Chapter 25
Isabel resisted the urge to roll her eyes when she walked into the library to find her cat exactly where she expected. Pearl had curled up into the fluffiest little ball in the lap of her husband.
“Would you believe me if I said I didn’t even pick her up?” Sebastian gave her a reluctant smile when he looked up.
Seated at the edge of the sofa, he had one leg up on the small table. Beside him was a closed book and then another table, also small but tall to allow for a chess set. He was fiddling with it with one hand as the other was buried in the cat’s fur.
“Yes, I believe I would. She likes you.”
“As she likes you,” he reassured her. “I just have a large lap.”
Her lips twitched into a smile as well. “One that is surely comfortable and warm as well.” Cheeks heating up, Isabel glanced away and cleared her throat. “You can always set her down.”
“I do that a lot and feel bad. But it’s late.” He grew serious and nodded. “I know you like to take her to bed. Here, allow me.”
“No, wait.” Isabel’s heart softened. As her husband was only trying to be nice to her pet, she could understand that, and one look told her how comfortable Pearl was now.
Her purring could be heard across the room.
Still Isabel crept closer, moving quietly as to not disturb the creature.
Pearl was such a precious little thing. Her only fault was preferring early mornings and Sebastian’s lap over her own.
“I can sleep without her for a night. She’s too sweet to disturb. ”
A short chuckle escaped Sebastian. “I’m not staying here all night.”
“But you can’t wake her up!” Isabel hissed quietly with a pout. “Just look at her. She’s so content.”
“She is,” he conceded. Sebastian glanced at her and then away for a moment before suggesting, “Perhaps then you can keep me company until she awakens?”
Isabel was tired after a long day and long supper with Thomas. It would be nice to curl up in her bed early. Except… Her gaze shifted away from Pearl up to Sebastian and then to the side table. Nodding to herself, she pulled over a chair to be closer.
“A game of chess,” she decided brightly. “Black or white?”
A mark of hesitation washed over him before he admitted, “I’m not particularly good at this game.”
“Then it’s a perfect opportunity to learn, don’t you think?” Isabel said while setting up the board. A few pieces had been arranged incorrectly, so she took care of fixing that before offering him white.
And then she hesitated, uncertain of what might happen next.
What am I doing? It isn’t as though playing a game of chess will endear me to Sebastian.
How our marriage works, I can hardly comprehend.
And yet… I don’t want to leave. It doesn’t make sense why I want to be in his company when our relationship is unclear, but…
we are friends, are we not? It’s just a game between friends.
The first game didn’t take too long as she found Sebastian to be correct: he wasn’t very good at chess. She corrected him more than once about the different options per piece on the board. And when she was one move away from check mate, he didn’t even seem to notice.
“I never had much patience for sitting games,” he said in way of an apology.
Shaking her head, Isabel chuckled and shifted the blanket she’d set on her lap halfway through the match. “You played a fair game. And I’m sure I can imagine you preferred to be on your feet.”
“Always.” Sebastian hesitated but eventually put his pieces back correctly. “You play well.”
“Thank you. Would you be willing to try another match?”
He raised an eyebrow. “So you wish to destroy the rest of my confidence? Very well. Will you at least permit me to start again?”
“Only if you think you need the help,” she teased.
With that, Sebastian let out a sound that came off much more like a snort. Then he carefully turned the board to offer her white. She couldn’t resist a short giggle. Covering her mouth with her hand, she looked up to meet Sebastian’s playful expression.
It was practically a smile. A slight one, but definitely a smile. The sight warmed her heart. How attractive the man was no matter what he did or where she seemed to find him.
If only…
Brushing off her quiet desires, she nodded. “I would like that very much, Sebastian. And don’t you worry, I’ll be certain to play easy for you.”
“Not too easy, I hope. I’m not that awful, am I?”
“You could be better.”
“And worse.”
They met each other’s gazes and smiled. Reaching out to move a piece, she didn’t look too closely. Her hand brushed against his before he could pull away. Inhaling sharply, Isabel jerked back at the warmth.
“Pardon me,” she murmured.
“Worry not. You should focus on trying to beat me,” he pointed out even while making a terrible move with his knight.
Sebastian paused, still holding the piece, and moved it back after gauging her expression. Looking up at him, she raised an eyebrow to give a slight nod with his next move with a pawn.
