Chapter Nine
“What the bloody hell!” Nash bolted up from his prone position as hairy bodies jumped on the bed, barking, growling, and using their teeth to grab the blankets off him and Arabella. “Arabella!” He began shoving the dogs from the bed to the floor, but they bounded up again.
His wife sat up, laughing and rubbing the animals. “Good morning, my friends.”
He looked at her aghast. Yes, she was indeed laughing. Stark naked, looking well-loved, and laughing! Her hair was in disarray, she bore a slight beard burn on her shoulder’s lovely skin, and all he wanted to do was climb on top of her and repeat last night’s pleasure. Instead, he was tossing bodies off his bed.
“Arabella, get rid of these animals! I told you they were not to be in the bed.” He looked toward the open door. “Who the devil let these demons in?”
Sophia’s shaky voice came from the corridor. “I am sorry, my lord, they followed me up the stairs and raced in as soon as I opened the door.”
Between laughs, Arabella said, “It is all right, Sophia. They’re excited to see me.” She glanced at Nash. “They usually sleep in my bed.”
Nash hopped off the mattress, cringing as he stepped on a creature who no doubt thought himself a canine, when he was no more than a woolly rat. Reaching for his banyan, he shrugged into it, tying the belt so tight he winced. The devil take it, the bedroom was a disaster. Two of the dogs were chasing each other around the room, jumping on the bed and then off again as they continued their run.
Nash put his finger and thumb to his mouth, and holding his lips apart, let out with a loud, long whistle. Everyone stopped moving, even his wife, who stared at him wide-eyed. He opened the door to the corridor and waved. “Out. Every last one of you. Out.”
Amazingly enough, the dogs all meekly lumbered past him, heads down. No, he would not feel guilty. Not even when he saw the disappointment in Arabella’s eyes. “I will see a kennel built for them immediately,” he fumed. “Until such time that they can be removed to the kennel, you will inform your lady’s maid to be careful when she opens doors.”
Arabella raised her chin. Was she unaware of the fact that she was naked, and the top part of her glorious body was in full view in the sunlight? Her hair resting against her alabaster skin had his mouth watering. She still had the flushed look from sleep, and if his morning erection grew any larger, he’d be unable to walk.
“Am I to be ordered out of the room as well, my lord?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “No, you will not be ordered out of the room. But I told you there would be no animals in my bed.” He grinned as he crossed the room and joined her. “Only me.”
Flushing at his words, Arabella’s voice grew deep, and her breathing rapid. “Please make it large enough so they can run and play.”
“I will see to it.” He looked longingly at her, then realizing she was probably sore from the previous night, reached for the gentleman within. “I will leave you to prepare for the day. I would suggest you have Sophia arrange for a warm bath for you to ease any soreness from last night’s activities.”
He leaned over and kissed her on the tip of her delicate nose. “I will see you at breakfast.” After reaching the door, he turned back. “I plead ignorance of your normal routine. You have been having trays in your room during your illness. Do you prefer to continue that?”
“I am generally of a robust nature. I prefer a hearty breakfast and then a ride. Has my horse, Bessie, been brought from my townhouse mews?”
“Yes. I saw to it yesterday. If you have no objection, I would like to join you on your ride?”
Arabella dipped her head. “As you wish.”
“Ah. But do you wish? Or am I in trouble with my new countess over her animals?” He gave her what he hoped was a charming smile. As much as he despised animals in the house, he didn’t want to start off this marriage on the wrong foot, particularly with how things had gone the night before. He’d discovered a deep passion in his lovely wife and looked forward to unleashing that passion in the future.
“Yes. You are welcome to join me. However, I would appreciate you not telling me how I may, and may not, ride.”
“Perhaps your appreciation could be shown in some interesting ways?” He lounged in the doorway, a smile leisurely settling on his lips.
She fought and failed to keep the smile from her lush lips. “I am certain I do not know what you mean.”
The devil take it, she boiled his blood. “Oh, but I think you do know.” He lowered his eyelids. “Have no fear, my countess, I will think of something appropriate.” He winked at her, and with those parting words, left her and rang for his valet, Andrews.
Once his morning ablutions were completed, he descended to the breakfast room, surprised to see his mother sitting at the table. “Good morning, Mother. I haven’t seen you at breakfast in years.”
“I am traveling today.”
“Indeed?” Nash filled a plate with eggs, oatmeal with sweet cream, bacon, smoked herrings, sardines with mustard sauce, and grilled trout with white butter sauce. He added two thick slices of bread to his repast and moved to his seat at the head of the table. “Where are you traveling to, may I ask?”
