Chapter Nine
“Set it right there.” Ellie pointed to the far side of the baby Neptune fountain.
Beacham put down the new telescope. “Did you wish it facing this way?” He pointed toward the path that continued through the gardens.
“Yes.” She couldn’t wait to try it. Setting her lantern down on the edge of the dry fountain, she moved to where Beacham stood, locking in the legs of the stand.
She still couldn’t believe Darius was so thoughtful as to gift it to her.
“I’ve never owned one so powerful.” She sighed, still overcome with her husband’s kindness.
At dinner that very evening, after a wonderful discussion over the subjects that should be taught to further the children’s education, he’d had a footman bring it in.
Though it had been wrapped in brown paper, she’d known immediately what it was and hopped up to press a kiss to her husband’s cheek.
But as she’d done so, his distinct musk scent filled her nostrils and her whole body flushed with a different type of excitement.
It had to be because of the book she’d been reading.
She was barely halfway through it and already her dreams had woken her more than once, her breathing rapid and her heart beating faster than butterfly wings.
“There you are, my lady.”
She refocused her attention on Beacham and held back a smile, as he’d set the telescope pointing at the ground. “I thank you for your assistance. I know I could have had a footman carry it for me, but I would have worried.”
“I understand. May I assist you with anything else?”
“No. Thank you. I’ll just need it brought into the parlor when I’m done.”
“I will await your summons, then.” Beacham gave a short bow before heading back the way they’d come.
It was early yet, and she anticipated at least a couple of hours before the night air grew too cold.
Luckily, winter was an excellent time for viewing stars, since it darkened so much earlier.
The night before she’d only kept the children out a half an hour.
It was just enough time to point out the easiest constellations to find.
But now, with such a strong telescope as Darius had purchased, she was quite sure she could even look upon Ceres!
Moving to the instrument, she tilted it into the right position and locked it in place.
She put her eye to it and looked. “Oh, my.” The stars appeared twice as large, and she moved her eye away to get her bearings in the night sky before looking through it once more.
Her heartbeat raced as she gazed upon the very distinct Pleiades.
With her new telescope, she could clearly see hundreds of other stars beyond the usual seven, as well as wisps of the space cloud that she’d read about around them.
The blue she’d seen in other telescopes was much stronger and brighter, making it easy finding the main stars as well as their parents, Atlas and Pleione.
She could even make out the white at the center of the largest stars, like Alcyone and Maia. “So beautiful.”
In fact, the beauty of the stars quite overwhelmed her and she pulled back from the telescope to blink back her tears.
“May I offer you my handkerchief?”
Startled, she jumped, her hand hitting the telescope and sending it toppling.
Darius jumped forward and kept it from crashing to the ground. “I did not mean to startle you. I thought you heard me when I stepped on that dry stick.”
She pressed her hand to her chest, her emotions swirling, as she tried to catch her breath.
“Whenever I view the heavens, I am there, not here, so I didn’t hear you.
” She paused to gulp in more air. “Thank you for saving the telescope. I would have been heartbroken had I damaged your thoughtful gift.”
“I would simply have had it repaired. Here.” He held out his handkerchief.
Grateful, she took it, and patted at her watery eyes.
Darius studied her. “Why were you crying? Is the telescope not working properly?” His frown was clear in the light from his own lantern.
“Oh, not at all. I mean, it works perfectly. I can see the stars better than I have ever seen them. While I have read about their beauty, this is my first glimpse of it. That is why I teared up. The Pleiades are so truly celestial.” She swallowed to keep from tearing up again.
“The Pleiades? The Seven Sisters from Greek mythology, as I recall.” He looked up at the sky. “Are they not visible in the Taurus constellation?”
Pleased that he was familiar with them, she pointed at the stars. “Yes. Just follow the line created by Orion’s Belt and you can see the star cluster.”
“I admit, that particular star grouping has always bothered me. It appears unorganized, almost like a smudge on the night sky.”
She was not surprised by his thoughts, as some of her own classmates had made similar remarks, though not quite in that way. “I understand, but I think if you see them through this telescope, you may change your mind. Would you like to see?”
