Chapter Twelve #2
‘Nora!’ Candace and Sara cried out in unison and ran to embrace her.
Nora’s heart swelled as she hugged them back. ‘I’ve missed you both.’
It was true. Her life had been a whirlwind since she’d married.
The drawing room was familiar with its blue sofas and matching blue-and-gold-striped drapes.
The furniture was simple, and other than the peacock bookends on the mantel, which her father had purchased on his travels, the space lacked the opulence of the Earl of Ralston’s mansion.
Memories of her youth came back in a rush.
She recalled sitting on the Oriental carpet, legs crossed, as her father read them stories from The Arabian Nights.
Years later, when he was no longer with them, she recalled sitting on a sofa while her mother tried to teach all three of them needlepoint.
Only Sara was talented with a needle and thread.
Nora and Candace would make faces over their raised hoops.
And later, she recalled her mother, the only one with musical ability, playing the piano as the girls listened.
Another memory arose of Baron Umbridge visiting to court her.
He’d inch closer to her on the sofa while her mother, the ever-present chaperon, would pretend to be occupied with her book.
Nora’s marriage to the Earl of Ralston may have been unexpected, but so far, he had been considerate and had not visited her chambers.
As the days and evenings passed, she still was unsure how she felt about that fact.
When he’d stepped close to her to look into the eyepiece of the microscope, she found him disturbing and exciting.
And when he’d looked at her with admiration, her pulse skittered, and her heartbeat throbbed in her ears.
For a woman who lived for science, it was unnerving.
‘Come join us.’ Candace patted a spot on the sofa. ‘Ellen will bring tea.’
Nora sat in between her sisters.
‘How is marriage to the Earl. Tell us everything,’ Candace said.
Where to start. ‘It has only been a week. We are both still adjusting.’
‘But how was the wedding night?’ Sara leaned forward. ‘My school friend, Amanda, said it was painful and sweaty, like riding in an overcrowded coach in the heat of summer.’
‘Sara!’ Candace admonished. ‘Don’t be so brash.’ She turned to look at Nora. ‘But how was it?’
Nora felt her face grow warm. ‘We haven’t…um…shared a bed yet.’
Both sisters looked at her. ‘What do you mean?’ Candace asked,
‘Ralston has not demanded his marital rights. He says he wants to give me time to adjust to married life considering we lacked a courtship.’
‘Truly?’ Sara asked. ‘Is that normal?’
‘No, I don’t believe so,’ Candace said. ‘You are incredibly fortunate. I always thought men’s consideration just an excuse to hide their selfishness or inadequacies.’
Inadequacies. She didn’t believe that the Earl had anything to worry about in that regard.
She’d caught the heated looks he’d given her.
As for intimacy, her sisters had different viewpoints.
They also had different life experiences.
Candace had her heart broken. Sara had stars in her eyes.
Nora wondered if the truth was somewhere in between. So where did that leave her?
Was Ralston simply being considerate? Or was there another reason. Did he find her lacking and perhaps was using his ‘considerateness’ as an excuse to avoid consummating their marriage? After all, neither of them had intended to marry each other. Her head began to spin with doubts and fears.
As if sensing her unease, Candace said, ‘Let us talk of more pleasant things. Have you met any Society ladies?’
Nora nodded, feeling relieved at the change in topic.
‘I attended a garden party. It was not as fearful as I’d imagined.
’ The ladies had accepted her after her husband had smoothed her way with his introduction.
She turned to Sara. ‘I know you love fashion, Sara, and their dresses were lovely. Our hostess’s dress, however, was quite gaudy. ’
‘I would have loved to see all of them,’ Sara said.
‘Meanwhile, I have something to show you of my own that I’ve secretly stowed away.
’ She rose and went to the far corner where a small closet, which held mops, brooms, and dusting cloths for the maids, was hidden behind an armchair.
Sara wheeled out a drape-covered object, then whisked the sheet away to reveal a seamstress’s mannequin.
Nora covered her gasp with her hand. A frilly piece of black silk was on full display. ‘What is it?’
‘It’s a lady’s undergarment.’ A black corset with a bow at the bust and buttons down the front. Frilly black garters accompanied it.
‘The French call it lingerie. I believe when a lady feels lovely underneath, she will feel beautiful in her dress or gown,’ Sara said.
It was too lovely to be scandalous. Her mind bloomed and she imagined Ralston’s reaction if she wore such an erotic piece. If she was honest with herself, she had thought of visiting his bed. What would a dominant male like Ralston be like? Her pulse quickened at the thought.