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kmomof4 · 2 months ago

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To Sir Graham, With Love Ch. 6

And we are back!!! Thank you all for coming along on this journey with me! I hope you enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think!

Thank you again to @jrob64 and @whimsicallyenchantedrose for their beta services and to @motherkatereloyshipper for her INCREDIBLE banner up above!! I love it so much, babe! Thank you!!!

And once again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to @snowbellewells for whom this fic was written!!! Love you, darlin!!!!

We earn our rating in this chapter, y'all! If you want to skip it, it begins and ends with double scene change lines. Like this.

~*~*~

And now, on to the new chapter!

Summary: After a year long secret correspondence, twenty-eight year old spinster Ruby Jones decides to accept Sir Graham Humbert's offer of a visit to see if they might suit for marriage. Unfortunately, he failed to mention that he was the father of twins, and they are not thrilled with Ruby's appearance.

Rating: M ( for smut and mentions of physical abuse)

Words: Almost 7100 of 68k

Tags: Red Hunter Fic, Birthday Fic, Inspired by Eloise Bridgerton's Story, Smut

On ao3 From Beginning / Current Chapter

On Tumblr Prologue Ch1 Ch2 Ch3 Ch4 Ch5

Tagging the usuals. Please let me know if you'd like to be added or removed.

@jrob64 @winterbaby89 @hollyethecurious @the-darkdragonfly @jennjenn615

@donteattheappleshook @undercaffinatednightmare @pirateherokillian @cocohook38 @qualitycoffeethings

@booksteaandtoomuchtv @superchocovian @motherkatereloyshipper @snowbellewells @djlbg

@lfh1226-linda @xarandomdreamx @tiganasummertree @bluewildcatfanatic @anmylica

@laianely @resident-of-storybrooke @exhaustedpirate @gingerchangeling @caught-in-the-filter

@ultraluckycatnd @stahlop @darkshadow7 @fleurdepetite @captainswan-kellie

@soniccat @beckettj @teamhook @whimsicallyenchantedrose @thisonesatellite

@jonesfandomfanatic @elfiola @zaharadessert @ilovemesomekillianjones @mie779

@kymbersmith-90 @suwya @veryverynotgoodwrites @myfearless-love

Under the cut, unless Tumblr ate it.

… cannot abide a man who drinks to excess. Which is why I’m sure you will understand why I couldnt not accept Lord Wescott’s offer.

– from Ruby Jones to her brother Killian, upon refusing her second proposal of marriage

~*~*~*~*~*~*

“No!” gushed Emma Jones, Killian’s very pregnant wife and one of Ruby’s very closest friends. “They didn’t!”

“Oh, yes, they did,” Ruby said grimly, as she sat back in her lawn chair and sipped a cup of lemonade. “And then they all got drunk!”

“Fiends,” Emma muttered, leading Ruby to the realization that what she’d really had enough of the evening before was the horribly chummish and collegial manner of men. Clearly, all she’d truly needed was one sensible female with whom she might disparage the lot of them.

Emma scowled. “Don’t tell me they were talking about that poor Mildred woman again.”

Ruby gasped. “You know about her?”

“Everyone knows about her,” Emma said, rolling her eyes slightly. “Truth be told,” she continued, moving closer, her voice dropping to a whisper though there wasn’t another soul around to overhear, “I feel sorry for the woman. All that unwanted attention, and it can’t be good for her back.”

Ruby tried to imagine and simply couldn’t.

“Regina once even asked her about it.”

Ruby’s mouth fell open. Regina was Emma’s stepsister who’d lived with the Jones for several years before she wed the rather merry village vicar who lived just five miles from My Cottage. She was also, quite honestly, one of the sweetest, kindest, and most welcoming people of Ruby’s acquaintance and if anyone was going to befriend a tavern wench with large bosoms, it would have been her.

“Mildred and her husband are in Robin’s parish,” Emma continued, referring to Regina’s husband. “So of course Regina knows them.”

“What did she say?” Ruby asked, still a bit astonished.

“Regina?”

“No, Mildred.”

“I don’t know,” Emma said, pulling a face and rubbing the side of her swollen belly. “Regina never told me. Can you believe that? I don’t think she has kept a secret from me her entire life. She said she couldn’t betray the confidence of a parishioner.”

Ruby thought that was quite noble of Regina, though she really wouldn’t have expected any different.

“Not that it concerns me, of course,” Emma said, with all the confidence of a woman who knows beyond any shadow of a doubt that she is loved. “Killian would never stray.”

