Chapter Three #2
“What I want isn’t relevant anymore. The die’s been cast, and this is the reality of the situation.
We can either marry and weather the small gossip that will undoubtedly be written about us over the next few weeks, or we could separate.
However, your name will be dragged through the mud.
An unmarried young lady in a gaming hell?
Particularly the Lyon’s Den?” He shook his head.
“You’ll be cast out of society, and your sister will not fare much better. ”
Louisa only stared at him, horrified at the truth he spoke. What had she done in coming here?
“But… We don’t even know one another.”
“Then I suppose we should get to know each other,” he said firmly. “Because I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do to undo this. But I can assure you that we can make the best of it.”
She tilted her head.
“How so?”
“We will be coconspirators, I suppose. I’ll help you with your sister, and you’ll help me.”
“How will I help you?”
“By showing the world that I’m not a broken-down soldier who can’t hear when someone is coming up behind me,” he said with a sad smirk. “I’ve garnered a reputation for being hostile in polite company, but it’s difficult when you can only hear half of what’s been said.”
“I can imagine that might be difficult.”
“The reality of it is that I’m not good in crowds and company. Particularly when I’m the focus of the topic. It makes me uncomfortable.”
“Oh.”
“As long as there’s not some secret beau you’ve promised yourself to—”
“Oh goodness no,” Louisa laughed. “I never, well… No.”
Rhys’s brow cinched.
“You’ve never what?”
“Nothing, it’s just… I never allowed myself to, well… I don’t daydream about silly things like that.”
“Like love?”
She laughed again, unable to control it.
“No, certainly not that.”
“What’s amusing about love?”
“Nothing, it’s just… Well, to be perfectly honest, it’s ridiculous. The concept of love.”
“Is it?”
“Very much so. I’ve never met anyone whose life was made better by the idea of love.
In fact, it is the very problem in most cases.
Love for your spouse is expected, but to what end?
Many marriages are contracts having little to do with emotion.
But then, the ones who do marry for love are always fighting society to accept it and really, I’d rather not be involved with love at all. ”
Rhys blinked.
“Louisa, I cannot begin to tell you how very comforting your words are.”
“They are?”
“Indeed. I, too, find the entire idea of love to be inferior. However, I believe there would be advantages to this marriage. For one, neither of us outranks the other.”
“We don’t?”
“No. My grandfather was a marquis. He had eight sons, and my father, number eight, had three sons himself. I’m the youngest. So, while I come from decent stock, I’ve not any claim to the luxuries my cousins are accustomed to.”
“But there’s the crux. I’ve no money. And while we each appear to be levelheaded, this match will not be very lucrative for you.”
“No, not financially. But then, you have calloused hands.”
Louisa had rarely been offended in her life, but the mention of her rough hands caused her to inadvertently clench her fists tight.
“I, I’m sorry?”
“I’ve a property in the north, a gift from the Crown as to not be outdone by the King of Sweden.
Fenwick Park. It’s in need of work. A good amount of it too.
I hadn’t planned on acquiring a wife for another year or so, not until the house was completely restored and the land was being rented out to tenants.
But the Crown has all but insisted on me marrying, which is why I came to Bessie’s club tonight.
I was in search of a wife and Bessie was going to help, but seeing as how the night has turned out, well, if you are receptive to the idea, I think two sets of hands might be better than one.
And judging by your hands—” He nodded to them.
“—I think you might be prosperous at Fenwick Park.”
“You want me to help you fix up an estate?”
“Yes.”
Louisa had rarely allowed herself to think of a life outside her uncle’s home.
For most of her life, she had been at the beck and call of her mother, and when she became ill, all of Louisa’s dreams went out the window.
It was best for her not to think of tomorrow, but this man was offering her something she never even allowed herself to dream of before.
A home all her own.
After their mother passed away, Louisa and her sister had taken up residence at her uncle’s home, where they had largely been ignored.
There wasn’t any money for them to have the proper seasons, and while the idea of balls and soirees had terrified Louisa, her sister had longed for them.
Perhaps she could give Kitty the season she always wanted?
“I don’t think I can,” she said slowly, still unsure. “I wouldn’t wish to leave my sister.”
“Fenwick Park isn’t hospitable for guests at the moment. However, if enough work is completed before the fall, I believe your sister would be happy to reside there.”
Louisa’s brows lifted.
“You mean, have her move in with us?”
“Yes, of course.”
