Chapter Forty-Seven
Nathaniel sat at the breakfast table and waited for his guests to come down. And his wife. He’d had a terrible time falling asleep, and the girls giggling hadn’t helped. Not that he could hear them from his bedroom, but he’d taken to wandering the halls, hoping it would calm his mind.
It hadn’t.
He’d never admit it, because he was infinitely aware the whole thing was his idea, but his bedchamber had never felt so lonely.
Not that anyone had ever slept in there with him here at Sutton House, but after sharing a bed with Frances, talking for hours before going to sleep, and those few nights he actually got to hold her…
Sleeping without her now was agony.
“Morning,” Teddy said, looking through the messages, annoyingly chipper.
“Good morning,” Nathaniel said, perhaps a little too brightly, trying both to match his brother, and pretend he hadn’t been sitting there morosely. “Aren’t you eating anything?”
“I was going to meet Hopkins at Jackson’s. Keep myself sharp.”
“Surely you need sustenance to box.”
“Girls aren’t up yet?”
“No.”
“I can stay a bit,” he offered.
“Don’t be daft.”
“Then it’s not company you crave, it’s someone in particular.”
“You have plans,” Nathaniel reminded him.
“I can be delayed.” Teddy took the seat across from him and made himself a plate.
“I don’t need coddling.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“How long until you’re back at sea?”
“That would be hurtful if I didn’t know you were truly thrilled to have me home, and dreading the day I leave. If only my visit wasn’t interrupting your honeymoon months.”
“You’re not interrupting anything, Theodore.”
“Because the girls are here?” He waited for a response, but Nathaniel didn’t comment. “How is married life?”
“I thought you were leaving?”
“Not when you’re grumpy and pretending you’re not. It’s rather fascinating to watch.”
“I’m not—”
“Exactly.”
“I had questions regarding the garden. Whether we should attempt a greenhouse here as well.”
“I’m anxious to see it. I’m told you’ll be able to have pears all year long with it.”
“That’s the idea, though I’m not certain what she plans on putting inside. But as our father used to say, as long as she’s happy…”
“You’re happy.” Teddy either finished the saying for him, or made an observation. “She’s different from last time. I was surprised to hear her defending Lizzie.”
“She’s very protective of the people she cares about.”
“It’s incredible what happens when you put people in the right environment. Academics had never been my strength—”
“Eton was supposed to make them so.”
“But I am excelling in the Navy,” he continued as if he hadn’t been interrupted, then added, “And I wasn’t failing at Eton, I just never excelled beyond expectations.”
They both turned when Sarah scoffed from behind them.
“Miss Grimes,” Teddy greeted, rising from his seat.
“You have an opinion?” Nathaniel asked.
“His teachers must have loved him with all that self-assured charm.”
“I think we planted him in a too nurturing environment.”
“Better than the contrary.” She curtseyed before leaving.
“I thought Sarah was a lady’s maid?” Theodore asked once she was gone.
“I’ve given up on trying to control her, or dictate what she should do. Before Frances, she nearly ran the entire household with Stevens.”
“Big, powerful Lord Lark, at the mercy of his women.”
“They are my wife and my employee, but neither are my property. And who do you think runs Wiltshire Manor? Or ran this house when we were little?”
“Forgive me, brother. I’ll likely do the same if ever I am lucky enough to settle down as you have. I simply find it amusing.”
“You would.”
“It’s not your supposed suffering I enjoy. It’s your happiness. Tortured, yes, but closer to it than I would have guessed, ever since… It suits you.”
“Being at the mercy of women?”
“Being in love. Though, as reluctant as we are to admit, I think yours suits everyone.”
“Am I to gather there’s a special lady—”
“On the ship? Not likely. But all the traveling we do in between the fighting… There’s a world out there, Nate, and I want to see it all.”
He remembered his own years of travel. He’d seen world wonders and more cities than he could count, but most his time was spent in public houses, and those all tend to blend together.
“As long as you always find your way home.”
“See, I knew you missed me.”
By the time the girls went down to break their fast, Theodore had gone to meet his friend, and Nathaniel had left the breakfast room to work in his study. Or try very hard to.
“Come in,” he called after a knock, expecting Stevens.
“Sorry to disturb you.” Frances curtseyed.
“You’re never a disturbance,” he assured her.
Rather, she was. Often. But he never seemed to mind.
“We were going to see the modiste, perhaps get some flavored ice now the rain is clearing, and were wondering if you wanted to join us.”
“If Grace is with you, there’s no perhaps about the ice.”
“Rebecca warned me as much. I don’t personally need any gowns, but Grace has outgrown most of her stockings, and—”
“You may have as many dresses and gowns as your heart desires.”
If she were Grace, he would have added, ‘within reason’, because that girl yearned for a closet full of beautiful colors, to rival their mother’s, but he trusted Frances.
In fact, he was more concerned that she wouldn’t indulge enough, as seen by her emphasizing need over want.
Which was what he should do. He needed to stay away from Frances.
He needed to work on the accounts and prepare for next week in Parliament.
But he wanted to be near her. To see the smile on her face when she chose a new fabric, or enjoyed a frozen treat.
It might be too cold for ices, though perhaps it would warm under the afternoon sun.
Maybe it was best if he accompanied them, to ensure no one caught cold.
“I’ll be down in a moment,” he assured her, knowing his decision had very little to do with frozen treats and everything to do with his wife.