Chapter Fifteen
Georgina set the last book in place on the shelf then stepped back to admire her collection.
There weren’t as many as at Silver Meadows, but she had a small collection all her own that she’d bought with her pin money.
Mrs. Evans had recommended the six-volume Ornithologie by Mathurin Jacques Brisson, which was the base of her collection, along with individual books that covered birds in other countries, like those in Africa, and her newest purchase, the first volume of Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands by Mark Catesby.
All she needed was the second volume and she’d have a respectable collection of her own.
She walked over to the little table where her hot cocoa and marzipan were, or rather what was left of them, and took a sip of her cold cocoa.
She would now have to ask Philip, not her father, for her pin money.
There were so many changes to get used to, but so far, she had enjoyed every one.
She couldn’t think of anything that was harder or worse than before.
What would her husband think of her collection?
She smiled. Whenever she had news, she used to wonder what her classmates would think. Now, it was what her husband would think.
Philip had many more books in his study on a number of different subjects. She’d noticed more books on husbandry than the other topics, but those could have all been his father’s. She found his reluctance to take over his father’s rooms odd. Maybe when she knew him a little better, she could ask.
Picking up the last pineapple-shaped marzipan, she took a bite and looked over her book collection once again. As she chewed, enjoying the almondy flavor, she remembered there should be one more book—the book the Curious Ladies passed to each other.
She scanned the room full of empty chests.
Sophie had given the book to her on her wedding day.
She’d already looked in all the usual places, except the chest at the end of her bed.
If it wasn’t there, she’d call a maid to find out where it had been put.
After taking the last sip of cocoa, she moved through the dressing room and back to her bedroom.
She knelt before the chest and lifted the lid.
“Yes!” There, on top of a set of embroidered pillowcases, was the book covered in brown paper.
Sitting back, she untied the string, spread out the paper, and read aloud, “The Education of the Feminine Species.” That didn’t sound very exciting.
Disappointed, she closed the chest lid and rose, undecided where the book should go.
It wasn’t about birds, so it didn’t fit with those in her sitting room, but she’d feel guilty stuffing it in a drawer in her dressing room.
There was a pale paisley upholstered settee and table near one window, so she walked to it and set the book on the table. It looked nice there, taking up half of the small table. It didn’t appear to be special. They were all ladies and already had been educated.
Shrugging, she left it there and rang the bell for her lady’s maid. She needed to change for dinner. She was anxious to see Philip again. Was that normal?
*
In no time, she was dressed and descending the stairs for dinner. Her heart raced a little. She was excited to be in her own husband’s company once again. As she headed toward the corridor, the door to Philip’s study opened and he stepped out.
“Georgina, I was about to send for you.”
“Am I late for dinner?” She thought she was rather early.
“Not at all. In fact, I thought we could stroll in the garden and check on the mother wren before we ate.”
Her heart warmed. Here at Crestfield he was attentive all the time, not so taken with his thoughts. “I’d like that very much.” She took his arm, and he led her back into the study and out the terrace doors. “Thank you for sending the marzipan and cocoa. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
“I have a feeling the cook will need to make marzipan daily.”
“Could she? I’d love that. Our cook never made it.”
He led her down the path, the evening growing cooler, but not cold yet. “Do you think you will tire of it if you have it every day?”
She grinned. “I don’t know. But I’m willing to find out.”
Philip laughed, a sound so rare that it went through her and straight down to her toes. “That’s a philosophy I can agree with.” He stopped and pointed. “I believe this is where the mother-to-be is located, correct?”
She looked at the bush and nodded, then crouched down to see the little wren still perched in her nest. Not wishing to disturb her, Georgina rose and whispered, “She’s being such a good mother. I’m so glad we didn’t bet on her children.”
Philip took her arm again and walked them down the path closer to the doors of the dining room. “You won our last bet. I think it only fitting that I choose our next.”
“Very well, what do you wish to bet on?”
“Since we’ll be out again tomorrow, I think we should bet on who sees a bird of prey first.”
