Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
When Anna awoke on the first morning of her married life, Silas was gone from the bedchamber. She rang the bell for Lena and made inquiries after her husband.
“Master has already broken his fast and set to work, Madame.”
“Oh.” Anna was saddened and surprised to hear that. “I see.”
Silas had seemed so friendly and genuine the night before; part of her had hoped that his goodwill might extend into their first day of married life.
She knew he would not sleep with her through the night, but she hoped he might want to spend their first day together.
At least I’m used to doing things on my own, Anna thought miserably.
She glanced at the dress Lena had laid on the bed and frowned.
“Lena, that isn’t my dress. Is it Beatrice's?”
“No, Madame, the Master purchased several new gowns for you before you arrived.”
Anna was surprised by this generous forethought on Silas’ part. Lena opened the wardrobe to display a combination of Anna’s old gowns and brand new ones, their fabric shiny and their buttons starched with lack of use.
“Would you prefer a different one?”
Anna brushed the gowns with her hand, feeling soft silk and floaty muslin under her fingertips.
It was hundreds of pounds worth of fresh, fashionable fabric.
Her eyes lingered on a royal green satin ball gown embroidered with gold lace and tiny crystal beads.
She had never seen such a gown up close.
She stopped at a burgundy cotton day dress with a tiny print of white fig leaves.
It was undeniably lovely, but suitable for daywear.
“This one. I plan to explore the grounds today. I should prefer to be warmer.”
“It has matching under-sleeves, Madame, I think it will be quite comfortable.”
Although Anna had lived in finery most of her life, she had never had a lady’s maid of her own before.
At first, she felt awkward having someone fetch and carry for her and dress her, but Lena was kind and attentive and chattered pleasantly away as she brought a bowl of warm water for Anna to bathe, helped her dress, and braided Anna’s hair into a lovely bun with a few artistic curls loose around her face.
“Oh, red is a lovely color on you!” Lena nodded as she stepped back, watching Anna slide her pearl earrings on. “The Master was right to pick it.”
Anna was inclined to agree. The dress was simple but undoubtedly finer than anything Anna was used to.
She looked at herself in the mirror, admiring the way the flattering cut complimented her body respectfully and how the warm color seemed to make her skin look as creamy as the top of fresh milk.
Anna thought she would like to thank Silas for his gifts.
“Where is Mr Klane this morning?” If he was in the library, perhaps he wouldn’t mind her interrupting him for a moment.
“He left early to go and visit his tenants, Madame.” Lena picked out a heavy, cream wool shawl and reached for some black boots. “These will be best if you intend to walk the park. It can be muddy.”
“He deals with all his tenants personally?”
Anna was surprised. A man like Silas, who was well known in the pleasure courts of Westminster, hardly seemed like the type to act like a country landlord.
“Oh yes.” Lena smiled. “He is a kind and generous master. Mr Klane always likes to be involved. During the storm last night, a tree fell near a house. I believe the master has sent some men down to cut it down and remove the debris.”
“Will he be gone for a long time?”
“Oh yes.” Lena nodded firmly. “It was an ancient oak, and it fell on a part of the stables. It must be rebuilt, and the Master will want to oversee the plans.”
So he will not have much time for me, Anna thought, sadly.
“Anna?” There was a knock on the door and Beatrice poked her head around the door.
“Good morning, Beatrice.”
Anna found she was very pleased to see the beautiful face of Silas’ sister. Her dark eyes smiled as she looked at Anna’s outfit.
“Oh, that is a lovely gown on you!” Beatrice rushed into the room to hold Anna’s arm out and make her twirl a little.
“You look beautiful in red, just like an English rose! It washes me out completely. I look like a lady vampire!”
“Yes, it is a lovely gown.” Anna laughed. “Your brother was very generous.”
“Oh, he’s always had good taste. Let me see!”
Beatrice immediately began rifling through Anna’s closet like a little girl, gasping and cooing at what she found. “Might I borrow this one sometime do you think?” She held up Anna’s wedding gown, with a naughty gleam in her eyes. Anna couldn’t help but laugh.
“I am sure you might.” Anna stood still as Lena tied her boots. “But before anything else, I must break my fast. Did you eat with your brother?”
