Chapter Eleven
Nash tapped his foot, waiting in the entrance hall for his wife to make an appearance. Once again, he checked his watch. He’d told Arabella he wished to leave at dawn. Here it was nearly eight o’clock, and she was still giving last-minute instructions on the care and feeding of her cursed animals.
It had taken quite a few lively discussions before he’d flat out ordered her to leave the animals behind. He had no intention of sneezing all the way to Suffolk if he had to share his ride with recovering animals. Nor would he allow another carriage to haul them all. With their vehicle, and the one for Sophia and Andrews with all their trunks, the entourage was extensive enough.
“Arabella.” He strode down the corridor to the kitchen where she held court with two footmen and Cook. She waved her arms around, still explaining.
A quick glance at what he assumed was his exasperated face, she said, “I am ready, my lord.” She stooped to give last-minute pats to the several animals in recuperation, then with a sad smile joined him. “Couldn’t we at least take—”
“No.” He grabbed her elbow and marched her down the corridor, out the door, down the steps, and into the carriage. He snatched her reticule from Quinn’s hand as he passed by.
Arabella settled into the carriage and straightened her gown. “My goodness. Was it absolutely necessary for you to propel me out the door that way?”
“Yes. We would have been there another hour had I left it up to you to decide the time was right to leave those beasts.”
“They are hardly beasts, and they need me.”
“And I needed you to leave.” He took a deep breath. “Let us not start off this trip at odds with each other.”
“I agree.” Arabella settled into her seat. “Tell me about Clarendon Manor.”
He loved his home in Suffolk and enjoyed talking about it. “Except for when I was at school, I spent most of my life there until I took my seat in Parliament. The house actually dates back to the Elizabethan era. The exterior of the house retains that appearance, but most of the interior was remodeled over the years. The gardens were at one time extensive, but we have cut back on them since before my father’s time.”
“It sounds as though you enjoy time in the country.”
“Yes. Mother did not approve of her children living in Town, felt the air was not good for our lungs. Consequently, Eugenia and I were left at the Manor oftentimes for months at a time with her governess, my tutor, and other staff members. Mother would visit us at least once a month for a week or more while she and Father were in London.
“Once I went off to Eton, and then University, Eugenia was left by herself with no playmates. Although, even when I was at home, she was forced to spend a great deal of time indoors while I was allowed much more freedom. Mother had strict rules for my sister.”
“And for you?”
“Well, as a boy I wasn’t forced to sit for hours and embroider or do watercolors. Eugenia also spent a great deal of time practicing how to walk, how to sit. I think Mother even tied a board of some sort to her back to improve her posture.”
“Good heavens. Poor Eugenia. It seems so unfair.”
Nash shrugged. “I never questioned the discrepancy, since I was led to believe little girls had delicate constitutions and therefore could not run, play, or climb trees as well as little boys.”
Arabella stared at him. “I don’t believe that. Not for one moment. There is no doubt in my non-delicate mind that little girls can climb, run, and jump as well as little boys. I have done such myself, and should we have daughters, I expect them to have some freedom as well as learning their necessary lessons.”
“I suppose you spent all of your girlhood taking care of stray animals.”
“Not all of it. Like Eugenia, I had lessons in comportment, manners, watercolors, embroidery, and pianoforte. I also learned French and German, along with math, geography, and history. Father insisted that I have a well-rounded education.
“But, yes, as a matter of fact, I did spend too much time, according to Mother, rescuing animals and tending to their injuries. I loved when I could provide care for an animal that I found. Though my mother was and still is not too fond of my ‘little hobby,’ as she calls it.
“Speaking of Mother, not that she said so, but I think she is concerned that you are less than delighted with her and wish for her to stay out of your way for a while.”
Nash shook his head. If that was the woman’s concern, she certainly hadn’t wasted any time in settling herself into his home. “Truthfully, I have not yet completely gotten over my angst at what she did. Not just to me, by accident, but to you. It angers me that she thought so little of your appeal that she felt it was necessary to foist you off on a man old enough to be your grandfather. However, she is your mother, and will receive the necessary respect from me, and my staff, as well.
“That being said, I own a house in Bath that I leave for my mother’s use, or Eugenia’s, if she desires to visit. If your mother wishes to have privacy, she is more than welcome to reside there. Or if she would like to holiday there.”
Arabella stared at him. “Thank you. I will suggest it to her. She might like that very much, in fact. At one time, she visited Bath at least once a year. She still has friends there with whom she corresponds.” Her whispered words, and the relief on her face, touched him.