“Of course not,” Ruby rushed to agree. Killian and Emma’s love story was legendary within their family - the two of them initially meeting at Alice Jones’ masquerade ball nearly a decade ago and falling madly in love that same night, but being the bastard daughter of the Earl of Glowerhaven, long dead by then, Emma had had to return to her life of forced servitude in her own household, until fate intervened and Killian and Emma met again two years later and were able to overcome secrets, lies, and the ton’s expectations to find their well-deserved happily ever after. Their story played no small part in Ruby’s desire for a love match and was a prominent factor in why she’d turned down so many proposals of marriage. She wanted that kind of love, drama, and passion. She wanted so much more than three homes, sixteen horses, and forty-two hounds, which were actually words said to her by one of her many suitors when he’d asked for her hand.

“But,” Emma continued, “I don’t think it’s so much to ask that he manage to keep his mouth closed when she walks by.”

Ruby was about to add her firm and vehement agreement when she saw Sir Graham walking across the lawn in their direction.

“Is that him?” Emma asked, a smile on her face.

Ruby nodded.

“He’s very handsome.”

“Yes, I suppose,” Ruby said slowly.

“You suppose?” Emma snorted inelegantly. “Don’t you play coy with me, Ruby Jones. Don’t forget that I was your ladies maid and know you better than just about anyone.”

Ruby couldn’t help the amused twist of her lip, but she did manage to bite her tongue instead of reminding Emma that she’d been Ruby’s ladies maid for a paltry fortnight before she and Killian had come to their senses and married.

“Very well,” Ruby allowed. “He is quite handsome, if you prefer the rough, rural sort.”

“Which you do,” Emma said pertly.

To her complete mortification, Ruby felt herself blush. “Perhaps,” she muttered.

“Oh, look,” Emma said approvingly. “He brought flowers.”

“He’s a botanist,” Ruby said.

“That doesn’t make the gesture any less sweet.”

“No,” Ruby grudgingly agreed, “just easier.”

“Ruby,” Emma said, turning to her, the disapproval in her voice exceedingly hard to miss. “Stop. Don’t you do that.”

“Do what?”

“Cut that man down before you even give him a chance.”

“That’s not what I was doing,” Ruby protested, though she knew she was lying the moment the words left her mouth. She hated that her family was running her life as if she had no say in the matter and it left her feeling sullen and uncooperative. It didn’t matter in the least that she was the one who’d brought it on herself.

“I am not even going to dignify that statement with a response,” Emma snorted. “The flowers are lovely and it doesn’t matter if he had eight thousand varieties to choose from. He still thought to bring them.”

Ruby had no answer. It was true. And even though she knew she was pouting like a child, the gesture did make the corners of her lips lift in a small smile, and a sense of well being enveloped her. Maybe things would be alright after all.

“Killian didn’t give me all the details…” Emma hedged.

Ruby laughed. She just couldn’t help herself. “What do you want to know?”

Emma looked over at Sir Graham, gauging just how long they had left to talk before he arrived at their sides. “Well, for one thing,” she began, conspiratorially, “is it true you’d never met him before?”

“In person? No,” Ruby replied. Her sour mood was back again. It sounded so silly when she said the words out loud. Truly, what had she been thinking? Running away to a man she’d never met.

“Well,” Emma mused, “if it all works out in the end, what a romantic tale it will make.” A soft smile graced her face and it wasn’t hard to guess what her beloved friend and sister-in-law was thinking. “Much like mine and Killian’s.”

Ruby swallowed hard. It was too soon to know if it would work out in the end. She was quite certain she’d end up married to Sir Graham, but she didn’t love him and she knew he didn’t love her. Being here in the home of her other favorite brother and sister-in-law, witnessing the love and affection between them, just made her even more afraid that she’d made a terrible mistake.

But the only way to answer that question was to marry Sir Graham and see what happened.

“Miss Jones, Mrs. Jones,” Sir Graham greeted them upon his arrival. He held out a bouquet of white and purple orchids toward Ruby. “I brought you these,” he said, unnecessarily.

“Thank you,” Ruby replied, a smile spreading across her lips at the little flutter her heart gave at the lovely gesture. “They’re beautiful.”

“Where ever did you find orchids?” Emma asked, the delight in her voice clear. “They’re exquisite!”

“I grew them,” he informed her. “I keep a greenhouse.”

“Ah, yes,” Emma exclaimed. “Ruby mentioned that you are a botanist. I do love to garden myself, but am simply miserable at it. The gardeners would be quite happy if I simply stuck to enjoying their efforts rather than trying to join them.” Both Emma and Graham chuckled lightly at her statement and Ruby realized she needed to make introductions, even if he’d correctly guessed who Emma was.

“Emma,” she said, clearing her throat and motioning between them, “may I present Sir Graham Humbert. Sir Graham, this is Killian’s wife, Emma.”

“I am very pleased to meet you,” Emma said, holding her hand out gracefully. Graham bowed over it and brushed her knuckles with his lips.

“The honor is mine, Mrs. Jones,” he murmured.

