Louisa smiled just as a number of equally paced “thuds” sounded from the hallway. Mrs. Hummel was likely dragging Louisa’s trunk down the steps. Rhys stood.
“I should go help Mrs. Hummel.”
“Yes, but really, we should take our leave.”
Though her uncle seemed hesitant, he couldn’t argue. Instead, the man stood up and held out his hand to Rhys, who grasped and shook his hand firmly.
“I trust, given your history as a war hero, you’ll do right by her.”
“I will.”
The elderly man nodded.
“Very well.”
Goodbyes were blessedly swift and sweet, with only a tear or two shared between the sisters before Rhys escorted his new bride back to the carriage. Overall, meeting Louisa’s family had been pleasant and informative. Louisa’s uncle had been eerily at ease with all that had transpired, considering that his niece had gone from missing person to wedded wife over the course of a single morning. Their cook was hardly an exemplary servant, but it didn’t seem to really bother anyone, not to mention Louisa had a talent for appeasing old hunting dogs as well as their masters. She was able to manage all the immediate changes with ease, although something continued to irritate Rhys since their carriage left city limits.
Who was this John Harper fellow?
Though they hadn’t spoken much since leaving her uncle’s home, Rhys was aware of the unspoken subject that lingered between the two. Louisa had been quick to dismiss her uncle’sinclination, but she had specifically stated that there was no one she fancied.
It had taken an hour from leaving her uncle’s house before Rhys could no longer help himself. Leaning back in his seat as he watched her from across the carriage, he waited for her eyes to catch his and when they did, she gave him a pleasant, if neutral, smile.
“Who is John Harper?” he asked evenly as the smile vanished from her face.
“He’s no one.”
“Your uncle thought it was relevant enough to mention in front of your new husband.”
“Because he was mistaken. That’s all.”
She was lying still, but Rhys wasn’t the sort of man who would play these sorts of cat and mouse games. Whoever this man was to Louisa, he was no longer.
Leaning forward, elbows on his knees, Rhys spoke.
“I may be hard of hearing, but I’m not an idiot. Nor will I be treated as such.”
Louisa’s eyes went wide.
“No, of course not—”
“Whoever this Harper fellow was to you, he is not anymore. Do you understand?”
A flash of indignation sparked in her eyes.
“I assure you, Mr. Harper is not someone to concern yourself with,” she said, her tone icy for the first time since meeting.
It irritated Rhys, but he was determined to make his intentions clear from the beginning.
“Our marriage may have started off unconventionally, Louisa, but I intend to live as normal a life as husband and wife. I’m not one for secrets or affairs and if you thought to marry someone quickly so that you might continue some sort of dastardly affair, well—”
“Mr. John Harper is dead,” she stated quickly, causing Rhys to pause. “He died last winter.”
Rhys frowned.
“But your uncle—”
“Is old and senile and cannot remember much of anything these days,” she said quickly. “Which is why I wasn’t so against the idea of marrying a stranger. My cousin, who will inherit my uncle’s estate soon, is a selfish man who will think nothing of removing me and my sister from his home once my uncle passes.” She glanced out the window. “I intend to be a faithful wife. Besides, there isn’t a man alive who would tempt me. Not when…”
