The Secret Diary Of Lady Catherine Bexley (The Regency Diaries, #1)

By Viveka Portman

'...a quick, saucy read and one of the better erotica shorts that I've read thus far.' - Australian Bookshelf

In the vein of Portia Da Costa and Charlotte Featherstone, Regency England gets just a bit raunchy in this novella about a gently–raised lady who wants to feel like a woman…

“I have never seen fit in my life to divulge my secrets in a diary, yet now, after today's proceedings, I do…”

Lady Catherine Bexley is new to marriage and the marriage bed, but surely there must be more to it than this? Her husband is proper and perfunctory – treating her with careful respect but leaving her aching for more.

When she witnesses a gentleman disciplining a maid at a house party, the ache explodes into ravenous desire. She finds herself no longer willing to wait for her husband's stiff and passionless attentions – and soon develops a naughty plan to finally get what she wants.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Jul 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9780857990617

Viveka Portman

Viveka Portman is an author of romantic erotic fiction, and has a fascination about times past. With a bachelor degree in anthropology, Viveka weaves historical fact into fiction to create lively, realistic and thrilling tales, sure to titillate and engage the most discerning reader. Considered an upstanding member of society, Viveka does not make a habit of eavesdropping, gossiping or making vulgar displays of impropriety - except, that is, in writing.

Book preview

Thursday 24 June 1813

Kent, England

I have never seen fit in my life to divulge my secrets in a diary, yet now, after today’s proceedings, I do. You see, today was my wedding day, and the things that have happened have set a fire within me. I fear I am becoming wanton. It has been hours since my husband has left my rooms, yet still, sleep evades me. Explicit thoughts run merry through my mind and I am in deep need of respite.

It is, therefore, my most fervent hope that in purging my thoughts in this diary, I may at length, find the path to purity of thought once again.

Allow me to explain. Tonight, unsurprisingly, was the first time my husband has come upon me — yet even recalling the act causes an ache deep betwixt my thighs; and despite bathing, a dampness still soaks through my undergarments. Am I craven? Am I cursed with unchaste thoughts? I fear so.

Earlier this eve, I lay waiting in my bed, excitement and fear running through me. At nineteen, I have seen what a male dog does to a bitch, and once happened upon a stallion and mare. To my shame, I enjoy watching the mating. A filthy habit, but a habit none the less. On our first marital ride from Saint Mary’s Church to Bexley’s Hall, I glimpsed a dog with its bitch. The dog was pale yellow and shaggy haired, the other black and lean. In the full glory of sunlight, that male dog pummelled wildly into the bitch, and I stared as it did. A pleasing, but unsettling sensation grew between my legs. I realised then that my husband was watching me. Those cool eyes flickered from me to the dogs. I couldn’t help but wonder, would my Lord husband take me like a dog takes a bitch? Forgive me, but I hoped so, as it did look thrilling.

It was late this eve, when all formalities were done, the door to my rooms creaked open and my husband finally entered to take his conjugal rights.

As ever, he remained aloof and distant. ‘Good evening, my lady,’ he spoke.

‘Good evening, my lord,’ I whispered back, my breath catching in my chest. I wore only the white silk slip given to me by my mother for this very purpose. I sat up, allowing the blanket to fall and expose its neckline low upon my breast. Yet my lord did not gaze on me as I had expected.

I feel I must clarify: I had not met my husband prior to our wedding. My father had organised our union some months prior. Marriage is a duty, I realise, and one can only hope that affection and mutual understanding will develop in time. I do, however, know of my husband’s impressive reputation. He is the very model of masculine propriety, and though many years my senior, he is a handsome and honourable man.

‘Do you know what will happen within the marriage bed?’ he asked, his voice still soft.

My breath caught again, and I couldn’t answer.

He continued, ‘We shall consummate our marriage this night.’ His tone was solemn. ‘In this act I shall plant my seed within your womb and by the grace of God, sire a son upon you.’

‘Yes,’ I breathed. Sweat began to bead between the mounds of my bosom. I would discover the secrets of the marriage bed. The notion thrilled me and scared me in equal measure.

Whether my husband took my deep inhalation for fear, I can only suppose, as his voice became even gentler, and he began to instruct me as a governess may instruct a simple child.