“Oh, please call me Emma,” she gently corrected him. “Since it seems you’re part of the family already.”

Ruby and Graham both flushed and Emma realized her faux pas at once. “Oh, no! That’s not what I meant. Not for you two…” The words poured from her lips like a dam breaking and her eyes bounced between the two as she sought to assuage both their discomfort. “I mean, amongst the men.” Her hands fluttered aimlessly and she could feel her cheeks heating. “I mean… Killian said, well, there was quite a bit of wine last night…”

“A fact I’d rather not dwell on,” Graham mused, the self-deprecation in his voice clear.

“The fact that you remember at all is quite remarkable, if you ask me,” Ruby mumbled, but not quite low enough that her companions were unable to hear her. “Does your head ache terribly?” she asked, louder this time.

“Like the devil,” he replied.

“Good,” she mumbled again, churlishly. She shouldn’t be acting this way and she knew it - especially when presented with the lovely and rare orchids - but she just couldn’t help herself.

“Ruby!” Emma scolded.

“How is Killian this morning?” she asked sweetly.

Emma sighed. “He’s an absolute bear. And Henry is still abed.”

“I seem to have fared the best then,” Graham observed.

“Except for David,” Ruby informed him. “He never feels the aftereffects of alcohol. And of course Liam hardly had anything.”

“Lucky man.”

“Would you care for something to drink, Sir Humbert?” Emma asked. “Of the non-intoxicating type, of course. I’d be glad to arrange for some lemonade to be brought out.”

“If I’m to call you by your Christian name,” he began, “then I must insist you do the same. And that would be most appreciated, thank you.” When she began to struggle to move off the chaise, Graham hurried to her side to help her.

“Thank you,” Emma puffed. “I always forget how hard it is to get out of these chairs by this point of my confinement.”

“I shouldn’t have asked for the lemonade,” Graham admonished himself.

“Nonsense,” Emma replied. “I offered. It’s only a short ways to My Cottage and the walk will do me good. I’ll return shortly.” She offered them both a sharp nod and began waddling toward the house. Ruby smiled.

“She’s as stubborn as I am,” she informed Graham, “if not more. Don’t concern yourself,” she continued, laying her hand on his arm as he sat on the lounge Emma had just vacated. “She would have insisted no matter what.”

Graham nodded, looking down at his hands for a moment before meeting her gaze. “It’s good to see you this morning.”

“And you,” she replied.

“I must apologize for my behavior last night,” he said, clearly uncomfortable.

She scrutinized him as he fidgeted on the seat. He seemed sincere. She didn’t know him well, but he didn’t seem the sort to apologize without really meaning it. She shrugged indifferently. “I have brothers,” she said, blandly. “I’m used to it.”

“Perhaps so,” he allowed, “but I am not. I assure you, I am not in the habit of overindulging.”

She looked back at him, observing the distressed look in his eye. Somehow she knew that he was telling her the absolute truth and she forgave him with a nod of her head in acceptance of his words.

“I have been thinking,” he said.

“As have I.”

He cleared his throat and tugged at his cravat. “We will have to marry.”

“I’m aware,” she bit out.

“I am sorry that it’s occurring under these circumstances.”

Ruby turned to him in surprise. “What?” she breathed.

He looked confused for a moment, his eyes darting everywhere but at her. “These… circumstances,” he repeated. “I’m sorry that I didn’t have a chaperone in place when you arrived. I’m sorry that your brothers descended when they did - though I had decided we’d suit and was planning on proposing marriage with a ring and whatever else it is that I’m supposed to do before they arrived - and forced the issue before you were ready for it. But I’m not sorry it’s happening.”

“You’re not?” She couldn’t keep the shock out of her voice. How was it possible that he was able to discern that particular character quality after only knowing her for less than three days? There was nothing she valued more than her independence, about having choices in her life, and she was profoundly grateful that she was part of a family that allowed her to do so. There were many brothers within the ton who wouldn’t have stood for Ruby rejecting as many offers of marriage as she had. And while she had thought she was exercising that independence and control over her own life in running off to Gloucestershire, it had done no more than brought her to the place she was now. And there was no getting around that, no matter how much Ruby wanted to ignore her own part in it.

But how could Graham have known that it wasn’t the fact that Liam was making her marry him, it was the fact that she wasn’t ready for it yet? She couldn’t deny that she found him extremely attractive, and even though she’d only met him three days ago, she was quite sure in the depths of her soul that he was a man she could love. She just wasn’t there yet. And not knowing how he felt about her - beyond that he clearly thought she’d be good for Nicholas and Ava - was the only other true reservation she had.

So it wasn’t that she was being required to marry him, she simply wanted more of a say in when and how it happened.

