Page 13 of Mounted By Her Officers

She struggled to get out the words. “Don’t let them take me. I don’t want to go. No matter who comes, I want to stay with you. All of us together.”

It was Chamberlayne who scooped her up first, cradling her limp form to his padded bosom. “They’ll not take you. Demme them all, and come what may, you’re ours.”

“But the law—”

“Damn the law,” said Carter. “When have you cared about the law?”

“Since I realized any child of my body belongs to my husband!”

They were silent. Saying such a thing aloud was akin to plucking a thorn from one’s flesh; the extraction hurt a great deal, but at least there was relief on the other side.

“It was a lark when we first came together,” she continued, wiping her face even as the tears came faster. “But how am I to keep three handsome, strapping young men satisfied when you’re unable to finish there because Wickham could take away your baby?”

“Is that what you think, dove?” asked Chamberlayne, pulling back so he might study her face. “That we’re holding back our spend for fear of Wickham?”

“Wickham. George Wickham?” asked Carter.

“Lydia…” said Denny, a tender look on his face.

“You know this is the case!”

“Yes, but we’ve been holding back our spend because we’d only get you with child if you truly wanted such a thing,” said Denny. “You’re a gay girl, you needn’t—”

“Now that I have men who care for me and won’t leave me to fend alone, of course I want a child!” The truth bubbled forth, and Lydia found she couldn’t contain the words. “I dreaded it with Wickham, but I also wanted it. I longed for a child, but I’d have been left without a nurse or governess all while hauling water and tending to our washing myself! Wickham couldn’t even see to keeping our maid-of-all-work paid.”

“Of course we’d see to that,” said Denny, waving his hand as if to brush the concern away. “We’re wealthy.”

“Some of us more than others,” said Carter, casting Denny a look.

“There, it’s all settled,” said Denny. “We’re going to have a baby. Shall we get to it?”

Lydia’s laugh resembled a bark. “Right now?”

“We’ve been waiting,” said Carter, giving her bodice a heated glance.

They really meant to keep her. And wanted the same things she did.

“You want a child that badly?” she asked, distracted as they descended on her to unlace her dress.

Carter leaned into her neck and hummed his approval.

She was down to her chemise afore registering what had taken place.

“But what if the child is born before—”

“Let’s spend tonight making the baby and untangle the legalities tomorrow,” said Chamberlayne, tugging off his widow’s weeds with a ferocity Lydia had not yet seen. He gripped the bulge in his underthings and moaned. “I’ve merely waited ages to breed you.”

“We’re really going to…”

“We are,” Carter promised. “Our recruit has passed inspection.”

A few tugs of the chemise from Denny, and Lydia was bare on the counterpane, her legs stretching before her and breaths coming faster as she imagined what was to come.

“Spread,” ordered Carter.

Parting her legs, Lydia set aside the few lessons she’d been taught as a gentlewoman in Meryton. She now had three officers and herself to satisfy, and she meant to enjoy every bit of this without morals best left to Mr. Collins interrupting her fun.

“Show us where you need our seed,” the major snapped.