Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Anna was beautiful. Silas couldn’t stop looking at her over their wedding night dinner.
Beatrice had loaned her a simple, long-sleeved cream poplin gown with a pattern of little blue flowers that seemed to make her alabaster skin glow.
He found it increasingly hard to swallow his food as the meal drew towards a close, thinking about the expectation of their wedding night.
Beatrice chatted away, thankfully diverting Anna’s attention from his increasing discomfort.
When the last bites of crystalized pineapple had finally disappeared and the last dregs of tea had been drunk, Silas felt like he had lost his voice completely.
He had no idea how to broach the fact that he needed to invite Anna to retire with him.
Thank God for Beatrice, who gently set down her dessert fork and smiled at the couple.
“Well, it has been lovely sharing supper with you, but I fear I must retire.” Beatrice dabbed at her lips with her napkin. “Silas, Anna is new to the house, why don’t you escort her to the west wing? All the doors and corridors can be very confusing when you are not used to it.”
Silas had never been more grateful for his little sister. She could be full of impetuousness, and sometimes he was worried she would crash into the fine ranks of society with all the grace of a rampaging horse, but she was incredibly empathetic to his moods and fears. He smiled at her, thankfully.
“Of course.” He found his voice and coughed. “Anna?”
He offered Anna his hand and felt a thrill when her warm fingers rested in his. He led the way out of the dining room and up the stairs, Beatrice falling into step beside them and keeping them going with gentle chit-chat until they reached the upper landing.
“Good night, dear brother.” Beatrice kissed him lightly on the cheek and turned to Anna. “Good night,” Beatrice squeezed Anna’s hand tenderly, a smile on her sweet face. “Sister.”
“Good night, Beatrice.”
Anna had blushed at Beatrice’s words but seemed happy. Silas was so glad to see that Anna was warming to Beatrice. He hoped she would be a good influence on his young sister. Wordlessly, he led Anna down the corridor into the west wing.
“I noticed earlier there are no pictures from your childhood,” Anna spoke softly as if the darkness of the evening and the sobering length and darkness of the portrait hall were causing her to whisper. Silas’ heart clenched at her words.
“No, there are not.”
Anna winced. His voice had clearly been sharper in tone than he had intended.
He sighed inwardly. He didn’t want to hurt her, but there were some things he could not share with a stranger.
She’s not a stranger, she’s your wife! The voice in his mind startled him, and he felt the heavy expectation she must have of him now.
He was her husband now, he must try not to be so cold.
“I am afraid Beatrice and I do not have many happy memories to recall from childhood.” Silas tried to keep his voice level. “Our parents commissioned no portraits of us, either.”
“Oh.”
His disclosure had not been enough, clearly. She would always find him abrasive and cruel. Silas felt anger bloom inside his chest. It seemed that a man did not get a second chance at a first impression. Then, surprisingly, Anna spoke.
“Perhaps… perhaps we might commission a family portrait now?” Anna spoke hesitantly. “The three of us; yourself, me and Beatrice?”
Silas was shocked at her words but couldn’t help but smile. It was such a welcome and endearing thought.
“That would be pleasant,” he conceded, imagining how lovely Anna would look when her beauty was committed in oil and paint. “Though I must tell you, Beatrice is the nightmare of every portrait artist in the city - she talks too much and cannot sit still!”
Anna laughed. “She does talk a lot! But she is so lovely. I think she will be the jewel of society this summer.”
“So soon?” Silas frowned. “I worry she would not take care of herself. She has a sweet nature, and the young women of high society can have sharp tongues.”
“Oh, I know.” Anna’s voice was grim. “I’ve had my fair share of whispers behind my back. Beatrice has the strength to overcome it.”
“I don’t speak of whispers,” Silas snapped. “I have plenty of experience with how to manage simple whispers.”
“Oh, I am aware. But I am sure you wouldn’t want to manage the young ladies of society the way you manage your… business associates.”
There was the wry, direct sense of humor he had noticed in Anna on the night they had first met. It irked him and intrigued him in equal parts. He looked down at her with an exasperated expression.
“Of course, that’s why you are here.”
“I know.” Anna’s voice was sharp. “Don’t worry, I know my purpose in this marriage.”
This was going terribly. He didn’t want to be antagonistic with Anna, but it came so naturally to him and she was so argumentative. He took a deep breath, fighting his own instincts and instead, tried to be honest.
“I only want to protect her.”
Anna sighed. “I know.”
They had reached the door of the master bedchamber.
His heart hammering in his chest, Silas turned the doorknob.
Looking inside, he saw that Beatrice had clearly set the servants to work, making the room comfortable for a couple.
He noticed that the books he liked to read when he could not sleep had been laid on the nightstand, and the housecoat he liked to wear at night when he sat up had been removed from the bedroom adjacent to his study and hung against the wardrobe.
The soft scent of beeswax candles filled the room and the fire had been lit, creating a warm glow.
He looked at Anna, noticing the pink flush on her cheeks reaching up to her ears.
He wondered how she would react if he bent down and placed a kiss against the soft skin behind her ear. He pushed the thought from his mind.
“Goodnight,” he said.
“You are not coming in?” Anna’s voice was surprised.
“I keep my promises.” He smiled tightly. “I will make no demands of you tonight. I shall sleep in the room adjacent to the library.”
“Beatrice mentioned it to me.”
She looked down, her golden hair glinting in the glow from the fire.
She was so tantalizing like this, her chest rising and falling heavily with nerves, her glassy green eyes wide with expectation.
Stop it, he told himself, you promised her you would wait.
His mind took no mercy on his honorable intentions and immediately conjured up imaginings of what she would be like to kiss, to hold, to make love to. He swallowed hard.
“It will be less disturbing for you this way.”
And less disturbing for me not to have to lie next to you and not touch you, Silas thought.
“I understand.” She looked into his eyes. “Goodnight, Silas.”
Silas hesitated on the threshold, his hand resting on the doorframe.
Then he lifted his hand slowly, offering it to him.
He saw the question in her eyes as she reluctantly took it, registered the surprise on her face as he tugged her gently towards him, lowering his head towards her, giving her all the time in the world to pull away if she wanted to.
She didn’t. He knew he shouldn’t, he knew he should wait, but hearing his name on her perfect, enticing lips was too much for him and he placed a thumb on her chin and kissed her as gently and reverently as he could muster with a tenderness he had never kissed anyone before.
He was shocked by the soft, responsive movement as her mouth moved against his.
God, how he wanted her! He opened his eyes and pulled himself away.
No. He would not act like the brute she had heard he was.
Though he knew, as he looked into her guileless green eyes, he would burn for her all night long.
“Good night, Anna.”