“No, I’m not,” he replied, finally meeting her gaze. “I’d be willing to wait as long as you needed, but I’m afraid -” here his eyes looked up the hill toward Liam and David who were making their way towards them, preceding a servant laden down with more food than Hercules himself could carry - “your brothers won’t allow that. Quite frankly, if you were my sister, I’d have marched you to a church last night.”

That, more than anything, went a long way toward assuaging her distress over the entire situation. As much as she hated Liam dictating her future to her, she knew he did it out of a place of love and honor - for her and for their family - and the fact that Graham agreed with the principles underpinning Liam’s actions told her with certainty that he was also a man of honor.

Ruby glanced at her brothers and then blurted out. “Why did you decide we would suit?”

Graham blinked in surprise. “I beg your pardon?” He couldn’t have been more surprised at her question. Although heaven knew why not. This was Ruby after all.

“Why did you decide we would suit?” she repeated, her tone insistent. Of course this would be how she would ask. No beating around the bush with Ruby. Why be coy when she can just be direct and move on to the next thing that much faster?

“I… uh…” he stuttered.

“You don’t know,” she interrupted him, and if he wasn’t very much mistaken, she sounded disappointed.

“Of course I do!” he protested. No man liked to be told he didn’t know his own mind.

“No, you don’t,” she insisted. “Otherwise you wouldn’t be choking on air.”

“Good God, woman!” he exclaimed. “Don’t you have a single charitable bone in your body? I simply needed a moment to formulate an answer.”

“Ah, there’s the happy couple,” David proclaimed, sitting himself down at the table a few yards away.

“Good morning,” Graham rose and greeted the brothers, never more happy to see another human being in all his life.

“Hungry?” David asked. “I took the liberty of ordering breakfast al fresco.”

Liam sat down and glanced toward his sister. “How are you this morning?”

“Fine,” she replied.

“Hungry?”

“No.”

“Cheerful?”

“Not for you,” she informed him haughtily. He chuckled and picked up a napkin and placed it in his lap as the servant relieved himself of his burden, apologizing profusely for his clumsiness when everything on the tray rattled alarmingly.

After assuring the flustered man it was no problem, Liam turned to Graham. “She is usually more prone to conversation than this,” he said.

Graham raised an eyebrow as he cut his eyes toward her. She looked like she wanted to hit her brother and Graham was quite intrigued to see if she’d be able to master the impulse or not.

The two brothers served themselves then Liam turned to Graham and Ruby. “The two of you seem particularly well-suited this morning,” he informed them.

Ruby’s glare could have curdled fresh milk. “And when did you come to that conclusion?”

Liam shrugged nonchalantly. “It wasn’t hard to see.” He paused for a moment, smug mirth dancing in his eyes. “It was the bickering, actually. All the best couples do it.”

Graham nodded thoughtfully.

“Elsa and I often have similar conversations before she comes around to my way of thinking,” he said. Graham was starting to worry about Ruby. If she glared at her brother any harder, her eyeballs might pop right out of her head. “Of course,” Liam continued, completely unaffected by Ruby’s ire, “she might offer a different interpretation. I allow her to think I’m coming around to her way of thinking. It’s easier that way.” Graham glanced briefly at Ruby, amazed that there wasn’t smoke pouring out of her ears. “When did you arrive?” Liam asked him, pulling his attention away from the food and Ruby and back to the viscount.

“Just a few minutes ago, actually,” Graham said.

“Yes,” Ruby interjected smartly, “You’ll be pleased to know he proposed marriage.”

Graham coughed loudly when Ruby made the announcement. She glanced briefly at him before continuing. “He said, We’ll have to marry.”

“Well,” Liam said, looking directly at Ruby, “you do have to marry. And my compliments to him,” he continued, darting his eyes to Graham before settling back on his sister, “on not beating around the bush. I’d have thought you of all people would appreciate that sort of directness.” His gaze settled on Graham then. “She’s just irritated about having her choices dictated to her. She’ll be fine in a few days.”

“I’m fine now,” she snapped.

“Yes,” Liam agreed affably. “You certainly look it.”

“Don’t you have somewhere else to be?” she gritted out.

Liam raised a single eyebrow. “Now that is an interesting question. I guess you could say I should be in London with my wife and children. But I’m not, am I? I’m here. In Wiltshire. And why am I here again?” he asked blandly, spreading honey on a scone.

Ruby snapped her mouth shut. Before Liam took a bite, he reached in his pocket and withdrew a small letter. “Mother sent this for you,” he said, handing it to her. “I regret it slipped my mind to give it to you last night.”

“Do you want to read it?” Graham whispered to her.

She answered him with a small shake of her head as she continued to look at the missive in her hand. “Not now,” she whispered right back. Graham realized exactly what she meant - she didn’t want to read it in front of her brothers - and suddenly knew what he had to do.

“Lord Jones,” Graham said, standing from his seat. “May I request a moment alone with your sister?”

