Chapter Nine #2
“It isn’t?” the man asked, almost dazed.
“No, not at all. You are an earl’s son. I’m sure the family coffers have enough to tide you over until Miss Babcock’s dowry comes in.”
“I… I didn’t realize there wasn’t any money.”
“Not currently, but eventually.” Rhys glanced at Louisa, who was staring at him, mouth agape. “But considering the long voyage you have in front of you tomorrow, I think we should retire early.”
“Yes,” Dawson said in a haze as they all stood up.
Mr. Trench, who appeared to have a bounce in his step, bowed and was out the front door before the others had even reached the staircase. Lord Dawson returned to his room in the west wing while Kitty had been given a room in the east wing.
By the time Rhys and Louisa reached their rooms, he was sure his wife would have something to say about what was said at dinner, but she remained quiet as she went about her nightly routine.
Rhys watched her as she sat before her vanity table and slowly began to unpin her hair. It was frustrating, waiting for her to speak. Didn’t she have an opinion about what he had said? Surely, she suspected Lord Dawson of having ill intentions too. But why hadn’t she expressed them?
Unable to wait any longer, he spoke.
“Louisa.”
“Yes?”
He frowned.
“Don’t you have anything to say?”
“About what?”
He stalked toward her until he was standing in front of her.
“About what? About dinner, about what I said about Kitty’s pin money.”
She looked up at him, and he had to beat down the desire to touch her face.
“What opinion should I have about that? If you say there isn’t any money for a dowry at the moment, I don’t see how having an opinion could change that.”
Did she trust him so implicitly? Of course she did; why shouldn’t she? But then why did Rhys feel suddenly unsure of his little test?
He lowered himself down on his haunches and took her hand that was lying in her lap.
“There is money for Kitty’s dowry, but I don’t trust Lord Dawson.”
After a moment of silence, she spoke.
“You don’t?”
“No, I don’t. And I thought, well… Perhaps I should have asked you first, but I intended to—”
In the next moment, Louisa’s arms were wrapped tightly around his neck as he fell backwards. Their bodies landed with a thud on the rug-covered floor, but Louisa was showering Rhys in kisses, confusing him. Placing his hands on her arms and holding her still, he stared up into her smiling face.
“You wonderful.” Kiss. “Brilliant.” Kiss. “Honorable.” Kiss. “Clever man.” Kiss, kiss, kiss.
“You’re… You’re not angry with me?”
“Angry? How could I be angry?” She kissed him again on the mouth and he couldn’t help but kiss her back.
A rush of relief and excitement coursed through his veins as he focused on her body molded against his.
He wouldn’t be able to focus much longer on what they were discussing, but then she lifted her head and looked down at him in an almost loving sort of way.
“I don’t trust Lord Dawson either, but I couldn’t say anything.”
“Why not?”
“Because what sort of hypocrite would I be if I told Kitty she can’t marry someone, particularly when they’ve known each other longer than a single day?
” Louisa shook her head as she exhaled. “I just… I feel so incredibly grateful that I should have a husband who wants what’s best for my sister. Thank you, Rhys.”
For some reason, the air around them became heavy and Louisa couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eye. He wanted to tell her there was no need to thank him. That his only desire was to please her and that he would always try and protect her.
“I’m glad you’re not upset with my plan. Although, really, it was Mr. Trench who thought of it.”
“Mr. Trench?” Louisa said slowly. “I thought I saw a lingering look between him and Kitty over dinner tonight.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me. He seemed quite untrusting of Dawson.”
“Really? What did he say?”
“Merely that Dawson seemed too eager to marry Kitty in such a rush. It was his idea to stall the payment for her pin money.”
Louisa sat up then.
“Hm… I don’t see why Mr. Trench should be so worried about Kitty.”
Rhys lifted his body up on his elbows.
“Don’t you?” She shook her head. “Well, whatever his reasons, I’m only glad I didn’t upset you tonight.”
Louisa refocused her gray eyes on her husband and smiled so warmly that he felt his stomach flip.
“It seems silly to me, I suppose, but I don’t think I could have ever dreamed up someone like you, Rhys. I’m so proud to be your wife and no one else’s.”
Though she couldn’t realize the sort of impact her words had on him, Rhys’s feelings must have been on full display across his face, because in the next instant, Louisa’s brows pinched together.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“No, it’s just…” He couldn’t mention to her the thread of discomfort that had been snaking around his heart since their carriage ride north.
It had been weeks since Louisa had mentioned John, having only brought him up once, but the idea of Rhys’s wife having loved another, even though it was before they had met, caused him a good deal of discomfort.
Louisa’s hand dropped to his chest, and he fell under her spell as she gazed down at him.
“Tell me.”
He sighed, annoyed with himself that she should have so much power over him that he would collapse at her command.
“It’s just… You needn’t say things if they aren’t true.”
“What have I said that wasn’t true?”
“Nothing. I mean, I believe you are proud to be my wife, but perhaps, not more than anyone else’s.”
“And whose wife would I have been better suited—oh.”
The heavy truth seemed to drop on his chest.
“Yes. Well.” He turned his body to roll, but to his surprise she brought her other hand to his chest and held him still.
He could have shifted and rolled her off him with ease, but the determined look in her eyes caused him to still as he waited for her to speak.
“I did love John, Rhys, but it wasn’t like this,” she started, her voice so soft that he strained to hear as he watched her lips.
“It was unadulterated and gentle, almost too pure to be anything real, if that make sense.” It didn’t, but he remained quiet.
“But the love I feel for you is so much more. It’s tangible and real and physical.
” A blush appeared on her cheeks and though she continued to speak, all Rhys could focus on was that she loved him. “It’s a love I never knew existed.”
“I feel the same way,” he said, sitting up as she shifted her hips to sit next to him on the floor. “I didn’t think that this was even possible.” Lifting his hand, he stroked her cheek as his insides twisted in trepidation before his confession. “I love you, Louisa. Truly and without reservation.”
“You do?”
He nodded as his hand drifted into her thick auburn locks at the back of her head and pulled her gently towards him. He brushed his lips against hers before whispering, “Yes.” Then he kissed her deeply and neither of them left the floor that night.