Chapter Six
Darius left his study and headed down the corridor to break his fast. Surely his wife would be up by now. They had a lot to discuss after his ten-day absence, and he was anxious to move forward with securing his legacy.
It had been remiss of him to not consummate their marriage immediately, but he hadn’t expected to fall into a black mood so soon.
He’d risen to a state of panic more than once over the past days at the thought of his wife requesting an annulment.
Then he’d been sure she thought him odd or not interested in women or even sex.
Nothing could be farther from the truth, but he had to broach the subject delicately.
He just hoped she wasn’t as timid as his last wife. Though some of his late wife’s reluctance occurred after she’d discovered his reason for leaving suddenly. While she never learned whence he’d gone, she’d not been anxious to be bedded by a “madman,” as she called him.
His step slowed at the thought. Memories of Dinah in bed, refusing to engage in any of the joy that could be experienced, had left him cold until he realized that was her intent.
With him more determined than ever, every coupling had become a battle of wills, but he had much more to lose by not having an heir, and he made her feel the thrill of sex, whether she wished to or not.
Sometimes he wondered if Peter was born too soon because Dinah didn’t wish him to live, but he resolutely dismissed that.
After all, if Peter hadn’t lived, then there would be even more coupling.
Stepping into the parlor, he scanned the area for signs Eleanor was up and about, but saw none.
He strode into the dining room and took a seat at the head of the table as a footman served him coffee.
The place setting to his left was a change that must have been made by his new wife.
He would wait, albeit not patiently, for her to join him…
unless she’d decided to eat in her rooms.
Taking a sip, he contemplated his options, quickly determining that he should discover if she’d already broken her fast. About to call over a footman, he opened his mouth only to close it again on the chance the rustling skirts he heard in the corridor belonged to his wife.
He listened to the rapid tread, which was far from ladylike, but he had noticed she tended toward a more brisk form of movement, much to the detriment of items nearby.
Within moments, his wait was rewarded as his wife strode through the parlor door in a flurry of blue skirts—complete with green shawl. It was an unusual color combination. He stood as she entered the dining room. “My lady.”
“Oh, Darius. It’s so wonderful to see you. When I heard you’d arrived, I couldn’t wait another moment to see if your trip was successful and you were in good health.” She strode up to him and took his hands. “Let me gaze upon you for but a moment, relief in my heart.”
A little surprised by the warm greeting, he held her hands just as tightly, not unaware of the unusual scent she exuded.
He’d noticed it at the church, the last time they were so close, and it made him think of citrus, but it wasn’t orange or lemon.
“It is a pleasure to see you looking healthy. You do appear to be fairly glowing, Lady Ferncroft.”
She shook her head as if to dismiss his compliment. “If I glow, it is because of your safe return. And we did agree to call each other by our given names, remember?” She squeezed his hands a bit harder, then rose up and kissed him on the cheek before letting go and stepping back.
He tensed, as it looked as if she’d bump into the chair held out by the footman, but luckily the kind fellow pulled it back another foot and no mishap occurred. “Please.” Darius opened his hand toward the chair. “Do join me. I would like to hear all that has occurred in my absence.”
As she took her seat, he gave the footman a grateful smile. The man reacted by standing even straighter now that Lady Ferncroft was safely seated.
“I’m happy to tell you all, but first you must relieve my mind. Did your business end successfully?” Ellie lifted her brows with her inquiry.
He resumed his own seat. “It did indeed. I appreciate your kind patience in starting our marital life together. Unfortunately, I am often called away suddenly, but I promise to always return so that I may enjoy my days here with you and my children.” The lie did not sit well with him, but his experience with Dinah kept him from changing it.
“Truly? That is most wonderful to hear. Mayhap I can accompany you on occasion. I wouldn’t be in the way, as I’m quite adept at keeping myself entertained.
” She paused as the footmen poured hot cocoa into a cup for her.
“While my embroidery is not quite on par with my mother’s, I do enjoy reading, shopping, and studying the night sky.