“You just had a moment with her,” David said, in between bites of bacon.

Graham ignored him. “My lord?” he asked Liam again.

Liam glanced at Ruby before answering. “Of course, if she’s agreeable.”

Graham grabbed Ruby’s hand and hauled her to her feet. “She’s agreeable,” he said.

“Hmmm, yes,” David mused. “She does look agreeable, doesn’t she?” Graham decided right then and there that all of the Jones’ should have their own muzzles.

“Come with me,” he said briskly, hopefully before she decided to argue with him. Which, of course, she would since she was Ruby Jones. He might not know her well, but he did know she’d never trot obediently behind him, not when she could argue instead.

“Where are we going?” she gasped, once they were out of earshot of her brothers. His long and powerful stride had her nearly running to keep up with him, so she was utterly unprepared when he came to a sudden stop.

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“I’ve never been here before, Ruby,” he informed her, rather incredulously, she thought. “Of course I don’t know where I’m going.”

She raised an eyebrow at him in question. “Perhaps you’d like to go inside the house?” she asked, sweetly.

“Yes, capital idea,” he replied. He grabbed her hand again and didn’t release it until they stood next to a side door of My Cottage. “Where does this go?” he asked.

“Inside,” she cheeked. He raised an eyebrow at her and Ruby bit back a chuckle, feeling immensely better now that they were away from her brothers, but particularly Liam. “Through Emma’s writing room to the hall,” she continued.

“Is Emma in her writing room?”

“I doubt it,” she said. “Didn’t she come inside to fetch you some lemonade?”

“Good,” he said, trying the door and raising a prayer of thanks when it opened easily. The room was empty, but the door on the other side leading to the hall was open. Graham strode across the room and shut the door firmly. When he turned back to Ruby, she still stood in the open doorway, the expression on her face a cross between curiosity and amusement. “Shut the door,” he ordered.

Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “I beg your pardon?”

“Shut the door,” he repeated. It wasn’t a tone 0f voice he used often, but after a year of feeling lost with no direction in life, he finally knew what he wanted, and he was going after it. “Shut the door, Ruby,” he repeated in a low voice, taking slow and deliberate steps toward her.

She appeared frozen as he approached, her mouth dropped open in a small O of surprise. “Graham, you…” She trailed off as he reached behind her and shut the door himself, then turned the lock. “What are you doing?” Her voice was no more than a whisper as she looked up into his face as if she didn’t know him. Hell, he wasn’t sure he knew himself any longer.

“You were worried that we might not suit,” he said gently, running the back of his hand along her jaw. “And I thought it was time to show you that we do.”

Ruby had only a moment to take a deep breath before his lips were on hers. And it was a good thing she did, because if the passion of his kiss was any indication, he didn’t intend to release her for quite some time. Perhaps sometime in the next century.

But then he stopped and she gasped in astonishment, unable to take her eyes from his. His large hands cradled her face and he simply stared at her, cataloging her every feature, his eyes bouncing between hers then moving on to her forehead, then nose, and finally her lips, his thumbs brushing gently against her cheeks.

“Graham?” she whispered.

“I just had to look at you,” he explained, his voice but a whisper between them. “You’re always moving. I never have a chance to just see you.”

Her knees nearly gave out at his words and her lips parted, but she had nothing to say. All she could do was stare up into his blue eyes and try not to drown in them.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his thumbs still stroking her cheeks. “Do you know what I thought when I first saw you?” Ruby shook her head silently. “I thought I could drown in your eyes. I thought I could drown in you.”

She swayed toward him and his thumbs moved from her cheeks to her bottom lip. The gentle feathering touch sent ripples of pleasure shooting down her spine and she realized that she’d never understood the power of desire until this very moment. Never knew how it weakened one to the point of collapse and strengthened to the point of never letting go at the same time.

“Kiss me,” she whispered.

Graham smiled. “You always order me about.”

A coy smile touched her lips. “And I’ll do it even more as your wife,” she said. “Kiss me.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, still smiling. “Because once I start, I might not be able…”

She couldn’t wait any longer. She grabbed him by the neck and pulled him down to meet her waiting lips. He chuckled against them as his arms tightened around her. When his tongue touched the seam of her lips, she opened to him with a groan deep in her throat, welcoming his invasion as he explored every inch of her mouth. He held her closely, stirring the fire he’d kindled, pressing her closer and closer to the heat of him until she could feel it burning through the morning dress she wore.

~*~*~

His hands moved down from her waist to her bottom where he squeezed and kneaded and tilted her up until…

She gasped when she felt the hardness against her. She’d heard whispers, of course, and then there’d been the time she and her sister Tink had used their pin money to bribe one of the servant girls to tell them exactly what to expect, so she knew what his hardness meant, but she’d never imagined it would feel so hot, so insistent.

