Thaiter was still at the pub drinking to Lanigan's life and passing. Lucan had put the boys to bed and was sitting at the kitchen table wishing he was a drinker. Maybe if he went and got drunk, he could stop thinking about Lillian. The kettle boiled. He poured it into the bath water so he could wash himself.

Stripping off, Lucan lay back in the tepid water. He lathered himself with soap, washed his hair and rinsed by tipping a bucket of cold water over his head. He stepped out of the tub, wrapped a towel around his hips, and then heard a light tap on the door.

"Lucan." Lillian pushed it opened and gasped when she saw him standing there dripping wet but she didn't look away. "Sorry, I've come at a bad time."

Lucan's first thoughts were this was only the second time she had come to his house and the first time she had stepped inside. He had always called on her either at the school or at Missus Blake's where she had a room though he'd never been allowed inside.

"Can we talk?" she asked.

He thought he should go and get some clothes on but decided not to. It was his house and if she wanted him, she was going to have to accept him like he was so he pulled a chair out and sat down without offering her one. "Yeah."

Lillian looked around the room. "Has everyone else gone to sleep?"

"The lads are. Thaiter's down the pub."

She nodded, sat down opposite him and smiled nervously. "I know you have the right to be angry with me, Lucan, and you're correct I didn't want to be seen with you today."

He looked sternly at her. "Why?"

"Well, you all looked untidy. I was ashamed to think you'd go to a funeral dressed like you were."

"Why is it always about the way I look?" Lucan sighed and ground his teeth. "How did I look any different from any other miner who works in this town?"

"Your clothes weren't ironed."

He sneered. "In case you hadn't noticed, Lillian, I'm not a woman. I don't have a wife to cook and clean, wash and iron for me and I can't afford a housemaid. I don't even have an iron so I'm sorry I don't live up to your expectations." He paused. "Is that all you came to tell me because I'd like to go to bed."

"I'm sorry that makes you angry but I'm trying to be honest. Why didn't you ask me or Missus Scott to iron your shirt?"

"Missus Scott has enough to do without me givin' her more and why couldn't you have offered if it bothers you so much. We've argued over this before."

"Yes, I'm sorry I should have offered. I don't know why I didn't." She hung her head. "Maybe you wouldn't like me butting in like that. Maybe you'd think I was trying to push my ways onto you." Lillian lifted her head.

Lucan saw a tear tickle down her cheek. He rubbed his hands down his face. Tears always weakened him but he wanted to play this out so he didn't move or say anything.

"I don't want to fight," she whispered. "I don't want you to think you're wasting your time on me. I'm sorry I'm the way I am. I just have high expectations." She drew in a breath of air to try and stem the flow of her tears.

Lucan felt his resolve weakening. "You have ta accept me the way I am, Lillian."

She nodded, gasped back more tears. "But shouldn't we compromise... meet half way."

"Yeah, we should but I can't be someone I'm not."

"I'm not trying to do that to you."

"What is it you're trying to do?" he asked.

"Just neaten you up." She gasped back a sob.

"I won't slick my hair with oil and I won't wear a suit in this heat and I won't be a hypocrite and go to church when I don't believe."

"I just want you to have clean ironed clothes," Lillian pleaded.

"If that's what you want, you'll have to teach me how to iron or come and do it for me then."

Lillian nodded and tried to smile, she wiped tears away with her fingers.

Seeing her in so much misery, Lucan felt his resolve crumble. He pushed his chair back and held his hand out to her to see if she would come to him.

She stood in front of him and smiled as she said, "Are you going to get dressed?"

"No." Lucan concentrated on her eyes then grabbed her by the hand and pulled her onto his lap. He didn't touch her in any other way. He wanted to see what she would do and knew his behaviour was confusing her but he was sick of the ups and downs. He wanted her to work for him.

Drying her eyes, Lillian touched his face tentatively. She placed her palm against his cheek and looked into his eyes. "I don't want you to be angry with me."

He kept his hands still. "I'll try not to be."

"I'm sorry." She kissed him lightly on the lips.

Lucan wanted to touch her, wanted to kiss her but was determined to make her do the work.

She looked at him anxiously, tried to read his face, and then kissed him again. Lillian moved her lips on his.

Lucan couldn't hold off any longer, he touched her lightly on the back and returned her kiss.

Pulling her mouth away, Lillian murmured, "Do you forgive me?"

"Not yet."

