Chapter Sixteen #3
Disappointment crossed her features, but Aaran knew his actions were what was necessary, though he did not like them any more than she did.
He gestured towards the connected dressing rooms, and she led the way.
When they reached her quarters, she paused to look up at him.
“You have been very kind to me, my lord. I do apologize for attempting to circumvent your will. I thought…”
“I know, my girl. If I may say so without giving you false hope, if it were my choice, you would be in my bed right this moment and tomorrow we would be headed to Scotland to marry without your father’s consent,” he said with a startling conviction.
Like it or not, Aaran had presented this particular woman his heart, even if he could not offer for her.
He leaned forward to kiss her forehead. “Now, lock the door and under no circumstances are you to open it to me again. The door to the hallway, as well.”
Tears were in her eyes as she moved to act as he instructed. “Good evening, my lord.”
“Good evening, Lady Freya.”
Thompson was already in the morning room when Aaran came downstairs some six hours later.
It had taken him forever to calm his desires in order to claim his sleep, but even then Lady Freya filled each of his dreams. Aaran suspected it would be a lifetime before he would forget the pleasure of having the woman in his arms. “Good morning,” he said as he motioned for Mr. Boone to pour him a cup of coffee. “Did you sleep well?”
“Counted off the hours,” Thompson admitted. “Brought the child into the room with me. I feared he might think Victoria and I had deserted him.”
Aaran smiled in hearing Thompson’s confession. “Are you confident it was not you who missed Miss Whitchurch? You knew with confidence, if the lady had cold feet she would not leave without the boy.”
Thompson chuckled good-naturedly. “I am quite ready to admit I am thrilled this day has finally arrived.”
“Good for you,” Aaran declared and meant his words.
“Are you sad that Lady Freya is leaving Kent today?” Thompson asked cautiously.
“As I have said repeatedly to anyone who has asked, I do not deny that I am attracted to the lady, but none of you had to contend with your betrothed’s father despising you.
Neither Lord Donoghue nor Mr. Whitchurch nor Duncan objected to their daughters’ choice of husbands.
Lady Annalise had neither father nor mother to complain.
Whereas Lady Freya’s father would rather see his child dead than as my wife.
I cannot separate her from family. We all know the pain of such actions. ”
“I suppose you are correct,” Thompson conceded. “I just wish for you to know happiness.”
“I will,” Aaran assured. “When God wishes me to claim a family, the Lord will bring the lady and me together.” Aaran paused before he told Thompson something of the hearth issue in Lady Freya’s quarters and his moving her to part of his own suite.
“Such sounds like something Lady Emma might concoct,” Thompson admitted. “I am grieved that I was not aware—had not even considered a last-ditch attempt to bring you and Lady Freya together.”
“I thought it a bit odd that Lady Freya was placed on the same hall as Hartley, Kepper, and me, but I assumed whoever made the arrangement for the lady realized she would only be here Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Tuesday night was much warmer than last evening, especially with all of us being outside in the glade for the fireworks, and on Tuesday, if I understand it correctly, she used your mother’s suite, as Mrs. Thompson would not require it until the wedding supper. ”
Thompson looked to his butler. “Were you aware of this, Mr. Boone?”
“No, my lord, but I will speak to all belowstairs who were involved,” the butler assured.
“I will apologize to the lady today,” Benjamin confirmed.
“Lady Freya was afraid to light the fire in her room for she was not confident when the hearth and flue had last been used, what with your long absence from Kent,” Aaran explained, not wishing to paint the lady in a bad light.
“Mr. Boone, I will need to know the last time all the chimneys were swept, and you should also apologize to Lady Freya and thank Her Ladyship for her forethought in not placing all of us in danger.”
“Aye, my lord. Your request is quite reasonable, though the chimneys were cleaned before Christmastide, but I will see that all are examined again for safety.”
Thompson nodded his acceptance and returned to teasing Aaran. “So Lady Freya slept in the mistress section of your master suite?”
“I instructed her to lock both the main door of her suite, as well as the connecting door between our two respective dressing rooms,” Aaran explained.
“But you were tempted,” Thompson accused, while Aaran easily recalled the heat of Lady Freya’s mouth under his.
“I am a man, not a wooden puppet,” Aaran countered. “I was tempted,” he admitted, “but the lady deserves someone better than a man who could never lift her in his arms and carry her to his bed.”
“You do not believe Sir Patrick will wish to treat Lady Freya thusly,” Thompson observed with a raised eyebrow. “I imagine Sir Patrick’s paunch will prevent his wooing of the lady.”
That was not an image Aaran wished to entertain, but it stuck with him throughout much of the day.