I’m hers then, he amended. If she held herself back, he would give enough for both of them until she decided she was better off with Silas than without him. He could show Hannah the advantages to being his wife.
A footman had already brought over most of her things while they were at breakfast, so that they found a small tower of chests and trunks in the entrance when they arrived. James and Marian must have let the servants into the apartments. Silas thought he’d noticed his brother slip away early from the breakfast, though neither of them were here now.
“Where has your family gone?” Hannah echoed his thoughts.
“I’m not sure. Probably they wanted to give us a little time alone to get settled in.”
Hannah looked at him with mild alarm. Was she worried for the wedding night? Recalling how instinctively she’d reacted to his touch, Silas suspected things would be easy enough between them in bed. He’d been imagining it rather vividly since that evening on thebalcony. She wanted him, whether she was bold enough to admit it or not. But that didn’t mean that he could afford to proceed too rashly. It was important not to scare her off.
Hannah took a few light steps down the hall, then stopped to peer at her surroundings. She looked too elegant for this place in her lace dress and veil. The house was tidy and respectable enough for something this side of the water, but it wasn’t Mayfair. “Where will I be sleeping?” she asked timidly.
“My bedroom is the last one on the right.”
“Yes, but where is my bedroom?”
Oh.
They stared at each other for a long minute before Silas replied, “There are only two bedrooms. I was sharing with James until today, but he’s moved his things to the sitting room now that you’re here. Marian has the other.”
Hannah’s eyes widened, though she didn’t speak.
She probably didn’t know any married couples who shared a room. Her parents couldn’t stand to be near each other, and most of her circle must be so wealthy that they had no need to squeeze together like sardines.
Idiot. You should have realized a woman of her class wouldn’t expect to share.
“It won’t be forever,” he said quickly. “We can rent a larger house in Burton.”
“But I won’t be going,” Hannah reminded him. “I want to stay in London and work at Jane’s club.”
“I know. I only meant—” Silas wasn’t sure how to finish his thought. What had he meant? That he hoped Hannah would change her mind and stay by his side? If he pressed her, she might feel like he was going back on his word. The choice needed to be hers. “Would you like me to bring your things in?” he offered.
“Thank you, Mr. Corbyn.”
“You’re not going to call me that even now that we’re married, are you?” Silas paused halfway through the act of removing his jacket.
“It’s your name. What else should I call you?”
“Silas, of course. Or simply Corbyn, if you must, but not ‘mister.’ At least not when we’re alone.”
Silas bent to lift the first trunk. Hannah followed him into their bedroom, where he set it down near the wardrobe with a heavy thud. There were more gowns inside than they had room for, most of them far too fine for this part of town, which mostly belonged to publicans, brewers, and tradesmen. He left Hannah to arrange things to her satisfaction while he brought in the rest. It became clear after about a quarter hour that most of her things were going to have to remain packed away, but she organized the essentials in the space that he’d cleared for her.
“Would you like to rest a while?” Silas offered as she neared the end of her task. “You seemed tired after the breakfast.”
Hannah cast a longing look toward the bed, then back to Silas, her face growing pink. “I–I don’t…”
“I wouldn’t expect anything you aren’t ready for,” he assured her, remembering her look of panic earlier. “You can just sleep for an hour or two if that’s what you’d like.”
But she only pressed her lips together and wrung her hands.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
Hannah replied in a whisper, though there was no one around to overhear them. “I can’t get undressed.”
“I beg your pardon?” Silas asked. “I can leave the room if you want privacy.” Though he would have far rather stayed, they might not have reached such intimate terms yet.
“No, I mean Ican’tget undressed. I’ve always had a lady’s maid, but I was sharing one with my mother while we were traveling andI didn’t think to ask you to hire someone for me here, with how quickly we decided to be married. All the buttons are at the back, and then after that there are my stays, and I can’t…” Her voice trailed off helplessly.
Silas fought with all his might not to smile. She was distressed, and it would be rude to find any pleasure in this. Even if the problem had a very obvious, very gratifying solution.
