She’d strip naked now if not for the servants’ toast.
***
Braydon knew he should be keeping a cool mind, but how, when alone with Kit Kat in her red and gold pagan magnificence? He was no more immune than any other man.
She’d played her part splendidly before the servants, never taking a wrong step. When he remembered their first encounter in the lane, that could have been a different woman, and yet he knew that she’d been honest when she’d said all aspects were true. How was a man to deal with such a wife? Coolly, but that could prove impossible with the thought of the marriage bed woven through every moment. Were her thoughts of anticipation or trepidation? Were his?
He desired her now, but the lack of prologue made this too much like an encounter at a high-class brothel. At the same time, the delicate steps of a courtship would be mere playacting with the denouement already decided. They could get the first engagement over now, but there was the performance in the servants’ hall to get through. So they drank coffee, this time with brandy, and spoke of foreign parts and lighter army matters.
When she mentioned the premature peace celebrations of 1814 he said, “You must have enjoyed them, all the same.”
“When I could. By then, Marcus couldn’t get out much.”
Angry on her behalf, he asked, “Didn’t he have a manservant to keep him company?”
“He did, but Tranton served as footman as well and much more. We had only three servants—Tranton, Lindy as general maid, and Mrs. Ipple, who came in once a week to do the hard scrubbing.”
“No cook?”
“Lindy and I could do simple cookery, but we often bought in.”
He should have realized how different her life had been to his, but Cateril Manor had come between, like a veil.
“Yet you kept open house for military men.”
“Marcus couldn’t get out, so they came to him. He was well liked, you know.”
“Yes.”
She looked at him over her cup. “I remember. You asked about me in London.”
He could understand her disliking that, but he thought she seemed wary.Zeus.Had her intimate experiences been not with her crippled husband, but with one or more of the young men who remembered Kit Kat with such enthusiasm?Would some of them have sought her out now for reasons other than marriage?If Cateril hadn’t liked her jaunting out with his friends, perhaps he’d had reason.
She suddenly rose and excused herself. It was probably to use the chamber pot, but she might have read his thoughts. She was damnably perceptive. The dog lifted her head to observe, gave him a stare, but then clearly decided there was no need to intervene. Would that the animal were right.
He remembered returning to the Abbey doubting the wisdom of marrying Kit Kat, but he’d ended up goingthrough with it. But that was because of Isabella, not a sorceress’s spell. Or was it? He couldn’t lie to himself. When he’d gone to the parsonage and seen her in that gown, he lost all remnants of the ability to let her go.
Perhaps it went back further. He wasn’t a liar, but he’d lied to Captain Edison about her whereabouts.
He was stuck now. As the marriage service said, for better or for worse.
She returned just as Quiller came to announce that all was ready. He gave her his arm, and they went down to find most of the servants around the long table. A few of the lowest stood ready to serve their betters. There were layers at every level of society.
Everyone rose. Quiller made a congratulatory speech and proposed a toast with the punch. Everyone had a glass, even the servants’ servants, and even the youngest. Everyone drank. Undoubtedly they were enjoying the treats, but the mood was still guarded. They were still unsure who was in command at Beauchamp Abbey, and to whom they should give allegiance.
Braydon thanked them and announced that there would soon be a ball for the servants and tenants to celebrate the event. Then he added that all the Abbey servants would receive a bonus of ten percent of their wages on the Christmas quarter day. That brightened a few faces.
He and Kitty returned upstairs in silence, for while the servants were all belowstairs, the dowager and Isabella could be lurking and listening. How would it be if he took her into his arms and kissed her in the way he was burning to?
Marble stairs.
Most uncomfortable.
Once they were in the boudoir again, they would be free. Some sweet words, some kisses, and on to bed.
Sweet words would be false.
Straight to kisses?
