He laughed. “You think. I’ll take that. Oh, we’re approaching the estate now.” He pulled the curtain away from the carriage window and together they leaned toward it so she could see the beautiful home coming into view as a black gate opened to allow them entry.
“Oh, Roderick,” she breathed. “It’s wonderful.”
He said nothing, but was beaming at the compliment that was entirely meant. It truly was a glorious mansion, almost sparkling white in the autumn sunshine, its massive stone front supported bytall, beautifully carved pillars. Slightly behind the grand entrance she could see the hint of a rounded roof.
“There’s a rotunda?” she breathed.
He nodded. “Yes. As well as a beautiful garden and a library in that very rotunda that is to die for.”
“Better and better! I cannot wait to see it all,” she gasped, and grabbed his hand with both of hers briefly before she blushed and released him. “My apologies. I’m clearly overwrought.”
His brow wrinkled. “You shouldn’t apologize for having a reaction to your new home. If you had been staid and unfeeling, I would have been nervous.”
The carriage had stopped by now and the servants came down to open the door. Roderick gave her one last smile and exited first, then reached back to help her down himself. When she was safely on the ground, staring up in wonder at how much more beautiful the home was with every look, he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and led her to the front door where a line of servants waited for them.
She tensed. What they all must think of her when everything had been so sudden and rushed. But they were smiling and as Roderick swiftly introduced her to them, they all gave little bows or curtsies.
“And this is my butler, Stevenson. Stevenson, may I present the Countess of Kirkwood.”
“My lady,” Stevenson said and gave a low bow. “How happy we are to greet you at last.”
She stepped forward. “I’m very pleased to be here, Stevenson. What a wonderful home you and your staff have kept. I cannot wait for you and his lordship to give me the full tour.”
The butler smiled broadly and it softened his stern face. “I will be pleased to do so, my lady, and give you all the history of the place that you can bear. Perhaps tomorrow?”
She nodded. “Oh yes! I very much look forward to it.”
“All is ready, my lord.” He said to Roderick.
“Thank you, Stevenson. The throng should be shortly behind us.I’ll take the countess to her chambers in case she needs a moment and we’ll join the others shortly.”
“Very good.” Stevenson stepped away and Clarissa looked up at Roderick.
“Ready?” he asked softly.
She hesitated. “Not exactly, but I’ll follow your lead.”
Something lit up in his gaze and for a moment she forgot her breath. But he said nothing and simply guided her down the long hallway, past rooms she had to fight not to look into, and then up a winding stair into the next level of the house. A turn to the end of one side of the hallway and there was a great double door, walnut in color and beautifully carved and offset. He released her, turned the brass handle and stepped back to allow her to enter the chamber first.
The antechamber made her catch her breath with its dark blue hues on the walls and in the fabric that covered a lovely sitting room set. There was a large window along the back wall and she crossed to it, her hands shaking as she looked down on the most beautiful garden she’d ever seen in the city.
“Oh, it’s lovely,” she whispered.
He moved toward her. She felt it rather than dared to look. “It truly is. I love my…ourcountry estate but I’m so pleased that we have such a large garden here so I don’t always feel walled into the city. It’s worth the little drive back into Town proper.”
She nodded. “It is, I can tell already.”
“Would you like to see your chamber?” he asked.
She turned to face him and couldn’t help but think of the night he’d come to her bedroom in her parents’ home. Now they’d be alone in a bedroom again, but this time they were married. It felt a little fraught with tension, that idea.
“Clarissa?”
She blinked and then forced herself to nod. “Y-Yes,” she whispered.
He moved toward one of the doors on either side of the antechamber and opened it. Again, he let her go first and when she did, she clutched her hands to her chest. While the antechamber wasdone in dark blues, rich hues of midnight, the countess’s chamber was done in pale versions of the same colors. The wallpaper was warm gold tones and cerulean depths in a shell pattern, the bed had a darker version of the same blue in its fine coverlet and curtain hangings. A soft rug that covered most of the wood floor was spun in a beautiful repeating butterfly pattern with dark, medium and light blue mixed with pale yellow and dark pink.
“Oh, it’s…”