His brows rose. “I suppose I can be open to an alternative view on this.”
She stepped back to allow him to look, anxious to see his reaction.
He bent and put one eye to the telescope. In less than a minute, his head snapped up. “That is truly the Pleiades?”
She nodded, excitedly. “Are they not beautiful?”
He looked up at the sky once more before putting his eye to the glass again. This time he remained there for many minutes.
She’d begun to wonder if he were trying to find the right words to disagree with her, when he lifted his head.
“I stand corrected. They are not a smudge. They are a stain.”
“What?” For some reason, she took umbrage at his conclusion.
His lips quirked up a bit. “A breathtakingly beautiful white stain that spreads a brilliant blue across the cold, dark black of the universe.”
As her mind comprehended his image, she returned his smile. “I do believe I agree.”
He stepped away from the telescope and closer to her. “They are much like you.”
“Me?” Her hand found her chest as she struggled with the idea of being any kind of stain, though she was quite sure her mother would enjoy such a metaphor about her.
“I do not pretend to be a poet, but I have noticed how your enthusiasm for life spreads to others, enveloping them in the warmth of your personality.”
“Oh, Darius.” No one had ever given her such an absolutely perfect and very personal compliment. Her heart swelled, not because it was a compliment, but because in their few days together, he’d paid her close attention and truly recognized who she was as a person.
With the back of his knuckles, he stroked her cheek, sending tingles to run along her skin. “I am grateful to you for marrying me. You have brought a warmth back to my home that it hasn’t seen in over a generation. We all feel it.”
Her eyes started to tear again because his appreciation was so sincere. “You don’t know what it means to me, to be here. I feel as if I have finally come home. It is I who is grateful.”
He stepped even closer, his hand on her face moving behind her head.
Her heartbeat turned sporadic, as she knew what that meant. She let her eyes drift closed and waited to feel his kiss on her lips, her whole body almost vibrating with anticipation.
“My wife.” His words whispered over her lips before she felt his own on her forehead.
She opened her eyes to see his head moving away.
Unable to help herself, she wrapped her hand around his neck, stopping his retreat, and lifted onto her toes to press her lips to his.
It was just a touch, but it filled her with happiness.
Letting ago, she could see his surprise in the dim light of her lantern and sought an apology for her bold actions, but couldn’t bring herself to form one.
She may be a maiden, but she was his wife. Surely women kissed their husbands.
He recovered quickly, and his hand once again came to her face, but this time he cupped her cheek. “Ellie.”
Her name on his lips caused her to sigh silently just before he pressed his mouth to hers.
Not expecting the kiss this time, she opened her mouth only to have his tongue slip between her lips.
Her knees weakened at his invasion, and she grabbed a hold of his arms to steady herself.
Then, before she could commit the feeling to memory, he pulled away.
“I did not mean to disturb your observations. I only wished to discover if you found my gift acceptable.”
Still off balance from his kiss, she couldn’t quite form the words, so she nodded.
“Very good. Then I will leave you to your stargazing.” With a brief nod, he turned and started down the path that would take him back to the house.
She stood frozen in place, heating from the inside as her mind swirled like a galaxy and her belly tumbled like a meteor crashing into a planet. She could still smell him—and taste him. The hint of brandy on his tongue as he’d touched hers made her want to taste more.
She stumbled to the fountain and sat, her legs far too unsteady.
What the book had shown and described didn’t begin to touch the feelings inside her.
Now she understood why such actions were usually completed in bed.
She couldn’t imagine standing up while he kissed her unless he held her to him, which he hadn’t.
He seemed completely confident in his kiss, but then again, why would he not?
He was her husband and would take her to bed very soon. Maybe even tonight!
The thought had her heart racing again, and she took in gulps of the cold night air.
She wanted to race back and ready herself for bed.
She rose on shaky legs, her gaze falling on the telescope, his gift to her.
She sat back down. No. It was far too early, and to return so soon might make him think she didn’t truly enjoy his gift.