Chapter 9 #2
Dominic had been out of sorts since he woke up that morning knowing he was a married man. Taking his wife’s arm into supper didn’t bring him any further comfort. They moved in awkward silence to their seats placed neatly at the corner of the table where he always sat.
No longer alone. I suppose that is an advantage to being a married man. Is this what I am to expect every evening?
“Thank you,” she murmured as he helped her to her seat.
“Have you any––” He started to ask about her day when they were seated. But then the side doors opened to reveal the kitchen maids with the evening’s dishes. Closing his mouth, he waited for the trays to be set before trying again. “Have you any questions about the household?”
Verity glanced at the cutlery for a moment, situating herself as their leek soup was distributed before them. “Yes, in fact, I wished to talk to you about the linen cupboards. The shelving doesn’t make much sense, but I wish to rebuild and restructure them.”
There wasn’t a single image that came to mind when she mentioned the linen cupboards.
While Dominic took good care of the front of the house and the main rooms, he hadn’t considered other spaces around the house that might use more order.
It wasn’t a space that ever occurred to him might require more order.
“I find that reasonable,” he said after a long pause, searching for the appropriate formalities.
Finding no topics that interested him, Dominic sipped his soup. Quietly. Properly.
When he glanced at Verity, wondering if she might prefer further conversation, he found her hastily glancing away like she might have been studying him.
Neither of them spoke for the next two courses. Dominic’s stomach clenched in frustration about not knowing what more he should do, if he was doing anything wrong or right. This didn’t fit right into his routine, making conversation at supper.
Are we to sup quietly every night for the rest of our lives––sitting side by side?
“Would you like the carrots?”
Verity’s sudden voice made him jerk. It might not have been a noticeable move had his silverware not clanged noisily against the porcelain table. He froze while she glanced down at his hands. They steadied as he decided not to mention his little jump.
“Yes, certainly. Thank you.” He accepted the tray, considered them, and then set them down.
He didn’t realize she was still watching. “Aren’t you going to eat any?”
“No. I don’t eat carrots.”
“Then why did you accept them?”
Dominic felt like he was a young man all over again, being taught in the schoolroom. Being told he had done something wrong. “It was polite, was it not?” He forced out.
“Certainly, but you’re allowed to decline if you don’t care to eat them.
I should have guessed when I didn’t see them on the menu.
I had them added this morning,” Verity explained before pausing a long moment.
“Is there anything else you don’t like? Or, perhaps, does the household have a list that I haven’t been informed about? ”
“There should be one in the housekeeper’s office. But should you like something on the menu, you’re welcome to include it for yourself.”
She dropped her utensils suddenly. Staring, Dominic was merely relieved that he didn’t jump. He frowned at her in concern to see her brow furrowed.
“Verity, is something amiss?”
“I’m concerned everything is amiss. I don’t know how I didn’t think about it, and how you didn’t mention anything. While this marriage may not be the union we ever intended, I should think we can come together to… to create something satisfactory for the two of us. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Impressed that Verity was already speaking up for what she desired, Dominic had to wonder what this might mean for their future.
He nodded slowly. “Indeed, I believe that would be wise. What would you find satisfactory?”
“Communication, comfort, and security. I want to know what is happening in this house and with you. I want us to be truthful with one another, and I don’t want to be left wondering what is going on. I like answers.”
“I can imagine. Is this what you might call communication?”
Her lips twitched. “Yes. Not the silence from before, that was too strange for my liking. If we don’t have anything to say, well, that would be quite different. But I think we have a lot to sort out.”
“There is much to learn. Fortunately, we have a lifetime ahead of us. What answers are you looking for?”
“Everything and anything, I suppose. There’s not much I know about you.”
“I’m afraid I have yet to write my autobiography. You may review it once it’s finished,” he remarked dryly.
A slight smile finally escaped her lips. “Will it be long?”
“Long enough to see you through your breakfast but not a proper supper. What of yours?”
“A full chapter would take you two suppers,” she said, lifting her chin. He noted how the candlelight made her eyes sparkle. Gold and green brightened before him. He forgot about his food. “Perhaps we can consider the essentials tonight. What do you expect in marriage?”
“Company, such as this evening. Most suppers together and a few social functions. Household management support and entertaining duties, anything else one might conventionally expect,” he listed off.
Verity hesitated only a second before diving further, “Do you expect me to be silent?”
“I don’t think it would be fair to expect anyone to be silent. You have a voice, and I should like to hear your opinions. If you want to share them.”
“Oh, I will want to share them. What sort of demands do you have of your wife?”
He nodded to let the food course switch out. As the two maids moved the food around, Dominic took a moment to consider the question. He’d already noted his expectations. Was there anything to be clear about?
“I would like your support and your friendship. I don’t appreciate disruption to my routine, but I can learn to adjust should you find any needed changes. If there is anything you need, I would rather you ask than make any assumptions. Do you expect any demands to be made of you?”
She was biting her lip, worrying it through his words. As he pondered a potential need to clarify something to reassure her she could do as she liked, she spoke up before he could.
“I like my independence. I do like to speak, you know this. But I also like my life. My habits and my talents deserve their time and attention. While I should like to do my part in running the household, I like to attend as many social functions during the season that I can and I don’t like to be told what to do. ”
Dominic listened to her quick rush of words. Something about them sounded a little rehearsed. Did she worry about him? His heart stopped as he wondered about her own parents, and if she knew about his parents.
“Very well.” He swallowed. Distracting himself by resuming eating his supper, he gave it a moment to consider how to answer. “You will have the carriage to use at your expense for any activity. I am not much for such affairs, but if you should like me present on occasion, I will oblige.”
“Oh. Truly?” She sounded surprised.
“With proper notice provided.”
“I will take that into consideration. And you won’t mind if I am out often?”
He opened his mouth, paused and then said, “As long as you are being respectable. I will not entertain any dalliances, and I would appreciate the same respect. Are there certain functions you prefer to attend?”
“Oh, all of them,” she said while waving her hand.
Then she put her hand down, and their fingers brushed.
The contact was warm, like the first spark of a flame.
She jumped as he clenched his fork. “I… I simply enjoy being around people. Society. There is so much to do in London; I don’t wish to miss out on the season.
I enjoy the chaos and excitement, the people and the festivities. ”
Thinking of the ball he attended with her, Dominic questioned her words. He recalled her standing in the corner with her sisters. The way she lit up when the gossip journal came out.
But he didn’t say a word about it, of course. The tinging in his hand where she touched him was too distracting to say anything at all.