Oh, I do hope it’s acceptable that I promised the children a nighttime excursion into the garden tomorrow evening to give them their first lesson on the universe, beyond the mythological one that I covered a few days ago while we were out by the fish fountain. No, I mean the baby Neptune fountain.”
He set down his coffee cup and relaxed as she moved away from the topic of accompanying him and addressed the latter part of her statements. “Peter and Maggie went outside? In this cold?”
“We all bundled up quite warmly and stayed out for a very short time. Just enough for a lesson, an encounter with a beetle, and to share that we will be having a lovely Christmastide this year.” She patted his hand where it lay on the table near his cup as if to reassure him.
Normally, he would not enjoy such mothering, but if her instincts were so kind and visited upon his children, he would not discourage it.
Not when she spoke about bringing back a tradition he had fully participated in as a youth.
“Christmastide… It has been a long time since I took part in such festivities. Do you have great plans for Hawthorne Park, then?”
She clapped her hands together. “I have so many, and I’m pleased that you do not mind.
Mrs. Torbett wanted to be sure that you approved.
She’s such a capable housekeeper and very loyal to you and the children.
I simply adore her.” She lifted her cup and was about to take a sip when her stomach made a noise.
Immediately, his wife’s face turned a bright red, and she hid some of it from his gaze with her cup.
Realizing that she must be hungry, he rose.
“I’m anxious to hear all your plans, but first I think it best if we have some sustenance.
Allow me to get you a plate.” Even as he strode toward the sideboard, he tried to remember what she’d eaten when his parents had been with them the morning after they married.
Since he’d been curious about his wife since the moment he met her at the church, he’d observed her more than might be usual for a new husband.
He filled a dish with items he was certain she liked, then added a couple that he liked to see where she stood on them.
After piling a dish with poached eggs, rashers, and honey cakes for himself, he returned to the table and set her dish down before her. “I hope most of this is to your taste.”
“Darius, you are so thoughtful. All of this is exactly what I would have chosen.”
He set his own plate down then resumed his seat. “Truly? All of it? Even the kippers and honey cakes?
She studied his plate for a moment before grinning. “Yes, especially the honey cakes. I see you enjoy them too. It is fortuitous that we have some things in common. And I know something else we have in common.”
Pleased by her astuteness, he raised his right eyebrow. “And what is that?”
“Your children.” She actually sighed and raised her hand to her chest. “I cannot truly express how grateful I am to you for bringing them into my care. I dearly love them both.”
He couldn’t quite believe his luck, even though it had been he who had requested a woman who would be a mother to his children when he sent Anthony in search of one.
“They must be behaving very well for you to be enamored so soon. To be fair, I must be honest and admit they are not always so well behaved.”
Eleanor laughed, a loud though not unpleasant sound that seemed to fill the room.
“I wouldn’t say they have been on their best behavior.
No, they have been acting like children, and I absolutely adore it.
I don’t wish them to be formal with me any more than I wish you to be.
” Her smile left her and her mood seemed to shift even as she lifted a honey cake.
“I know what it is to grow up in a formal household. It was not to my liking, and was one of the reasons I was anxious to attend the Belinda School for Curious Ladies. Everyone knows the Duchess of Northwick, who was a Mabry, grew up in a rather unusual home, and it was one I envied when I was younger. So when she opened the school, I begged my mother to allow me to attend. It was just as I had hoped.” Her smile was back before she took a large bite.
Despite her improved disposition, he didn’t like that she’d been uncomfortable in her youth and resolved to try to be less formal.
He was grateful to her for not only marrying him, but for adoring his children.
“Then I must confess to you that while my upbringing was less formal, as I studied and trained to take over my duties here, I have practiced formality in all areas. So I will ask you to help me be less formal when the situation allows for it.”
Once again, she reached for his hand that held his fork, but instead of patting it, she grasped it, fork and all. “Darius, I would be honored to do so. Perhaps then you could start by calling me Ellie.”
“Ellie.” It felt strange to say it.