‘Remove the blanket and lift your skirts,’ he said, still standing before my bed.

With a hand that trembled only slightly I pulled back the covers. My nightdress had already ridden up over my knees and I wrestled with it a little higher then stopped, believing it to be sufficient.

‘I’ll need it higher than that,’ he said gently. His hand loosened the knot in the belt of his dressing gown and it fell open. He was naked. I had never seen a naked man until that moment. My husband’s body was truly fine of form, well kept for his age of forty-eight. My gaze slunk lower down the plains of his chest, smattered with dark hair, down his stomach to the thing that jutted eagerly from betwixt his thighs. Such a thing I have never seen. It seemed eager for me, frighteningly so. The dogs I had seen had small pink things, nothing like what my husband possessed in his breeches. His was thick and rigid. Was he was going to put it in me? I confess I felt great fear then. My hands froze on my nightdress.

‘Pull up your skirt above your waist,’ he repeated, his tone a little less gentle and significantly more embarrassed. I hurried to obey. His hand stroked his own length and I heard him suck the air through his teeth and throw back his head.

My skirt was now wrenched high over my waist, leaving me naked as a babe on the bed. My husband shrugged off his dressing gown and it pooled on the floor, the flickering candles making the fabric look alive as it fell.

I shivered.

He stared at me with his flat dark eyes, then stalked over to my dresser, where a pot

Reviews for The Secret Diary Of Lady Catherine Bexley (The Regency Diaries, #1)

[bettysunflower · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is well written, short and rather sexy. Lady Catherine is nineteen years old and has married a man that is in his late forties. He had a rather rakish father and has sworn not to be like him. Unfortunately his new wife finds a lot of sexual frustration being married to an older man who wishes to treat her as his lady wife rather than a lover. Catherine has a lot to learn and a hard road to travel to get her fondest wish.

[arthistorychick · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Secret Diary of Lady Catherine Bexley by Viveka PortmanSource: ARC from Netgally/Escape PublishingRating: 5/5 starsLady Catherine Bexley has a problem; her handsome new husband can’t seem to please her sexually. Though she is certainly a lady and irreproachable in her breeding, grace, and manners, even Catherine, at just nineteen years old, understands that what happened with her husband on her wedding night was far, far from satisfying. Furthermore, Lady Catherine is bound and determined that she will not under any circumstances allow her husband to live under the delusion that his perfunctory ministrations are going to cut it.Lord Joseph Bexley has a problem; his new wife is astoundingly beautiful, young, and lusty and he wants nothing more than to take her in every way imaginable but that would defy his life-long vow to never, ever become like his philandering, scoundrel of a father. Joseph is obsessed with always treating his wife like the lady she is even if it means never giving in to his desires for her. Unfortunately for the good Lord Bexley (and fortunately for Catherine!), everyone has a different opinion on the matter.After stumbling across an illicit rendezvous at a party, Catherine determines she not only wants to heat up her nights but she wants to experiment with her husband as well. Catherine begins to hatch a plan to seduce her husband in the pages of her diary and as she notes all the naughty she wants to try in the pages of her dear diary, she also struggles with maintaining her ladylike appearances with her husband. Above all else, Catherine doesn’t want to displease and/or disappoint her husband in her efforts to please them both sexually. Fortunately for both Lady and Lord Bexley (and the reader!) an unforeseen and completely inappropriate event breaks down the walls between them and the sexcapades can begin. The Bottom Line: I am thrilled to have Viveka Portman and her brand of naughty coming out on the market. The Secret Diary satisfies my love of both naughty novellas and period pieces and contains two characters I was instantly interested in. Catherine is sweet, sexy and ladylike and I love her diary entries; she is completely unashamed of her desires though has to find a way to satisfy those desires within her time and place. Lord Bexley initially comes off as a bit cold but once you know more about his background and the reasons for his standoffishness, he grows on you. When he finally decides to let loose, he wraps you around his little finger While the story is completely wrapped up and there is no cliffhanger, I am hoping The Secret Diary of Lady Catherine Bexley is just the first in a long series of regency romances by Viveka Portman.