He gave her a crooked smile. “Did you expect me to toss your mother out into the streets?”
“Well, since you seem quite anxious to do the same with my animal friends, the thought had crossed my mind.” She smiled back, her eyes full of laughter.
He reached for her hand and slowly withdrew her glove, the silky material sliding over her skin. He placed a light kiss on her palm and looked up at her through the curls resting on his forehead. “I am not in the habit of abandoning ladies to their fates.”
He turned her hand over and stroked his thumb over the soft, sensitive skin at her wrist. “Ah, my countess, perhaps when you get to know me better, you will find I am not the ogre you believe me to be.”
Her breath whooshed from her lungs, which she attempted to hide with a cough. She shifted in her seat, obviously affected by his actions. “Yes, perhaps.”
His soft laughter at her discomfort with his attentions brought a scowl to her face.
They made one stop for a late luncheon and to switch horses at the Bull and Bear Inn a little more than halfway to Clarendon Manor. Restless and anxious to be freed from the carriage, Nash was quite happy when he was able to note the beginning of Clarendon land, with only about a half-hour distance from the front door.
The sun had set, and it was near dark when the carriage rolled to a stop in front of his estate home. Since word had been sent ahead that their arrival was imminent, the household servants stood outside, lined up, awaiting their master and new mistress.
“I will introduce you to the staff, but since it grows dark, I suggest you refrain from too much conversation. You will have time over the next few days to speak more fully to them.”
He climbed out and turned to help her down. She shook out her skirts and put a bright smile on her face as she linked her arm with his and they walked up the stone path and greeted the head butler, Morton.
Based on the dark circles under her eyes and the lines of fatigue on her face, it was apparent Arabella was exhausted from the trip, but she nevertheless showed the proper interest as Morton bowed to them both. After introductions were made, he proceeded down the line to introduce all the house male servants. His housekeeper, Mrs. Davies, then continued on and introduced all the female servants.
Arabella was gracious, charming, and unaffected. Truth be known, he was very proud of her at that moment. She had the correct balance of approachability without a suggestion of inappropriate friendliness. The staff seemed enthralled with her, and Nash was hard pressed not to admit the same feeling himself.
On the other hand, his mood dampened a bit at the extensive possibilities that presented themselves with access to more wild animals. More surgery. More arguments. He would need to find a way to keep his stubborn little wife busy. Perhaps more time spent in bed? He grinned at the thought.
They were escorted to their bedchambers, Mrs. Davies only taking a few minutes to point out to Arabella what she needed to know for the night. “Your lady’s maid has been busy since her arrival arranging your things.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Davies. I look forward to speaking with you tomorrow, when we have time together.”
The housekeeper nodded and turned to Nash. “Will you be dining this evening, my lord? Cook has a fine meal prepared for you and your bride.”
“That sounds wonderful, but I believe we would like a light supper sent up. Lady Clarendon is recovering from an illness and I am afraid all the travel has left her weary, and we will be retiring early this evening.”
“Of course, my lord. I am sorry to hear that.” She curtsied to them both and left the room.
Arabella untied her bonnet and tossed it on the bed. “Thank you, Nash. I really was not anxious to dress for a formal dinner tonight.”
For once she did not naysay him on his orders for them both. He walked to her and tilted her chin up. “We tend not to be formal in the country and keep country hours, as well. But you do appear tired. Why don’t you have Sophia arrange for a bath, and we can meet in the sitting room adjoining our bedchambers in say, an hour, for our meal?”
“Yes. That would be perfect.”
He bent and placed his lips on hers. Despite her fatigue, she responded, leaving him wondering just how tired his wife was. As soon as supper was over, he intended to find out.
…
The next morning, Arabella awoke alone in her bed at Clarendon Manor. After a lovely bath and a quiet supper the night before, she’d nodded off as she sat across from Nash over the small table that had been set up in the sitting room for their meal. He’d scooped her up and carried her to her bedchamber, tucked her in, and kissed her on the forehead. Then, instead of joining her, he’d left to return to his own bedchamber. She hadn’t seen him since.
They’d been man and wife a few weeks, and he’d only come to her once. Had he found her so unsatisfactory that he’d decided to forego what she’d been told was a man’s favorite activity? Or did he, like so many in the ton, keep a mistress who satisfied his baser needs?
