he would continue. He holds her hand firmly and walks her to the bed, she sits hesitantly not knowing how to act. Adam slides his shirt down his shoulders exposing his muscular chest, Sophia hides her blushing face.
He brings his hand to her face once again and gives her another kiss. He guides her down on the bed simultaneously without her realizing it, he's lying by her side, caressing her waist, her legs over her nightgown. But he stops himself and he pulls away. He lies on his side facing her. Sophia shivers as his arms make his way around her waist and tightening his grip he brings her body against his. Sophia let's his strong arms guide her and she shuts her eyes as she takes in his sweet manly scent.
As he holds her tightly his fingers tracing her back making her forget everything, she finds herself letting a sharp breath and melting into his arms. She feels safe, she feels loved and she feels exhausted. And as she listened to his rhythmic heartbeat, she falls asleep.
Ò Ò Ò
After the wedding night, Sophia felt more and more attracted to her husband. He was a hard worker, a good man and a loving husband. And slowly, without her even noticing, her feelings for Daniel Smith had receded. She thought of Adam more than she did of Daniel. Every morning, he pulls her in for a kiss. Every evening when he arrives from a hard day at work, he pulls her in for a kiss. Without failing, he makes sure to give her a kiss. And with each kiss, Sophia finds herself wanting more, making the kiss more intense each time. Sophia has learned to relax whenever Adam undressed. She learned to enjoy his arms as he held her tightly every night.
But she had still to learn, how to drop her guard whenever their kiss became so intense it left her without any strength.
His kisses were unlike no other. Whenever she kissed Daniel, she felt warm inside, but when Adam kissed her, she felt her body hot, like she was set on fire. She felt disconcerted as to why Adam's kisses had the power to give her those warm chills throughout her body. He held her face softly, he kissed her lips softly, but when his tongue touched hers, it was like the world was starting to shake, making her pull away. Whenever his hand held her neck, she felt fragile. She fears that feeling that she gets when his leg touches hers accidently while they slept, she felt something she had never felt before, and that unknown feeling scared her to the point where she started to avoid it. She yearned for his kisses everyday but the way he sometimes ran his hands down her body made her feel powerless, it frightened her.
As a result, three weeks after the wedding, they still had to consummate the marriage. Sophia felt like a coward. She had to do it in order to make the marriage valid, but how could she when she trembled every time he tried? He showed no sign of frustration or anger every time she moved away, which made her realize how hard he was really trying to keep to his promise. He was being a good husband. He had infinite amount of patience. She was being a horrible wife. What kind of wife won't let her own husband touch her?
Sophia turns to look at the clock against the wall. It was one in the morning and Adam had still not arrived home. His dinner turned cold and she was already falling asleep on the chair in the living room. This was unlike him. He was always on time, and even if he was a few minutes late, he usually sends a servant to let her know. But tonight, Sophia is standing on her tip toes expecting any news from him, and already fearing for the worse. What if Adam was now getting tired of her? What if he is out there, cruising through the streets of Lakewood, avoiding to come back home to his "boring" wife?
What if he found someone else who would give him what she is not? She shakes her head firmly, he would never do that. Would he? She brings her hands to her face and leans forward in her chair. What if he is like her sister has said? Maybe he was becoming desperate and going on the streets searching for someone to give him what she refused to give him. What if he got into an accident? What if his horse went mad and ran off into the woods getting him lost?
She sits up, breathing hard. He probably got held back at work. Maybe there was an urgent table that he had to make, that he didn't have any time to even send a message. She nods at herself. Yes, maybe that's it. She takes her post on the sofa under the candlelight, praying to God to bring her husband back home safe and sound.