Vexing her could very well become one of my favorite endeavors.
“You should know that honor is important to me in every sense of the word,” I said in a serious voice. “I would not have married you otherwise.”
She blinked, her features stoic. “Yes. I know.”
I studied her profile as she turned toward the window. She seemed to be finished with the conversation, at least for now. That was well enough for me.
I leaned my head against the cushion and closed my eyes. The journey was expected to take one full day, setting our arrival for late that night. This time in the carriage was likely the longest Alice and I would be forced to share one another’s company.After today, we could part ways, remaining in our separate areas of the estate, and speaking only when necessary. Alice would have the grandeur she had always wanted, and I would have my privacy.
I stole one more glance at Alice before snapping my eyes closed again. We had left in such haste; we hadn’t thought to bring any books or other entertainment for the journey. Most newly married couples would find many ways to entertain themselves in the privacy of their wedding carriage.
But, of course, we were not like most newly married couples.
As the carriage swayed, even the slightest brush of my knee against Alice’s made her flinch, tucking her legs out of reach. A scowl marked her brow as she rested with her eyes closed, seemingly trying to drown out my presence entirely.
We stopped for a meal and to change horses halfway through the afternoon. We hardly spoke as we ate the posting house offerings of bread, ham, and cheese as quickly as possible. Alice ate politely, but much more quickly than I had ever seen a woman eat. She drank her cup of water in a few large gulps before standing from her seat at the table. Surely she was thinking that the sooner we resumed our journey, the sooner she could escape me.
Alice’s lady’s maid, as well as my valet and a few other servants who had accompanied me to Brighton, followed closely behind in my hired chaise as we continued on the road toward Southcliff Manor. I wished one of them would join us in our carriage; the silence was becoming deucedly unbearable.
“We should arrive by nightfall,” I said after a particularly long stretch.
Alice tossed a lazy glance in my direction. “Very well.”
I cleared my throat. “I sent word to my servants to prepare a room for you. I hope it will be suitable.”
She paused for a long moment. “It is not adjoined with yours, I presume?”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “There is no adjoining door.”
“But is it in the same corridor?”
“Yes.”
She chewed the corner of her lower lip, eyes narrowed in thought. “Is there not a separate wing or floor of the house that I might situate myself in?”
I sighed. “That can be arranged if you wish. But tonight, you may not have a choice but to share the corridor with me.” I couldn’t hide the sardonic tone from my voice. “My deepest apologies.”
Her nostrils twitched. “So long as we do not share a room tonight, I will be content.” She still watched me with a nervous look.
A hint of amusement flickered across my face. After all that we had spoken of, was she still afraid that I had expectations for that evening? If I still had any doubt that she as repulsed by me, it was now confirmed by her expression.
A laugh escaped me. “This is not an ordinary wedding day, Alice. Nor will it be an ordinary wedding night. You may rest assured that I will keep my distance.”
The blush on her cheeks deepened, but she seemed content with my answer. “You cannot laugh at me and call me by my Christian name in the same sentence,” she muttered. “That is far too unsettling.”
“Ah, another of your rules.” I stared across the carriage at her. The sun had begun setting outside the windows, bathing her skin and hair in warm light. “May I call you Alice under any other circumstances?”
She hesitated. “I suppose that’s acceptable. I would rather be called that than Mrs. Croft. I doubt I will ever grow accustomed to the name.”
It was still difficult to believe that the former Miss Kellaway sitting across from me was my wife. If I was to be entirely honest with myself, I had once entertained the idea of courting her. In the back of my mind, after our conversation in the souvenir shop, I had wondered if we had a connection that could lead to an attachment. I had hardly dared to dwell on the idea, but I couldn’t deny that it had existed.
Feelingsfor herhad existed.
She had seemed so open, friendly, and kind. Now she was closed off and cold. Even the way she sat was stiff. I banished my thoughts and gave a quick nod. “Alice, it is. But then what shall I call you when I am laughing at you?”
She paused. “I would rather you not laugh at me, actually.”
I shook my head. “I cannot promise that. Even the first moment I met you, you did something amusing.”
