Chapter 9
“Itrust you shall be comfortable here,” Dominic said as he had rehearsed in his mind on the quiet ride to his house. Well, their house. “It is yours as much as it is mine. And should there be anything you would like to alter, you are welcome to.”
Verity was studying the townhouse. Their home.
Dominic turned over his own hat and cloak to his footman, Daniel, who departed with their traveling items. It left just him and his wife in the hall, and he turned back to watch her.
She craned her neck up to consider the chandelier around the high ceilings, and he was glad he had thought to hire additional help for the last two weeks so everything would be properly clean and orderly upon her arrival.
“It is very nice,” she said slowly before turning to look back at him. “And the household?”
“I didn’t wish for you to be overwhelmed. They’re all gathered in the next hall should you desire to meet them now. Otherwise, I can have your maid called forth to deliver you to your room where you should be set comfortably with a bath and your preferred evening tea.”
Her lips quirked, though he couldn’t discern the meaning. “That was thoughtful of you. I should like to meet the household tonight. I’ll tour tomorrow. A bath should be pleasant. And what… What exactly…”
She didn’t continue.
Instead, her cheeks flushed. Her gaze dropped from his as she struggled for words. Those slim hands waved in the air once and then twice before giving up.
Realizing what she might be speaking of, Dominic inclined his head before taking three steps forward so their feet nearly touched. As her dress brushed over his boots, he spoke low to explain the terms of their marriage.
“What I told you before remains the truth: I have no expectations of you, especially as we do not know one another. Our rooms are connected but each side carries its own lock. Your bathing room is your own. We are expected to be seen together and that is all. Satisfied?”
There went her rigid shoulders relaxing, their hands brushing before she pulled away. “Good. Thank you. I… I am satisfied.”
“I am glad to hear it.” He found himself raising his gaze to look at Verity only to find she still didn’t glance his way. The blush on her cheeks remained. Unable to make his feet move, Dominic wasn’t ready to leave her yet. “May I introduce you to the rest of the household?”
“Yes, please.”
Verity turned away first, moving toward the hall he had nodded toward earlier. She walked with her head tall. An admirable trait, even if she didn’t particularly know where she was going. Which she realized, and slowed down, turning back toward him.
Not wanting to embarrass her any further, Dominic politely moved around her to take the lead.
He caught a whiff of lilac. It was an intoxicating scent.
By the time they made it down the hall to the servants all lined in the hall––the front entryway didn’t allow for a neat line––he had nearly forgotten what they were doing.
But after another deep breath, Dominic pulled himself together.
He introduced his household. Introductions went as one might expect with a quiet household and new lady: Verity asked several questions to each servant before realizing she was monopolizing everyone’s time.
She sent him a look he couldn’t read before turning back to the line of servants.
After a hasty apology, she mentioned meeting with each of them over the coming days, and then nodded to her maid.
“I should like to retire to my room now,” Verity said, and paused with a pretty blush on her cheeks before adding, “Do you mind?”
“Not at all.” All eyes were on them. He gestured to the two women down the hall they might take, and then he nodded to his servants once she was gone. “Well done, everyone. Have a good evening.”
It was meant to be a night like any other. That was what he told himself. He tended to his evening toilet, sent off his valet for the evening, and then retired. Everything had gone accordingly to plan.
So why can’t I sleep?
“Good morning, Your Grace,” his valet, Riley, was saying much too early the following morning. He strode through the room to open the curtains. “It promises to be a sunny day. Your solicitor has already delivered your latest report. Lastly, your breakfast should be ready in an hour.”
He groaned as he pulled himself up to sit on the edge of the bed. Rubbing his eyes, he was still not ready to rise when Riley brought forth a steaming cup of tea.
“Are you well, Your Grace?”
“Tired is all. Have coffee prepared with the food today. Is the report in my office?”
Riley stepped back and studied him for a moment, his pale blue eyes observant as ever. The older man was paid well to do his job. Most of the time it was easy, as Dominic appreciated routine. It was rare for anything to affect him enough to disturb his day to day.
Marriage, of course, was not part of his routine. Dominic took a sip of his tea as he mused over what other changes he would need to expect.
“Perhaps the blue velvet waist coat today,” Riley proclaimed. “That’s your favorite. The most comfortable. A simple cravat twist, I’d say. Or do you wish to go riding today?”
