Anna thought that it was the perfect opportunity to tell her husband of the issue they faced, but she could not bring herself to say it. They were talking, and for the first time since they met, it was a pleasant conversation. She did not want to ruin it, did not want to set a precedent that each time they spoke, she had something terrible to say.
It would have to wait, even for a little while.
“And what of her sister?”
Anna bit her lip.
“Theodora… well, she is indeed a bluestocking. She saw what happened to her sister and decided that she did not want such a fate to befall her. She is not dangerous by any means, but she has a lot of thoughts about marriage, namely how much she does not want it.”
He sat back, studying her. Part of her was tempted to stand up and turn around for him, so that he could look at her properly, but she remained seated.
“What is it?” she asked.
“You look different, that is all. Prettier, certainly.”
“Did you think I was ugly before?”
“Not at all. Rather plain, perhaps, but then you were covered by a veil for the most part and unable to meet my eyes afterward.”
“Is that to say that you like that I have a voice now?”
“For the most part,” he admitted. “Once you learn the right times to use it, all will be well.”
She drew an angry breath. He had no right to dictate to her what was right and wrong after he had not been there. However, there was no malice in his voice as he said it. It seemed that he was truly trying to help her, and though he was clumsy with his words, she found it almost charming in a way.
“I shall gladly take lessons from you,” she half-joked. “But as you can see, I am capable of conducting myself at a dinner.”
“You are, indeed. I can also see that Cook has been preparing your favorite meals the last few days, rather than mine.”
“Yes, I spoke with her this morning and told her to continue as we were. I thought your tastes might have changed, and so it would be best that you tell her yourself what you would like.”
“That was most thoughtful of you. I shall see her before bed.”
“You cannot.”
She had said it quickly, leading to him raising an eyebrow at her. She knew that it was wrong to tell a man what to do in his own house, but her staff had enjoyed living how they had, and she did not want that to change.
“I beg your pardon?” he asked, as the next course arrived.
“What I mean is that they sleep soon after dinner. I made it this way so that they can rest adequately, as they wake early each morning.”
She waited for him to tell her that things would change and that things would return to how they were before. Instead, he smiled faintly, nodding in acknowledgment.
“As you wish. As long as their tasks are completed, I do not see why we cannot continue to accommodate that. Would tomorrow after breakfast be better?”
She nodded, and they ate their meal. It was game and vegetables, accompanied by a red wine sauce. Anna had smelled it as she walked through the hallway, and it had excited her greatly. She did not know whether or not her husband liked it at all, but as he chewed and smiled, she knew that they had something in common after all.
“This is rather pleasant,” he said in thought. “We shall keep this, certainly.”
There was a fluttering in Anna’s chest at his words, not because he was agreeing with her but because he was acting as though he planned to stay this time. Had he expected to leave, he would not have cared to make any changes, nor would he have commented at all.
It did not mean that she forgave him, not at all, but it meant that she could try to. He was home, and they would be able to start again.
“Would you like to meet my friends?” she suggested. “The Duke of Winterleigh can attend, too, so that you have a man to speak with.”
“Eventually, but not yet. First, I must ensure that these affairs are attended to. They believe my tale for now, but they will ask questions eventually.”
“Then I suppose we ought to come to an agreement about it all between ourselves, so that we do not cause any discrepancies.”
