Chapter Eight #2
He could only hope any ugliness would occur out of earshot of his bride, who certainly didn’t need to hear his mother’s thoughts on the matter.
Pushing aside those concerns, Aubrey chose to focus entirely on his wife.
Perhaps by the time they were joined by his family, they would be on more level footing with each other and could convince the others that their marriage was legitimate.
If he could get his sisters on board, Aubrey stood a slim chance of avoiding a protracted dispute with his mother.
But that was a big “if.” Though his older sisters adored and doted on him, they had taken to their new position in society with unexpected zeal, and if Aubrey’s marriage to the Irish housekeeper caused them to be shunned by Newport’s most influential hostesses, his sisters would be unforgiving.
Thank goodness Derek and Catherine were coming, Aubrey thought for the umpteenth time. The presence of the duke and duchess would help to alleviate whatever enmity his sisters and mother might feel toward him at this perilous moment in his fragile new union with Maeve.
“You can put your things in the wardrobe next to mine.”
“Thank you.”
“In New York, we’ll have separate accommodations, but here we must share a room when the entire family is in residence.”
“Th-that is fine.”
“Maeve.” He waited for her to look at him. “Nothing will ever happen between us unless you wish it to. I’ll never touch you with anything other than respect and reverence.”
“I’m deeply grateful for your many kindnesses, Mr. Nelson.”
“Aubrey.”
She looked directly at him, causing his heart to skip a beat. “Aubrey,” she said softly, seeming to test the way the word felt on her lips and tongue.
“Say it again, Maeve.”
“Aubrey.”
“I like the way you say my name.” He kissed her gently, because she was his wife and he could, but carefully so as not to scare her by letting her see the powerful way in which he wanted her.
She glanced at the door. “I should see to the workers. To make sure they’re on task.”
“And I have several cables to draft. After that, please join me in the dining room for our wedding luncheon.”
She nodded in agreement, even though he could see she was still uncomfortable with the fact that she had moved from servant to family member in the course of one unforgettable morning.
He only wished he knew her true feelings on the matter.
Yes, she was relieved to have his protection and the resources that would allow her to fight off her former husband’s family.
Was relief all that she felt? He’d sensed desire for him in the way she had kissed him earlier, but again, was that fueled by the relief or did she genuinely desire him?
Perhaps one day she would share her true feelings with him.
He could only hope so as he’d like to know everything about her.
That fascination with another person was entirely new to him. He hadn’t experienced that with Annabelle because they’d grown up together and knew each other inside and out. With Maeve, everything was new, and he looked forward to each and every discovery he would make.
Leaving her to get settled in his bedchamber, he went downstairs to use the room where his father conducted business while in residence.
Despite the house having a telephone, it was not possible to make outgoing long-distance calls without an appointment at a specially outfitted, sound-proofed phone booth.
There was one at the post office, but it could take days to get an appointment, especially this time of year when the summer residents were arriving.
As he sat to draft a cable, detailing Maeve’s dilemma to the family’s solicitor, Mr. Charles Nightingale, he began to question the wisdom of involving the family’s legal counsel in his personal business.
Mr. Nightingale would convey the information directly to Aubrey’s father and brothers, for whom he worked.
No, that wouldn’t do. Rather than reach out to his family’s employee, he wrote a quick note to Matthew and asked him to come by the house at his earliest convenience to discuss a matter of extreme urgency.
Knowing Matthew, the “extreme urgency” would get him there sooner rather than later.
Aubrey asked Mr. Plumber to get one of the men to deliver the note to Matthew as soon as possible.
“Yes, sir,” Mr. Plumber said. “And may I say, sir, the local men are proving to be a hardworking group. I do believe we may be able to turn some of them into footmen, stable men and gardeners.”
“That’s excellent news. Encourage them to recruit their friends and family members as we’re still in need of housemaids as well as a new housekeeper. Before long we’ll have a full staff.”
“I will do that, sir.”
Aubrey was relieved to realize that at some point, Mr. Plumber had come around to embracing the challenge of turning the ragtag army into a household staff.
“And may I also add my felicitations on your marriage.”
“Thank you kindly.”
“Miss Brown, or I should say, Mrs. Nelson, is a delightful young woman.”
“I agree.”
“I hope I’m not speaking out of turn by asking if Mr. Tornquist brought news that led to your nuptials.”
“He did.”
“And as such, your marriage is intended to protect Mrs. Nelson?”
“It is.” Mr. Plumber didn’t need to know that Aubrey also had feelings for the woman who was now his wife. That was no one’s concern but theirs.
“Ah.” Plumber seemed relieved to have discovered the reason for the hasty marriage.
“If Mr. Tornquist returns for any reason, he’s to be turned away and I’m to be notified immediately.”
“Yes, sir. Is Miss Brown . . . er, Mrs. Nelson, in danger?”
“Not anymore.” Aubrey needed to believe that because the alternative was too frightening to be borne. “My note to Mr. Jarvis is intended to address the danger.”
“I will see to it that it’s delivered immediately.”
“Thank you, and will you also contact the better dressmakers in town and ask them to come tomorrow to outfit Mrs. Nelson with a wardrobe for the Season?”
“Consider it done. Mrs. Allston is ready to serve the wedding luncheon whenever you and Mrs. Nelson are ready to dine.”
“I’ll see if she is ready.”
“Very good, sir.” Mr. Plumber took his leave.
Aubrey hoped that Matthew would be by soon to help him figure out how he ought to proceed with the situation.
Matthew’s father was a well-regarded local solicitor and Matthew was also a solicitor, but would he know how to handle an international situation such as the one Maeve found herself in?
Aubrey could only hope he was doing the right thing by circumventing the family’s legal counsel.
If nothing else, he would hopefully postpone the inevitable airing of his family’s opinions about his new marriage. He’d postpone that forever if he could.