She smiled and put her hand on his bare chest, sighed at the sight of him and moved her hand to his shoulder and into his wet hair. "You really should get some clothes on."

He cocked his head to one side and raised his eyebrows. "I don't have anything that's clean and ironed."

Lillian laughed and ran her fingers down his chest and on to touch his bicep. She followed her hands movement with her eyes and leaned in to kiss him again.

He took hold of her face with both of his hands and kissed her in return. As she moved her fingers over his body again, Lucan was sure she knew what she was doing so he lifted her and carried her into the bedroom he shared with Thaiter. He lay beside her on the bed and waited to see what she would do or say.

Pushing his towel opened, Lillian kissed him and ran her palm over his back and onto his backside.

He tensed at the feel of her fingers on his skin and sighed. Lucan raised himself to allow his now hard penis to sit more comfortably against her.

Lillian took it in her hand.

Groaning at her touch, Lucan shifted his body higher and gasped. "Move your hand, Lillian. Move it up and down."

She did as she was told and searched for his mouth with hers.

Lucan hoped she wouldn't stop. It had been so long since a woman had touched him. Sensations rushed through his body. He didn't want to stain her dress so he grabbed the towel from under him and pushed it to cover her. The movement took his mind away from the feelings that engulfed him so he kissed her again as she continued to move her hand up and down. He felt the surge as his penis pulsated. Lucan gasped loudly for air as he ejaculated. He sighed and nestled his face in her neck.

"What is this on my hand?" she whispered.

Lucan lifted his head to look at her face, and saw genuine surprise. "It's my seed. If I was inside of you, it's what makes a woman with child." He looked down at her hand. "I'm sorry, wipe it on the towel. You'll need to wash your hand later." He ran his fingers continually through Lillian's hair as she lay quietly beside him. "I've forgiven you," he whispered.

She smiled and turned to look at him. "So, the stiffness goes away once you've done that?"

"Yeah... until next time," Lucan said with a smile.

"And you feel better now?" Lillian bit her lip and added, "More comfortable."

He chuckled and kissed her on the lips. "Yes... until next time."

"How long will it be until next time?"

Lucan kissed her and chuckled some more. "If we keep laying here and you touch me again maybe ten minutes."

"Oh, and if it had been different?" she gasped. "If you had been inside of me how long then?"

He touched her face, ran his hand over her neck and onto the bodice of her dress. Lucan stroked her breasts through the fabric. "Ten minutes."

Lillian smiled, kissed him and caressed him again. She gasped as she felt him grow in her palm. "It hasn't been ten minutes yet."

"No it hasn't." Lucan chuckled.

Lillian smiled and continued her hands movements.

Lucan's body tensed as he felt his penis extend. He sighed against her mouth. "Ah... Lillian..." He had forgiven her all right. Lucan wondered why he hadn't been firmer with her attitude towards him before, if this was the result. He unbuttoned her blouse. Her pink nipple was visible through the shear fabric of her chemise. He fondled her breast with his fingers. The sound of her gasp drove him mad. He pulled her skirt up, found the top of her drawers and pushed his hand inside to cup her backside.

She released his penis. "No, Lucan!"

He didn't want her to stop so begged, "I want to take you, Lillian."

"No... I won't do that... please."

Lucan knew he'd do anything for her so long as she didn't stop. He pulled his hand away and pushed hers down to touch him again. "Don't stop," he whispered. Lucan sighed heavily as she continued to caress him. He lasted longer and groaned louder as he throbbed in her palm.

He lay on his back grinning at the ceiling.

Lillian snuggled up against him. "Lucan... I've been waiting for you to ask me again."

He sucked in a breath of air and turned to face her. "You want me ta ask you to marry me again?"

A strange look spread across her face, panic and anxiety mixed with shock. "I wouldn't have done this if you weren't going to. You are going to?"

He studied her anxious face and knew after what she'd just done, he didn't have a choice so said, "Is it what you want, Lillian? Do you want me to be your husband?"

"Yes... I thought I just proved that."

Lucan sighed and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Yes, I guess you did." He paused. "I don't have a ring for you."

Lillian kissed him fully. "We can get one later on when we make the announcement."

He frowned. "So, we're not telling anyone yet?"

"No, silly. I think Christmas would be a good time. Then it won't seem rushed and give people the wrong idea."

Oh... Lucan.  I'm not sure she's the right girl for you.

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