“Very impressive move,” she said with a playful wink.
“I learn from the best,” he responded graciously.
Wishing she could wash off the blush from her cheeks, Isabel gave a shake of her head. She made her next move a moment later. The two of them continued their game even when Pearl woke and moved onto Isabel’s shoulder, allowing them time to tease and play the game.
Isabel didn’t try to win, but it was too easy.
“I’m sorry,” she said with a giggle. Sebastian was leaning forward to scowl at the chess set like it had made him fail. “I can try to let you win next time?”
“And let you crush me a third time? No, thank you.” He leaned back and moved to his feet before putting out a hand to her. “Besides, the hour is late and you’ve yawned twice.”
Isabel wrinkled her nose. “I was hoping you hadn’t noticed.”
He pulled her up gently as she had Pearl in one arm. “I notice everything. Shall I walk you to your room?”
“Yes, thank you.” As they made their way from the library down the hall, an idea came to her. “Perhaps another game. What is something you would have a chance at winning? Besides boxing, of course. I don’t think I know how to hit anything and I’m not certain I wish to learn.”
“Nor would I be willing to box you,” Sebastian told her sternly. He thought about it for a moment. “It is a fine notion. Perhaps a more even game for us. What about a race?”
“Running?”
A chortle escaped him, his body rumbling beside hers. “I was thinking more along the lines of horse riding.”
“Oh! I would like that very much,” Isabel told him cheerfully. They reached her door, and she grasped it while leaning against it to gaze at him. “Thank you for tonight, Sebastian. And for allowing Thomas to join us for supper. It was… nice.”
His face was in shadow even with a candle in his free hand. It made her wish she could better see his face. But she saw his nod and hoped that was enough. “Your wish is my command. Good night, Isabel.”
Retiring that night, she thought cheerfully about her evening with Sebastian. It had gone well. They had enjoyed some time together and that gave her hope for them. Maybe she could tell Thomas about it tomorrow to prove that her union did work. At least a little.
The following morning, Isabel took an early breakfast before dressing in her riding habit. She had her gloves and hat on by the time she made her way to the stables to find Sebastian saddling a horse.
“Good morning,” he greeted her, his gaze lingering on her from head to toe. “I’m glad to see you remembered.”
“What makes you think I would forget? I promised to give you the chance to win at something. But of course there are no guarantees,” she added lightly.
His lips twitched in amusement. “I would expect nothing less. Will you be warm enough for our ride?”
Nodding, she glanced out toward the shining sun. Her heart beat cheerfully in anticipation of the morning ride. It had been a while since she had enjoyed herself in the saddle and she was excited to make that change.
Isabel reassured him, “I have my wool layers that should do well. Will this be your steed this morning?”
“No, Lacey is here for you.” He patted the horse’s neck, a shiny white and black dappled creature, before smiling at her. “She’s a fine rider but prefers a lighter load to me. I rather thought you might like to call her yours.”
“Oh, I couldn’t.”
“What is mine is yours in marriage,” Sebastian pointed out. “Besides, you didn’t have one of your own. I should have considered that beforehand.”
Isabel gave a shake of her head before carefully coming forward to meet the horse.
Tall and well-built, Lacey was a fine horse.
She huffed lightly in her face before nudging her shoulder in greeting.
As Isabel carefully explored the creature’s face, she told her husband, “I managed without a horse through the summer. I could do it longer if needed.”
“But you don’t need to,” he said simply as if it were no matter. “Are you ready, Isabel? I can hoist you up now.”
“Hoist? Where are we? On a boat?”
“On an adventure,” Sebastian responded cheerfully as he moved forward. There was a larger horse, all gray, already readied and standing half in shadow; she had seen him ride the creature before, a great big beast who could handle his weight. “Shall we?”
Isabel nodded. “Very well.”
Any assumptions that he might lead her to a step dissipated as he moved forward, wrapping his hands around her waist. Isabel startled. She nearly toppled right over as her breath caught.
And then he was lifting her through the air like she was nought but a doll. It was a surprising sensation of flying before Isabel remembered herself and hastily caught hold of the saddle, grasping the pommel as her leg went over the side.
She landed and Sebastian didn’t move. “Are you settled? Secure?”
“I… I think so.”
“I can wait.”