“I want to be inside you,” he groaned, peppering her jaw with kisses. Her knees really did give out that time, but he held her securely then lowered her to the sofa and stretched out atop of her. His weight was heavy, yet thrilling at the same time and Ruby’s heart beat double time as his lips trailed down the column of her neck, sending shivers to all of her extremities.

“Graham,” she moaned. It was her only coherent thought, the only word she had.

“Ruby, yes,” he groaned in response. Her name seemed to be torn out of him, and Ruby nodded vigorously in reply. Whatever he wanted, she wanted. Whatever he desired, she desired. She wanted it all. She wanted everything. Everything he would give her. And she wanted it now.

His hand reached down and touched her ankle, the calluses rough against the silk of her stocking. She gasped as he continued nuzzling and kissing her neck while his hand slid steadily upward until it reached the edge of her stocking. He didn’t stop, but Ruby didn’t want him to. She opened her legs to him until he settled himself firmly in between them.

She was on fire for him and the incoherent moans and gasps that fell from her lips were the only language she was capable of uttering. His fingers tickled the inside of her thighs and she thought she’d die from the anticipation driving her higher and higher. She was a taunt bow string, ready to sing for him at the slightest provocation.

And then he touched her.

Touched her where she’d never been touched before. Her mouth dropped open on a silent scream and she knew one thing beyond any shadow of a doubt.

She was his.

His touch was feather light against her folds and she squirmed beneath him, mewling cries as she felt herself blossom - like one of his beloved blooms - beneath his tender and almost reverent touch. And when he reached inside, his name was ripped from her lips on a cry of ecstasy that left her riding the crest of a wave of pleasure inside her she’d never known, filling every corner, to the very tips of her fingers and toes.

It seemed to last forever, and when she finally collapsed in replete exhaustion, she didn’t think she could lift her pinky finger if her life depended on it.

“Oh, Ruby,” he groaned. “Do you have any idea…” He removed his hand from underneath her dress and very deliberately, never taking his eyes from hers, licked his fingers. “Delicious,” he murmured. Ruby released a shocked gasp at the brashness of his action, but why now and not when he was touching her so intimately, she’d never know.

He smoothed his hand over her hair in a gesture so tender and loving, Ruby could feel her eyes filling with tears. She still couldn’t move, so when he moved off of her and smoothed her skirts back down, she felt bereft.

“Oh, Graham,” she breathed. She was sure she had the silliest grin on her face, but she just couldn’t help herself.

~*~*~

“Is there a washroom?” he asked, his voice rather hoarse to her ears. It was only then that she noticed he held himself rather stiffly and his features looked strained.

“Uh, yes,” she said quickly, pointing toward the door to the hall. “Out and to the right.” It seemed odd that he’d have to relieve himself after such a breathtaking encounter, but who was she to try and understand the working of the male body?

He rose from the sofa and walked to the door. But before he opened it, he turned to look at her, his gaze alone threatening to consume her once again. “Do you believe me now?” he asked.

“Believe you?” she replied, “About what?”

He smirked as he turned the knob. “We’ll suit.”

Once alone in the washroom, Graham needed less than a minute to finish himself off. He was that wound up after his encounter with Ruby.

Dear God, she’d been magnificent in her passion. And she had no clue what she’d done to him. He thought back to how she looked still sprawled out on the sofa when he’d left her. She’d just looked at him with a blissful smile on her face, completely oblivious to the fact that he was ready to explode.

He had no earthly idea about the intricacies of a woman’s toilette, but he was quite sure she’d need to redress her hair at the very least before rejoining the others outside.

He’d known that if and when he ever found a woman he was interested in bedding, that his body would react strongly. It had been that long since he’d known the pleasures of the flesh with anything other than his hand. The feel of a female body responding to his touch was pure bliss.

But now he could see why he’d never indulged with the local whores and barmaids who’d expressed interest, or found himself a discreet widow. He’d been waiting for her.

He’d been waiting for Ruby.

He needed her. More than he’d ever needed anyone. He wanted to sink into her and never leave. He wanted to possess her as she possessed him.

He’d had fantasies, of course. Every man did. But now his fantasy had a face, and he’d better get himself under control or he’d be walking around with a constant erection if he couldn’t get his thoughts directed elsewhere.

He needed a wedding. And fast.

He emerged out onto the lawn to see all four of the Jones brothers gathered around the table.

“Ah, there he is,” Killian said as he approached. Graham stopped when he saw the pistol in the man’s hand. Was it possible that he knew what had just transpired in his wife’s study?

No, Graham thought, swallowing hard. There’d been no one around when they’d entered the room, nor when he left. He’d made sure of that. Besides, Killian was smiling. Though, he supposed, it could be possible that he was the type of man who’d enjoy picking off the spoiler of his sister’s innocence.