“I am off to visit Eugenia in Devonshire.” The dowager countess took a sip from her teacup.
“Please tell me I am not chasing you from the house with my marriage.” He shook out his serviette and placed it on his lap.
“No, and a little bit, yes.”
“Perhaps you should explain, madam.” Hungry from all the activity the night before, and battling with furry creatures earlier, Nash dug into his food as his mother spoke.
“I had planned to stay with Eugenia when her time came, but I think with all the recent changes it might be a better idea to go now.”
“And why is that?”
Mother placed her serviette alongside her teacup and laid her hands in her lap. “You have had no time at all to get to know Arabella, and neither has she had time to learn about you. Your marriage was a hurried affair, and she became ill immediately. I believe giving the two of you time alone would go a long way toward helping you both.”
She sighed deeply and pulled a piece of paper from her day gown pocket. “Also, just this morning a note arrived from Lady Melrose indicating she planned to take up residence here.”
Nash swallowed the wrong way with this news and began to cough. Mother signaled the footman to pour a glass of water for her son. Nash took several sips and pushed his partially filled plate away from him. “Take up residence here already?”
Mother nodded. “Yes. I am led to believe she feels as though she will be asked to depart from her home momentarily, and wants to avoid any unpleasantness when the new earl arrives.”
“He is not due to arrive for a month or more.”
She shrugged and passed him the note. “Although she addressed the letter to me, I think you should certainly offer it to Arabella. Why Lady Melrose chose me to notify of her plans is baffling, unless she had reason to believe you and Arabella would be taking a wedding trip.”
“Frankly, I don’t know what to make of this. Of course, I won’t have my wife’s mother on the street. But one wonders what the hurry is.” He opened the note and studied it. “It appears she has been notified that the new earl will be arriving much sooner than planned.”
“In any event, I have decided to visit Eugenia and stay until the child arrives.”
He looked up at her, frowning. “That won’t be for many months.”
“Yes. But her country home is much larger than this townhouse. You do not need your mother about, looking over your wife’s shoulder. Arabella needs to find her own way to run the household and should not have to feel as though she needs my permission to change things. It is her house now, and she needs to feel comfortable.”
“So instead you will plague Eugenia,” he said with a smirk.
His mother stood and kissed the top of his head. “But of course. I am her mother. That is my privilege.”
“Much like Lady Melrose has the privilege to plague my wife.” Nash pushed his chair back and stood.
She smiled brightly. “I always knew you were a bright young man.”
“How soon will you leave?”
“I expect to be ready to depart in about two hours. I would like to speak with Arabella first. I don’t want her to think she is chasing me away.” She tapped her chin with her fingertip and studied him. “Despite how things started off, I do believe Arabella will be a good wife for you, Nash. She is older, and you won’t feel the need to guide her every step.”
“I agree. Though the lively visit from her menagerie this morning before I had time to even open my eyes is an issue that needs to be dealt with.”
“Ah, yes. I remember growling and shouting coming from your bedchamber earlier. Cook said someone from Melrose Townhouse delivered the animals this morning.” His mother tried her best to stifle her laughter but did not succeed. “I am sure you will get it all worked out. As I’ve already noted, you are a bright young man.”
…
Arabella entered the kitchen on her way to the breakfast room. “Does anyone know where my dogs are?”
Cook dropped the spoon she was using to stir something over the fire. “My lady! What are you doing in the kitchen?”
“Looking for my dogs?”
“It isn’t proper for you to be here, my lady. You can always send a footman with a note. However, I believe his lordship ordered Macon, one of our footmen, to take them on a morning walk.”
“Thank you.” She left the very flustered cook to resume her duties and continued on to the breakfast room. It appeared her new home was much more formal than the one in which she’d been raised. Although, it did seem Nash employed more servants than her mother had. She had begun to wonder about the depletion of help at their home over the past year or so, but had never questioned it.
Nash sat at the table, his head buried in the newspaper. He glanced up and stood. “Good morning, again.”
Memories of the night before flooded her, giving rise to what she was sure was a very red blush to her cheeks. How could Nash sit there like it was any other morning after the things they’d done? Then she realized, as a man, what they’d done the night before was nothing special to him, since he no doubt had bedded many other women. Her spirits drooped at that realization, hoping he hadn’t found her wanting, compared to others. Shaking off her despondent mood, she moved to the table loaded to groaning with an array of breakfast foods. “Everything looks delicious.”
