Chapter Three #2
His head snapped up at her question. “No. I am…distracted.”
That was obvious. “Is it anything I can help with?”
“No.” Again the word came out far too quickly. Darius stood, his napkin in his hand. “I will not be about for a few days. I have business to attend to. I apologize that I cannot stay to help you settle in, but I know that you’re very capable.”
Not a little surprised by the sudden announcement, she set down her fork. “Would you like me to accompany you?”
“No. No, I want you to be here for the children. You will do that for me?” He squeezed his napkin, and there was a slight hint of desperation in his voice.
Truly worried now, she rose as well. “Of course. I will be with them every day. I promise.” She started to walk toward him, to touch him and offer comfort. Whatever it was must be serious.
“Thank you.” He looked at the napkin in his hand and threw it on the table before striding out of the room.
She halted, stymied by his behavior. Then she moved closer to his plate.
Nothing had been touched. Truly worried now, she contemplated going to his rooms. She was his wife, after all.
She would have, had it been anyone but Darius.
It was his formality that stopped her. Perhaps if they’d been married for a month or even a fortnight, she would.
Whatever it was, he wouldn’t solve it on an empty stomach. If he would be traveling on the morrow, he needed to eat. She waved over a footman. “Bring this up to his lordship’s rooms.”
“Yes, my lady.” Immediately, the man took the plate and wine glass to the sideboard and placed them on a tray before walking out of the room with them.
Surprised the man hadn’t argued with her, she turned back to her end of the table and sat. Though her own appetite had fled, she forced herself to eat. Worrying on an empty stomach was never a good occurrence. She’d done all she could…for now.
Slowly, she ate her meal. Though she wasn’t as enthusiastic about it as she’d been before Darius left, she still appreciated the flavors the cook had brought out in the roasted duck.
She looked forward to talking with her, in addition to Mrs. Torbett.
With Darius gone for a few days, it gave her the chance to truly become the lady of the house.
There were a few changes she wished to make.
The first was to either acquire a smaller table or have the places set next to each other.
She would not have another conversation over dinner from so far away.
Though to be fair, it hadn’t been much of a conversation.
Darius’s worry had taken over. She should have noticed that right away, but she’d been too excited about talking about butterflies. How frivolous.
After taking a final sip of wine, she set her glass down and rose, ready to make her first change. She waved over the footman who had served her. “I will take my tea in the drawing room an hour from now.”
Not waiting for his response, if he had one, she strode out of the dining room, through the drawing room, and to the front door where her cloak was hung.
The butler, a Mr. Beacham, appeared. “My lady. May I be of service?”
“Yes, you may, Beacham. Please assist me with my cloak.”
“Your cloak, my lady?”
“Yes, I’m going for a walk in the garden…without a footman.”
“Of course, my lady.” He lifted the garment from the rack and held it out for her. “I will have the footmen light the lanterns on the terrace.”
She fastened the top buttons. “No. No lanterns. The moon is at three-quarters and will be quite bright enough as it is.”
“Are you certain? You might trip on a step or over a stone. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”
She turned around and faced the butler. “Beacham, I’m not a child.
I can walk in the moonlight without hurting myself.
And so it’s not a surprise to you or the staff, I will walk outside every night, but not at the same time every night.
However, I wish no lanterns to be lit when I do venture forth, is that understood? ”
“Yes, my lady.”
Pleased that she’d made her first official edict in her new home, she gave the butler a smile. “Not to worry, Beacham. I only go to gaze at the stars.” With that, she turned back to the drawing room and strode across it, motioning for the footman to open the doors to the terrace.
The man jumped to do her bidding, and she walked onto the stone terrace and down the steps into the dormant garden.
She stopped for a moment to determine her route, as three pathways led from the half-circle before her.
Choosing the pathway to the right, as she’d already explored the one straight ahead, she started forward, anxious to get as far from the lights of the house as possible.
The air was crisp, and she pulled her cloak closer about her.
The light from the moon was far brighter than she’d hoped.
Though it made it easier to see the path, it would obscure the stars appearing closer to it.
She focused on the ground and shrubs around her until she came upon a dry fountain.
It looked to have a number of stone fish around it that would allow water to flow into the basin, while at the center was what appeared to be a cherub sitting on a dais.
Now where did the water flow from him? It was impossible to tell in the moonlight.
She walked around the fountain before sitting on its stone edge next to a fish and looking up into the night sky.
She’d chosen the eastern side of the fountain as that put the moon behind her.
As she searched the stars, her gaze immediately landed on the Pleiades.
The cluster of stars usually called the Seven Sisters made her think of the Curious Ladies who had already married.
Had their transitions from being classmates to having a husband for company been similar?
But she knew it not to be true. Elsbeth, Dory, and Lissa had all married for love. She’d married to avoid another Season of men twice her age and possible spinsterhood. Still, it didn’t mean that love couldn’t come.
She moved her gaze from the Pleiades, which were particularly bright in winter. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was in the Pisces constellation, along with her son Eros. She searched the sky for the elusive goddess of love, but it was too close to the moon and not visible.
She needed one of her telescopes. She had the very latest refraction lenses and multiple sizes. She’d love to have a spot away from the house where she could set up her largest one for stargazing…in the springtime.
The cold was starting to seep through her cloak and dress, causing her behind to get chilled.
She rubbed her hands together to warm them up before rising.
Maybe she could come out on the next sunny day and truly explore.
If she found a good place, she could talk to Darius about having a small platform built, and maybe a wooden bench.
She kept her eyes on the sky and turned full circle.
If she couldn’t find Aphrodite, maybe she could find Venus.
Squinting against the moon’s light, she looked to the west. “Hah! Found you.” She smiled, as the planet was quite bright, letting all the world, or rather the northern hemisphere, know that love was out tonight.
That just proved that love was still possible in her marriage.
Happy with her discovery, she stepped forward and banged her knee against the fountain.
“Ow.” She rubbed the sore spot. Her mother, Lady Dulac, always complained she had her head in the clouds and needed to watch where she walked.
But she didn’t have her head in the clouds.
She had it in the stars, which was far more impressive in her estimation.
Once the initial pain had lessened, she headed back the way she came. Since Darius would be gone for a few days, she’d be sure to dress warmer, bring a telescope, and come out much longer, but right now, her after-dinner tea was calling her.
Even as she stepped back onto the terrace, she imagined a warm fire to stand before, as her fingers were turning quite numb. Quickly, she moved to the French doors and pulled one open. Warmth hit her cheeks, causing them to sting a little.
As the footman closed the door behind her, Beacham came into the room. “My lady, you look frozen. Allow me.”
He took her cloak, and she moved to stand in front of the fire, holding her hands out to the heat.
Beacham returned within a moment. “My lady, I know you have just returned, but I received a request for your presence.”
She turned around, silently wishing she could lift her skirts and warm her backside. “Mine?”
“Yes. Lady Margaret wished for you to say goodnight if you weren’t otherwise occupied. I can tell her that you are just now having your tea.”
Her heart filled with contentment. To be wanted by the child made any doubts about marrying float away.
Besides, Darius had asked her to see to the children while he was gone, and though he wouldn’t leave until the morrow, that Maggie had asked for her specifically had her anxious to fulfill her promise.
“No, my tea can wait. I will go up and see her immediately.”
Beacham stepped back. “I will have a new pot ready for you then.”
“Thank you.” She strode out of the room and up the stairs. Not only had she issued her first edict as lady of the house today, but now she would fulfill her first request as a mother. Marrying Darius had been the best decision of her life.