“Oh no, he takes breakfast far too early for me.” Beatrice rolled her eyes. “I normally eat alone.” Anna noticed a wistfulness in her gaze. Perhaps Silas was not the only one in this house who could be a little lonely.
“Well, you shall not be alone any longer.” Anna tucked Beatrice’s hand firmly in the crook of her arm. “We shall eat together every morning, and perhaps you might like to give me a tour of the gardens today? If the weather permits.”
Beatrice’s face split into a dazzling smile. “Really? Should you like me to give you a tour of the house, too?”
“Of course.” Anna nodded graciously. “I must meet the housekeeper and the cook,”
“Oh, and you must meet Hector and Achilles!” Beatrice added. “They are Silas’ favorite hunting hounds. They are lovely walking companions!”
“That sounds perfect.” Anna smiled. “But first, we must eat.”
After breakfast, a meeting with the cook and the other staff, Beatrice and Anna went for a stroll on the grounds.
Beatrice expressed her thoughts without a filter or fear for a seventeen-year-old.
She clearly loved company and was an easy, amusing conversationalist. Anna resolved to be a good sister to her.
She had no idea how to be a good wife to Silas, but running a house and being a good sister, these were things she could do.
“You are such a good listener, Anna. I think you must have a sister already!”
Anna smiled at her, feeling light of heart as the two women strolled down the garden to the little river that carved its way through the Fallenbrook estate.
“You are my first, dear Beatrice.”
“Am I really?” Beatrice looked at her with wide eyes. “You have no siblings?”
Anna’s heart constricted and she folded her arms tight across her body. “I had a brother.”
She looked up at the turbulent sky. Clouds were moving fast, the sunlight flitting in and out behind their rolling journey. It was always hard to speak of Andrew, but she was a part of Beatrice’s family now, she couldn’t keep him a secret. Anna sighed heavily. “He died.”
She looked at Beatrice, catching the strange, solemn look on her face. “It is all right, it was a long time ago now.”
“I am sorry for your loss.”
Anna was surprised by Beatrice’s tone. She was already used to Beatrice being lit up with joy and sparkling with effervescent charm, but now she sounded muted, almost reflective. Her dark eyes were shadowed, and she suddenly looked much older.
“It is terrible to lose someone you love,” Beatrice spoke slowly. “I am sorry it happened to you.”
“Thank you, my dear.”
Beatrice reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. The two women stood, watching the water in the stream fast-flowing after the rain of the night before. Then, taking a deep breath, Beatrice turned to Anna. “I have something in mind that might bring you joy.” Beatrice’s eyes gleamed with mischief.
“Oh really? What is that?”
“The library.”
Anna laughed as Beatrice broke into a run, chasing the dogs back towards the house, her beautiful hair rippling behind her. Anna did not remember the last time she had been so easy in another woman’s company.
Beatrice had been right - the library did bring her joy.
In fact, Anna discovered in the first week of her marriage that nothing about Fallenbrook didn’t bring her joy.
She looked forward to her daily meetings with the housekeeper, Marion, to go over the running of the house and the servants’ matters.
She relished her weekly planning session with the Cook, who had taken a big shine to Anna when she expressed an interest in ensuring that the family hosted a dinner party at least once a month to prepare Beatrice for society.
She savored walking in the grounds, completely absorbed in the sense of peace that followed her around Fallenbrook.
The only thing to disturb that peace was Silas.
He kept his distance. She only saw him at supper and before bed when he came to keep her company when she slept.
She found herself watching and noticing his behaviors and interactions with the staff of Fallenbrook.
In doing so, her initial judgements and suspicions of him gave way to grudging respect.
She had caught him one day, standing at the front door of Fallenbrook as the night closed in, an angry expression on his face.
“Are you coming to supper?” she asked lightly since the bell had just been rung. Then she noticed his deep, furrowed brow. “What is the matter?”
“It’s Giovanni. He had business to do for me in London today.”
“And?” Anna saw his dark eyes dart swiftly to her and then away, but she immediately understood him. It was strange how quickly she had come to read his body language. “Oh. Was it… particularly dangerous business?”
Silas hesitated but nodded slowly. “He said he would be back by now.”
“Shall we save him a plate?” Anna asked helplessly.
