He scowled. “Don’t be absurd.”
“Absurd?” Her pent-up emotions bubbled closer to the surface. “Fifteen days, Maxwell, to be precise, and that includes the two days this week. That’s how much time we’ve had together since we got back from our honeymoon. Fifteen days.”
“My God.” Hands on hips, he looked away and parted with another humorless laugh. “You’re actually keeping a tally.”
“You gave me a journal, remember? It’s easy to keep a tally when I spend time each day writing about my life.” Louisa’s bottom lip quivered. “When doing so reminds me that I am so often alone.”
His angry gaze snapped back to her. “I told you how it would be, Louisa. I made it very clear, in fact.”
“I know you did, which is why I’ve never complained. In truth, it makes me even more grateful for the time wedohave together, and I’ve not once made a demand on you for more.” She drew breath, endeavoring to shore up her crumbling emotions. “But I’m making a demand now, because this gathering is important to me. Can’t you ask Finlay to act in your stead? I understand he has full authority to do so, and I’m sure he’s more than capable.”
Though still frowning, Maxwell’s eyes assumed a pensive glimmer, and, for a moment, Louisa dared to hope. “You know, it occurs to me that you haven’t been the same since we got back from Knaresborough last week,” he said, at last. “I suspect the incident with that unfortunate fellow has affected you more than you realize, which might explain this emotional outburst.”
Louisa gaped at him. “What happened at St. Giles House has absolutely bugger all to do with this.”
He gave her a derisive look. “Vulgarity does not become you, madam.”
“I do not care, sir! I just want…” Not wishing to give merit to Ashbridge’s accusation of hysterics, she took another slow breath. “I’m simply asking you for some consideration. Is it beyond you to provide it?”
He heaved a sigh. “Not usually, no. But in this case, there’s no consideration to be made. I’ve apologized, Louisa, and that is all I can do. If bouquets of flowers and gifts of jewelry will further appease you, than I shall return from Sheffield laden with them.”
She shook her head. “I have no need of either.”What I need, you cannot give me. Or youwillnot.
He ran a hand through his hair. “Then I must declare this issue closed. Ashbridge and I are leaving at dawn, and I wouldlike to get some rest. I suggest you do the same. Goodnight, my dear.”
He turned away and closed the door with a resolute click.
Dumbfounded, Louisa stared at the barrier he had just placed between them, her frustration going from a barely controlled simmer to a rolling boil. “How dare you?” she muttered, through gritted teeth. Fists clenched, she stepped forward and put her mouth close to the door seam. “Since you consider my request for your presence at a family gathering to be anemotional outburst, I shall grant you another. For your future consideration, I do not like being called ‘madam’. I find your tone to be patronizing and given oursocialinequality, quite inappropriate. Goodnight,sir.”
Even as the words spilled from her tongue, she regretted them. She stepped back, pressed a hand over her mouth, and bit down against a sickening aftermath of remorse.Oh, I should not have said that.
She stepped forward again and lifted a hand to knock, intent on apologizing, wishing to make amends.Wait, an inner voice said.Wait till morning. The light of day might offer a different perspective.
True, enough had been said already, saturating the space between them with bitterness and regret. The air needed to clear. Of course, she’d have to be up early to catch him before he left. Shivering, she clambered into her bed, curled up in a ball, and mulled over what had been their first quarrel. Certainly not a milestone to be celebrated. It had been ugly.
Miserable to the core, Louisa at last gave freedom to her suppressed tears, her sobs erupting in hard silence. Sleep, when it came, was uneasy and filled with scattered, nonsensical dreams.
When she next awoke, the fading darkness and the song of a solitary blackbird beyond her window told her the nightwas almost over. Rubbing her eyes, she turned onto her back, straining her ears to listen for sounds of movement in the next room. But all was silent. She sat up, eyes widening in the gloom. Had he left already? Had she missed him?
As if in response, from somewhere outside came the mumble of men’s voices, followed immediately by the sound of a carriage door closing and wheels on gravel.
With a cry, Louise scrambled out of bed, grabbed her dressing gown, and fled. Gown flying behind her like wings, she reached the bottom of the stairs just as Osborne began to close the front door.
“No!” she cried.
The butler spun around, eyes widening at the sight of her running toward him. “Er, good morning, ma’am. Is everything—?”
“I must speak with my husband.” She brushed by him, hauled the front door open, and let out a shriek at the sight of the carriage pulling away. “Stop! Max, wait,please.”
The driver obviously heard her and reined the horses to a halt.
Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Chest heaving, Louisa stepped out into the soft morning light, the stone-step hard and cold beneath her bare feet. For several moments, nothing happened. The carriage remained closed. Was Maxwell waiting for her to approach? Louisa eyed the gravel drive with trepidation. Then, to her relief, the carriage door opened, and he peered out. After saying something to the others, inaudible to Louisa, he stepped down and strode toward her.
Teeth chattering, Louisa tugged her dressing gown closed, her stomach doing its customary flip at the sight of the man she had married. Only as he drew near did she see the dark shadowsbeneath his eyes. It appeared he had not slept at all, which only added weight to her conscience.
“What is it, Louisa?” He cast a critical gaze over her. “Are you unwell?”