“But… Wouldn’t that be expensive?”
Rhys exhaled slowly.
“I don’t think so. Given that I had planned to do most of the work myself, I think this would be sort of fiscally responsible.”
“So, our marriage would be more contractual than romantic?”
“Yes,” he said, taking a step towards her. “Practicality outweighs emotion. Don’t you agree?”
Louisa did agree, and nodded, but a small, inconsequential part of her worried that marrying a man like the lieutenant might not be in her best interest. Her hesitation was clear, because in the next moment, Rhys shook his head.
“I suppose marrying a man who’s defective would give you some pause, but I assure you. While I lack the ability to be a social husband, I would be an honest one.”
“I do not think you are defective.”
He sneered at her, seemingly unamused.
“I’m not particular to flattery—”
“I’m not trying to flatter you. But your hearing or lack thereof hasn’t stopped us from speaking. I wonder if there is even a lack of hearing on your part.”
A glint of cheeky mischief flashed in the man’s eyes and Louisa swallowed.
“You don’t think I’m deaf?”
“I know you’re not,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “We are speaking to one another, just as easily as if I were speaking to my sister.”
Rhys stared at her for a moment before he took another step towards her. His long, thick legs were clad in buckskin breeches, and she had to refocus her eyes on his face lest she look like a fool.
To her utter terror, Rhys towered over her, at least a full head taller than she. Shadows of his whiskers were speckled with tiny white dots along his chin, as though something small, hot, and plentiful had burned him. Curious, she clenched her hands into fists lest she reached out and touched him.
Now, standing only inches from her, he bent down, his right ear coming close to her mouth.
“Speak. I promise, I won’t hear anything.”
Confused by the challenge, Louisa looked at his profile. Goodness, had she ever been so close to a man before? She couldn’t remember. Her uncle’s house did not believe in frivolities like hugs or kisses, and her father rarely even acknowledged her, let alone held her.
She inhaled then and he smelled of cinnamon and brandy. What a divine combination, she thought as she looked at his ear. It was a perfectly normal ear, though she could see more tiny white scars around his cheek and neck.
“Are you saying something yet?” he asked.
“No,” she answered immediately, but he only blinked, as if waiting for her to answer.
He really couldn’t hear her.
“I think,” she started, her tone low. “I think I should be frightened by you, by this idea of marriage. But I’m not. Which makes me concerned about my own judgment.”
She craned her neck around to face him, so his eyes could see her lips.
“Did you hear that?”
“Not a word.”
“Truly?”
“I don’t know how to get you to believe me. This ear,” he said, pointing to it, “is completely useless. My left ear can hear partially, but it’s difficult, like hearing someone speak through water.”
“But you read lips well enough.”
The corner of his lips turned up, and Louisa felt her stomach flutter.
“Aye. I read lips well enough.”
Louisa dipped her head, only to remember that he couldn’t hear her if he couldn’t see her and instantly lifted her head.
“Very well. And this will be a practical marriage?”
“Indeed.”
“And we will likely, well…” She glanced at the bed and his eyes followed.
“All in good time,” he said softly. “There’s no need to rush anything.”
Louisa let out a heavy sigh.
“Of course.”
“Well then, I suppose we should get some sleep.”
Louisa instantly panicked.
“Sleep? Here?”
“Easy, rabbit, no need to be so jumpy.” He winked. “I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“Oh no, there’s no need for that—”
“Oh, but there is,” he said, removing his coat. “Should you come to your senses in the morning and demand your freedom, at least you will be left unscathed by me.”
“I shouldn’t… I mean, I won’t demand my freedom, as you say it.”
“Perhaps not,” he said as he rolled the coat into a ball and lay down in front of the fireplace. “But just in case.”
“Oh, but I hate to think of you on the floor.”
“Well, you’re not sleeping on the floor. I refuse to allow it.”
“Could you not maybe lie on the settee or a chair?”
“I prefer to sleep flat on my back.”
Louisa felt useless.
“Well, then, perhaps, if I sleep beneath the covers, and you sleep on top of them, and we put a few pillows between us?”
Rhys smirked.
“Louisa,” he said, and a shiver went through her.
“Yes?”
“Good night,” he said, rolling onto his left side with his back towards her.
“Oh. Okay, good night,” she said quietly, but he didn’t acknowledge it.
Louisa turned and crawled into bed, consumed with worry, for the next day she would be married and a whole new set of issues would come up.