“I had no idea what you preferred for breakfast, so I had Cook prepare several items. If there is anything else you enjoy, I will have Cook add it to the breakfast list.”
“No, this is fine. Truly, wonderful.” She filled her plate with eggs, toast, an orange, and bacon. Once Nash pulled out her chair for her and she sat, he waved at the footman. “Bring some hot tea for her ladyship.”
Arabella leaned her head to one side. There he goes again, deciding things for me. “Actually, I prefer coffee in the morning.”
“Really?” Nash viewed her with surprise, then turned to the footman. “Make that hot coffee for her ladyship, and I will take some more, as well.”
“I guess we have a great deal to learn about each other.” Arabella tapped her egg with a spoon and peeled away the cracked shell.
“I think most couples have the same task. Even if we had courted for weeks, I would still not know what you ate—or drank—for breakfast.”
Of course, you could have asked.
“We received an invitation to a soiree Thursday next. We should be back from Suffolk by then. I will pass that, along with any other solicitations to you, since I assume you will be handling our social calendar?”
Arabella stopped as she raised a piece of toast to her mouth. “Oh, I hadn’t thought about that. Mother always took care of those things and just told me where we were expected, and when.”
“If you check with my valet, Andrews, he is apprised of events I have already accepted. Since you are now my wife, it is expected we will attend together. I am sure Andrews will not be relieved to see his control of my life at an end, but, nevertheless, you are in charge now.”
It appeared at least in one area of their life there would be no interference from her husband.
Nash folded the newspaper and placed it alongside his plate. “Mother received a note this morning. She passed it along to me, and I feel you are the correct person to have it.” He handed her the folded paper.
She glanced at the note. “Yes, Mother had always planned to take up residence with me when I married. I had hoped it would not be quite so soon, however.”
He eyed her fumbling with the note. “It is not a problem, Arabella. We will not have your mother tossed into the street, although I doubt very much if that is the new earl’s intention. However, if it makes your mother feel more secure, then so be it. She seemed to get on well while she was here during your illness.
“On another note, my mother is leaving later this morning to visit my sister and her husband in Devonshire.”
“Your mother is leaving?” A small knot appeared in her stomach as she placed her hands in her lap, her appetite gone. “Is it because of me?”
“No. And she specifically mentioned that she was not leaving because of you. It is her intention to speak with you before she leaves, to assuage you of any concerns about her departure. She feels we need time to settle in together, and you need time to find your feet with regard to managing the household.”
Another area where she was to be in charge. Her spirits rose. Now if she could continue on with her animals, things might actually become pleasant in this marriage. Particularly where bed activities were concerned.
“I’m sure Mrs. McGregor would be more than happy to answer any questions that arise. She has been with the family since I was in short pants. That also means she feels as though she knows what is best for all concerned. I’m afraid you will simply have to accept that.” He gave her a half smile, confirming the fondness he felt for the woman.
His charming way set her to thinking. Fate had been kind to her, since he was certainly someone she was fortunate to have been caught with in a dark library. If things had turned out the way her mother had planned, she would right now be staring across the breakfast table at Lord Pembroke. She shuddered to think of every morning watching his sausage fingers stuff food into his mouth. To say nothing of having those same fingers touch her body in the way Nash had caressed her the night before.
A very familiar voice rose from outside the breakfast room door. Arabella laid her coffee cup in the saucer and stared at her mother standing in the doorway, Quinn hovering over her. “My lord, my lady, Lady Melrose has arrived.”
Nash pulled out a chair for her mother. “Lady Melrose, please have a seat.” He turned to the footman. “Please bring hot tea for her ladyship and see that fresh food is brought out as well.”
Mother waved her hand. “No need for food, but a cup of tea would be very nice. And perhaps a small cake, or a roll of some sort.”
After greeting her mother, and raising her cheek for a light kiss, Arabella continued with her breakfast, finding her appetite had once again returned to normal. Mother thanked the footman for the tea, and after fixing it, took a sip. Nash stood and bowed. “I will leave you ladies to work out the logistics.”
“No, wait.” Arabella jumped up and hurried after him. She caught him in the hallway as he was trying to make his escape from the house. “When will the kennel be built?”
He frowned and turned for Quinn to help him into his greatcoat. “Once I commission someone to do it.” The arrogance was back.
She rested her hands on her hips. “And when will that be?”
“When I have time.” He gave her a peck on her cheek and taking his hat, gloves, and cane from Quinn, left the house.
Quinn’s dignified presence kept her from stamping her foot like a child.