“Uh, good morning,” he replied, glancing at the others, trying to gauge the situation.

“Do you shoot?”

“Of course.”

Killian motioned with his head toward a target some thirty yards away. “Good,” he said, amiably. “Join us.”

Graham noted the target was firmly in place, which meant that he would not be serving in the role.

“I didn’t bring a gun.”

“Of course not. We’re all friends here, right?” Killian was still smiling, but it wasn’t the type of smile that inspired confidence in one’s well being.

“I would hope.”

“We’ll provide one for you.”

Graham nodded and approached the table. If this was to be the way he proved himself to Ruby’s brothers, then so be it. He was quite accomplished in the skill, after all. It was one of those manly pursuits his father had insisted on him learning. He’d lost count of the hours, days, and weeks he’d practiced shooting on the lawn of Romney Hall. His arm held out straight until his muscles burned with the exertion, breath held until he’d taken his shot, always praying his aim was true.

If it was, his father wouldn’t beat him.

It was as simple, and as desperate, as that.

He murmured his hellos to the rest of the men and examined the pistols laid out.

“Let’s get on with this,” Liam said, “before Ruby returns.” He glanced up at Graham. “Where is she, by the way?”

“She was reading the letter from your mother,” Graham lied smoothly.

“I see,” he said. “Well, that won’t take long. We’d better hurry.”

“Maybe she’ll go ahead and pen a reply,” David mused. “She’s always writing someone a letter. That will give us a few extra minutes.”

“A very few,” Henry groused. “She’s fiendishly fast.”

“At writing?” Graham asked.

“At everything,” Henry said, rolling his eyes. “Let’s shoot.”

“Why are you all so anxious to start without her?” Graham asked.

“Uh, no reason,” Killian said at the same time Liam mumbled, “Who said anything about that?”

Graham raised an eyebrow as he looked at each of the brothers in turn. He decided it’d do himself no earthly good to remind them that they all had.

“Age before beauty, old chap,” David said, slapping Liam on the back.

Liam stepped up to the chalk line drawn in the grass, aimed, and fired.

“Well done!” Graham exclaimed when the footman brought the target near. Liam’s shot was only an inch off of dead center.

“Thank you,” he said. “How old are you?”

“Uh, thirty,” Graham replied.

“That puts you behind David,” he said. “We always do things like this by age. It’s easier to keep track that way.”

“I see,” Graham murmured. Killian and then David both took their shots. They were good, but not perfect, but still good enough to kill a man, if that was their intention.

Graham selected a pistol and tested its weight in his hand before he stepped up to the chalk line. It’d only been recently that he realized he liked to shoot, that it wasn’t a chore. And when he realized that, his father’s voice in the back of his mind - always yelling, always criticizing - was gone.

He raised his arm, his muscles rock steady, and fired. He squinted. It looked good. When the footman brought the target near, they all saw he missed the bullseye by no more than half an inch. Closer than anyone so far.

They all murmured their congratulations to him before Henry stepped up to shoot. When he did, he proved to be Graham’s equal.

“We do five rounds,” Liam explained as he stepped to the line again. “Best out. If there’s a tie, the leaders face off.”

Graham nodded his understanding. David looked at Graham with deadly serious eyes. “We take our games seriously.”

“I’m gathering,” Graham replied.

“Do you fence?”

“Not well.”

The corner of David’s lips lifted in a smirk. “Excellent.”

“Be quiet!” Liam barked, shooting an irritated look over his shoulder at his brother. “I’m trying to aim.”

“Such need for silence won’t serve you well in the middle of a crisis, brother,” David called cheerily.

“Shut up!”

“In fact, if we were attacked,” he continued, completely unbothered by the glare Liam was sending him, “it would be quite noisy, and I, for one, am rather disturbed to think…”

“David!” Liam bellowed.

“Don’t mind me,” David said jauntily.

“I’m going to kill him,” Liam said to no one in particular. “Does anyone mind if I kill him?”

No one did, but Emma, sitting about ten feet away with her nose stuck in a book, did look up and mention something about the blood and the mess it’d create.

“It does make for an excellent fertilizer,” Graham interjected, trying to be helpful, since it was his area of expertise.

“Oh, well then, by all means,” Emma said, turning back to her book.

“How’s the book, darling?” Killian called.

“It’s quite good, actually,” she replied.

“Would you all please be quiet?” Liam’s cheeks colored slightly as he glanced at his sister-in-law. “Not you, of course, Emma,” he amended.

“Glad to be exempted,” she said cheerfully, rubbing the side of her stomach.

“Do try not to threaten my wife,” Killian said mildly.

Liam glared menacingly at his brother. “The lot of you should be drawn and quartered,” he mumbled.

“Except for Emma,” David reminded him.