Silas shook his head. “No, you and Beatrice go ahead. I shall wait to eat with Giovanni.”
She wanted to reach out and comfort him, but she didn’t yet know how to behave around him.
She didn’t think she had ever been more physically aware of another person, which produced a profound disquiet in her body.
Whenever Anna was in his presence, she felt like a tinderbox about to be set alight: warm and fizzing, as if he was a burning flame she was drawn to.
She settled for pressing her hand briefly to his arm, trying to ignore the tingle it produced inside her.
“Let me know when he returns,” she murmured. “I will have Cook bring your meal up to the study. I am sure you will have much to discuss.”
He had looked at her gratefully. “Thank you, Anna.”
Surprising Silas with her domestic attentiveness had become one of her favorite things to do.
She tried to tell herself it was because she wanted to prove to this fastidious and critical man that she could be a good wife, but deep down, she knew it was more than that.
It was as if he carried a magnet to which she was impossibly attracted.
She could feel his pull across the house when he walked around the study when he was out on business.
She had even started to be aware of when he left her bed to pace in the study or roam outside on the grounds.
She could hear the distant barking of Hector and Achilles as they accompanied their master on a moonlit stroll, and she didn’t feel secure or able to fall back to sleep until she heard the tread of Silas’ feet on the main staircase again.
It was that insecurity that she had woken up with that very morning, three weeks after their wedding, on the day of her first outing away from Fallenbrook.
“Oh, Anna, I shall miss you so much!”
Beatrice clutched Anna’s hands as they stood outside in the courtyard of Fallenbrook. The wind was whipping across the yard, and the horses were restless.
“Oh, Beatrice, don’t be silly!” Anna laughed, “I am only going to my mother’s for one night just to check she is well. I will be back tomorrow evening.”
“I shall be lonely!” Beatrice moaned, “Silas will be no fun at all when you’re not home.” She rolled her eyes at her brother who stood leaning against the wall of the vestibule, his arms folded and his brows furrowed in their customary glower.
“Let the lady leave, Beatrice,” he snapped. “The sooner she goes, the sooner she will be back.”
Beatrice was unperturbed by her brother’s tone and merely stuck her tongue out at him, squeezing Anna’s hands reassuringly. “Well, come and say goodbye to your wife then, brother.”
Beatrice kissed Anna quickly on the cheek before retreating to the shelter of the vestibule in front of the door to the house.
Silas moved forward, the wind brushing his dark hair across his forehead.
He stood before Anna, his hands pushed into the pockets of his overcoat.
He had been out riding that morning and was still dressed for it. He looked as handsome as always.
“Your father,” Silas spoke quietly. “Will he be home?”
Anna frowned at the curiosity of the question. “No. Mother wrote and told me he will be away in town.”
Silas nodded silently. “Well then.”
He tugged open the carriage door for her and offered his hand to Anna like a footman.
She took it, feeling a reassuring squeeze of his fingers against hers and the light pressure of his strong hand on her lower back as he helped her up into the carriage.
She sat down heavily, staring at her husband, slightly breathless.
It was the most they had physically touched in many days.
He leaned forward into the dark, protected interior of the carriage, and Anna’s heart raced as he pressed a warm kiss against her cold cheek.
“Travel safe,” he spoke softly into her ear, his gravelly voice sending a tremor down her spine.
“I will.”
She gazed at him, feeling once against the heavy magnetic pull of her attraction towards him.
She realized she wanted him to kiss her.
She wanted to feel that same warmth and connection she had on their wedding night when their lips had met.
Silas reached forward to tuck a wayward curl back into her bonnet.
Anna felt her arms break out into goose-flesh under her jacket at his touch.
“Don’t be away long.” Silas closed the carriage door.
Anna looked out of the window, watching Silas’ retreating back and Beatrice’s pale face framed in the heavy grey brick of Fallenbrook.
She was surprised by how heavy her heart was to be leaving them, even for a night.
Her body jolted as the carriage lurched forward, and she raised her gloved hand in farewell.
Silas stood behind his waving sister, the watchful brother, and didn’t move.
Yet Anna felt his gaze following her as intently as a hunting hawk, and continued to feel it long after the carriage had rolled on and Fallenbrook was out of sight.