“That sounds like it gives me the advantage, as I’m always watching for birds.”
“True, but I know Newnham better than you and have seen ravens, owls, and falcons here, so I know where to look. That makes us equal in our chances.”
She smiled, pleased with his thought process. “I accept. What is your wager?”
“I was thinking something simple, like whoever wins will be on top.”
She frowned. “On top of what?”
He lowered his head. “Each other in bed.”
Her cheeks heated even as she nodded her agreement. “I will take that bet. I like a wager where neither of us loses.”
“That was my thought exactly. Now that we have that settled, did you arrange your books as you wished?”
“I did. I’m happy with my collection. How was your unplanned meeting with your steward?”
“It was very good. As it happens, he brought good news about the mill. The new wheel was installed and is working well.”
“What was wrong with the old wheel?”
“It had been struck by lightning in a storm last month, and half of it fell into the river. It needed to be fished out, as it blocked the water flow, and then the rest of it needed to be removed. Once the new wheel was completed, it then needed to be installed. It’s taken over a month, but since crops won’t come in until near the end of summer, there was no true loss of productivity.
” He stopped talking and looked at her. “I’m sorry.
I didn’t mean to bore you with such details. ”
“You don’t bore me at all. I asked because I’m interested. What does your mill grind?”
“Our mill grinds mostly wheat and barley. Grinding our own saves expenses for our tenants.”
She smiled up at him, too happy that he continued to talk about the estate as theirs and not his. “Then we are fortunate to have a river running through the estate.”
“Yes, we are.” He smiled at her before leading her through the open doors of the terrace into the dining room. “And I’m thinking that we may need to have the cook order many more bags of almonds to be ground if you are to have your favorite food daily.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to be a bother. I do like other desserts such as flummery, Shrewsbury cakes, and ice creams.” She took her seat as the footman held her chair for her. “Does the village have a bakery? I do enjoy trying new desserts.”
“It does indeed. Perhaps after you’ve finished meeting our tenants, we can plan a trip to the village. There is also a nice inn there, as well as a few shops.”
“I’d enjoy that very much. You don’t mind? I can always take my maid if you’re otherwise needed.”
“This week, you’re my sole focus. After all, we will be returning to Town as a married couple, and the more we know about each other, the better.”
He said the loveliest things. If she wasn’t careful, she could well fall in love with him, but she wasn’t willing to let allow that quite yet.
Words, as she’d learned, were as fleeting as migrating birds.
It was deeds that held great weight, and his deeds so far had been most flattering.
“I imagine I will need some pin money if we are to go into the village.”
He waited for the soup to be laid before them then addressed her. “There is no need for pin money in the village. The merchants will charge the estate, and I will be certain you have some for Town when we return.”
“Are there any printers or book shops in the village? There is another book on birds I’d like to add to my collection.”
“No, there isn’t, but you can purchase it in Town. I have an account at Hatchard’s, so you may acquire as many books as you wish.”
She paused, staring at him, her spoon halfway to her mouth. “Truly?”
“Yes. If we need more room, we can always have more bookcases built.”
As she savored the pea soup, she contemplated the change in her status.
She’d never been told she could buy as much as she wanted.
Now, as a countess, she could redecorate rooms, purchase books, and order what she liked to eat.
It was so perfect that she felt that something would ruin it, but that was silly.
As they ate dinner, she learned more about her new home and the many people who kept it functioning. Afterward, they moved to the parlor, where they played a card game he called piquet and bet kisses. When it grew late, he walked her to her room, assuring her he’d be in to visit…and he was.
She fell asleep in his arms, her dreams as beautiful as her waking moments.
When she did wake, she found herself draped halfway over her sleeping husband.
He’d stayed the entire night! Not sure what to do, she stayed completely still, watching him breathe.
There was something reassuring about his chest moving slightly upward and then down again as he exhaled.
That chest was broad and strong. He’d told her that was from rowing in college.
And his thighs were truly remarkable. He said that was from riding.
She didn’t much care why he made her belly quiver, just that he did.