“What day is it?”
His valet’s eyes widened. “Wednesday, of course.”
“Of course,” Dominic echoed, wondering how he could have slept so poorly.
Was it simply because he knew Verity was there on the other side of his wall?
His eyes flitted over, wondering if he might hear her.
Wondering if she might hear him. He shook his head.
This was not helpful. “Right. You said the blue waist coat?”
Eventually, he was shaved and dressed for the day. Dominic thrummed with a nervous energy on his way to the dining room.
Expecting Verity to join him soon, he paused within the entryway where he saw the dining room set. He preferred the seat furthest from the food, the corner seat. But where would she like to sit? Was he supposed to sit with her? Far from her?
The situation left him uncomfortable, for he didn’t care for situations where he didn’t understand what to do or what to say. If he could not control the situation, he found a way out of it.
How am I supposed to free myself from a marriage of discomfort?
His thoughts wandered as he glared at the table. He finally took his usual seat, deciding he had no reason to change his routine or habits at this time.
It was just in time as the cook entered with the first course.
He jerked to attention. One of the footmen trailed over to assist with his cup. The scent didn’t particularly entice him, but he needed something stronger than black tea today.
Nodding his thanks for the drink, he excused them so he wouldn’t have anyone hovering. He liked quiet mealtimes.
Dominic slumped in his seat before he had even had a sip of coffee. He hadn’t been so out of sorts in a very long time. It wasn’t like him to question everything he did. At least, not anymore.
Drumming his hands on the table, Dominic eyed the food and then the open door. It was a reasonable time to break a fast, wasn’t it? He checked his timepiece just to be sure.
He waited a few minutes and then he waited longer.
His head butler, Mr. Timmons, appeared. “Are you well, Your Grace?”
With a jerk of his head, Dominic muttered, “Yes, yes. I’m just fine. What about, that is, have you heard if the duchess has risen?”
“I believe so, Your Grace, yes.”
“Do you know if she is well? Will she join me?”
“Ah. I don’t believe so, Your Grace,” Mr. Timmons told him apologetically. “Her maid requested a tray delivered over a quarter of an hour ago.”
Dominic frowned. He hadn’t realized he’d had any hope. But now it was gone. Rubbing his face, he knew it wasn’t fair to her or himself to have any expectations like this. Had he not told her she could do as she desired?
I should have realized, or asked. This is my household, is it not? Mine to command, to direct, to question. The same goes for Verity, though I shall give her time to adjust. For I’ve brought a stranger into my home. One that smells of lilacs…
“Very well. Thank you, Mr. Timmons,” Dominic added, letting the butler know he could take his leave.
Left alone again, Dominic drank the rest of his coffee and forced himself to eat something. He ended his meal feeling much more awake but much more annoyed with the sunny day.
Hours passed in his routine. This usually brought him comfort.
Sorting through reports, analyzing his finances.
It helped greatly that he could work with his solicitor to finally access all of his funds and accounts.
There came the needed benefit from this union.
But even that brought Dominic little pleasure or peace.
Not until he went down for supper.
He was sitting in the drawing room, staring out the window while waiting for the door to the dining room to open. But then through the open hall slipped Verity.
They hadn’t seen each other since yesterday.
Immediately, Dominic rose to his feet. “Verity.”
“Dominic.” She nodded to him as she came forward. Dressed in a lovely blue gown with short gloves, she appeared well. Those hazel eyes of her gave away her nerves as her gaze darted about the room, frequently returning to him.
What that meant, he couldn’t say.
“Are you adjusting well?” Dominic bit his tongue. He wasn’t feeling as prepared to see her as he would have liked. Hiding his hands behind his back to hide his own nerves, he tried to smile. “I trust the servants have been showing you much.”
“Indeed. I nearly have a headache from all that they’ve shared,” she announced.
“I’m sorry to hear that. We can prepare some tea…”
Verity shook her head. “I said nearly. I am well, but thank you. It’s a fine house you have, and it’s run tighter than a ship. Have you ever been on one?”
The question caught him off guard. “I have not.”
“Ah. Very well.”
Before he could send her a questioning glance, the doors opened and Mr. Timmons beamed at them. “Supper is prepared. Welcome, Your Grace. Your Grace. Do come in.”