The thought bothered her. Not a jealous person by nature, even so, she had no desire to share her husband with another woman. Especially one who would be much more experienced than she. Then, a little voice of reason whispered that she’d been sick for most of their married life, and the last two nights she’d been so tired Nash had been forced to assist her to bed. If she intended to keep him away from other women’s beds, she would do well to stop dropping her head into her dessert each evening.
“Good morning, my lady.” Sophia pulled back the bed curtains and then moved to the window to open the drapes. Low-hung gray clouds covered the sky, just the sort of weather that enticed one to curl up with a fire, a cup of tea, and a good book. But Nash had said during their journey that he was anxious to visit the tenants.
From what he’d told her, his steward, Mr. Jones, had been reporting less profits over the past couple of years than what they’d received for years before that. He had also claimed expenses had risen. When she questioned him, Nash admitted the thought had crossed his mind that Mr. Jones might be pilfering money from him, but he was an older man who had been employed by the Clarendon title for many years, as well as his father before him. It hardly seemed likely that he would suddenly begin to steal from them.
Arabella climbed from bed and allowed Sophia to tend to her morning ablutions. With a blue and white striped day dress and her hair in a sensible braid that Sophia had wrapped around her head, Arabella descended the stairs to the breakfast room. She’d been so tired the night before, she’d forgotten where Mrs. Davies had said it was and had to have a footman direct her.
Nash sat at the table, his newspaper covering his face. As soon as she entered, he placed the paper next to his plate and stood. “Good morning. You had a restful sleep, I assume?”
“Yes, I did. I hardly remember finishing our supper last evening.”
“You were a bit weary, but I must say, you look quite refreshed this morning.”
Did the twinkle in his eye and lopsided smile mean he intended to play the husband tonight? A shiver ran through her at the thought of his warm, large hands on her naked flesh. Yes, she was ready for another go at playing wife.
“I would like to make the first rounds of tenant visits in about an hour. There are several I wish to speak with about this drop in production Mr. Jones keeps sending correspondence about. Before you came down, I took a short ride to the closest farms and saw no evidence of such. That disturbs me for more than one reason. I do not like employing someone whose trust I question, and it reminds me that I have been neglecting my estate duties in favor of Parliament.”
He took a sip of coffee from his blue and white china cup and placed it back into the saucer. “Will you be ready?
She studied him as he spoke. His country dress was less formal than Town dress. His beige breeches, tucked into shiny Hessian boots, fit snugly over his bulging muscles. He wore no waistcoat under his dark green woolen jacket. A loosely tied cravat, giving him a somewhat rakish look, completed the outfit. The man was definitely not hard to look at. The heat rose once again in her face. “Yes, I will be ready as soon as I finish breakfast.”
“Excellent.” He stood and pushed his chair back. “I wish to go over the correspondence I brought with me from London, so when you are ready, please join me in the library. If you don’t remember where that is, just ask one of the footmen to direct you.” Kissing her on the top of her head, he quit the room.
Arabella took her time eating her breakfast since Nash had given her an hour. She idly looked over the newspaper. Since it had arrived by post, it bore the previous day’s date. As she leisurely turned the pages, she took only a quick glance at the Society pages. She’d never been interested in who was intending to offer for whom, who the new Incomparable was, and which debutante was not receiving enough attention, despite her large dowry. She shook her head at the nonsense she was so happy to be away from. Perhaps they could spend the rest of the Season in the country.
She finished her breakfast and took a slow walk to her bedchamber to retrieve her bonnet and gloves.
Her new home was a bit different from the home in which she’d been raised. Clarendon Manor boasted thick carpets, silk wall coverings, and old, but well-cared-for, furniture. While her childhood homes had been quite pleasant, this one spoke of a family with perhaps more funds to keep it up to standard.
She hoped to have time during the day to take a tour with Mrs. Davies, but now she needed to present herself to Nash for their tenant visits. Drawing on her gloves, she checked her appearance in the mirror and followed a footman to the library.
Nash sat behind an immense desk, an open ledger book in front of him, his hands propping his head up. From the condition of his hair, he must have spent some time running his fingers through it.
“Are things bad?” She took the chair in front of his desk. In her entire life, she had never given money a thought. She’d visited the shops along Bond Street and had the bills sent to Father. Only once had Mother mentioned that perhaps Arabella could do without a gown she had desperately wanted for an upcoming ball. That had been the first time money, or perhaps a lack thereof, had ever been brought to her attention.
“I’m sure my dowry can be put to good use. I know Papa always said it was a significant amount. I assume that will help?”