Liam turned to him with a deadly expression. “You do realize this gun is loaded, don’t you?”

“Luckily for me, fratricide is considered far beyond the pale.”

Liam clamped his mouth shut and turned back toward the target. “Round two,” he shouted, taking aim.

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaait!!!”

All four Jones men sagged and turned around, groaning when they saw Ruby careening down the hill toward them.

“Are you shooting?” she demanded, hands on her hips.

No one answered her. No one really needed to.

“Without me?”

“We aren’t shooting,” Henry piped up. “We’re just standing around. With guns.”

“Near a target,” David interjected.

“You’re shooting,” she accused.

“Of course, we’re shooting,” Liam ground out. He flicked his head over toward Emma. “Emma’s reading a book. You should join her.”

“A very good one, in fact,” Emma called.

“Reading books is very improving, you know, Ruby,” Killian said.

“I don’t need to be improved, Killian,” she snapped. “Give me a gun.”

“I’m not going to give you a gun,” he retorted. “We don’t have enough to go around.”

“You can share, you know,” she said, smartly. “Have you ever heard of sharing? I hear it’s very improving.”

Killian scowled at her as only an older brother could, and in a way that wasn’t particularly reflective of his years.

“Here,” Graham said, magnanimously, handing his gun over to Ruby. “You can use mine.” All four Jones brothers groaned in annoyance, but Graham didn’t care. He found that he rather enjoyed annoying them.

“Thank you,” Ruby said graciously. “Since you just called out Round Two, I assume you’ve all taken one shot?”

“Indeed,” Graham replied. He looked around at her brothers, all of whom wore a dejected look on their faces. “What’s wrong?”

Liam just shook his head.

“She’s a freak of nature,” Killian volunteered.

Graham raised his eyebrows and turned his attention back to Ruby. She didn’t appear particularly freakish to him.

“I’m dropping out,” Henry muttered. “I haven’t had breakfast yet.”

“You’ll have to order more,” David informed him. “I ate it all.”

Henry groaned. “It’s a wonder I haven’t starved to death with you around, David.”

“Did the two of you grow up in a barnyard?” Liam asked.

Graham bit his lip to contain his smile.

“Are we going to shoot?” Ruby asked.

“You certainly are,” Henry groused. “I’m leaving to eat.” He didn’t move from his place leaning against the trunk of a tree as Ruby lifted her arm and fired.

Graham blinked in surprise as the footman brought forth the target.

Dead center.

“Where did you learn to do that?” he asked, trying desperately not to gape at her.

She shrugged. “I didn’t,” she informed him. “I’ve always been able to do it.”

“Freak of nature,” David repeated Killian’s words from earlier.

“Well, I think it's splendid!” Graham exclaimed.

Ruby looked at him, her eyes aglow. “Really?” she asked.

“Absolutely,” he affirmed. “If our home is being attacked, I know exactly who will join me on the front lines.”

She beamed at his praise, then looked around at her brothers. “Where’s the next target?”

Henry rolled his eyes as he pushed himself away from the tree. “I forfeit. I’m getting something to eat.”

“Get something for me too,” David called.

Ruby turned to Liam. “It’s your turn then?”

He took the gun from her hands and laid it on the table to be reloaded. “As if it matters,” he mumbled.

“We all have to do five rounds,” she informed him haughtily. “You’re the one who made the rules.”

“I know,” he muttered. He took aim, but he clearly was past caring. He was off by several inches.

“You’re not even trying!” Ruby cried, indignant.

Liam turned to Killian. “I hate shooting with her.”

“Your turn,” she said to Killian.

Killian, then David, took their turns. They both performed better than Liam did, but still missed their marks.

Graham stepped up to the line. “Don’t you give up, too,” she admonished him.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said softly, a smirk on his face.

“Good,” she said, spearing her brothers with A Look. “It’s no fun shooting with poor sports.” She turned her attention back to Graham as he took aim. “They do this every time. They perform badly until I quit because it’s just not worth it, then they all come back and have all the fun.”

“Be quiet,” he admonished her lightly. “I’m trying to aim.”

“Oh, sorry,” she apologized quickly and shut her mouth, watching him intently as he took aim and fired.

“Perfect!” she cried when the footman arrived with the target. “Oh, Graham, that was wonderful!”

Liam grumbled something under his breath before turning his attention to Graham. “You are going to marry her, aren’t you?” he asked. “Because if you will take her off our hands and shoot with her, I will gladly double her dowry.”

Graham was quite certain by then that he’d marry Ruby for nothing, but he just grinned and replied, “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

~*~*~

Thank you for reading and sharing! I'd love to hear what you think! Next ch will be up Tuesday night before I go to bed.

#to sir graham with love #krystal writes #art by motherkatereloyshipper #birthday fic for marta #red hunter fic

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