Daniel nodded before he walked over and lifted a carpetbag from the edge of the stack. After setting it on the bed tucked beneath the loft, he opened it and withdrew the tiny leather pouch that was nestled atop his clothing. He lifted the flap and extracted a small goldenband. The diamonds within it were set in the shape of a flower, and the metal worker had manipulated the gold on either side into intricate roses. He chanced a glance in the direction of his wife. Keturah cut the potatoes in quick, rhythmical slices that belied years of practice. Though they had been married that morning, Daniel had chosen to reserve the ring his childhood nanny had entrusted to his care before he left home. It had been her mother’s, and he wanted the moment to be special when he offered it to his wife. Before now, Nanny had been the only person in his life to ever show him love. But as Keturah focused on the task before her without even glancing in his direction, he wondered if that would actually change.
CHAPTER 5
May 18, 1782
Keturah bit the inside of her lip as she settled the pan full of meat and potatoes over the fire. Scamper whimpered in his sleep from where he dozed near the warm hearth. The full day’s travel had tuckered out the young pup.
She straightened and flicked a glance in Daniel’s direction. He was placing what she hoped was the last of his clothing alongside her and her father’s in the wardrobe. Additional garments were not likely to fit within the piece of furniture that had gone from relatively bare to full to the brim within minutes. Though it was strange her husband possessed more clothing than she, Keturah attempted to rein in her judgmental thoughts.
It was time that she showed her husband somegrace over circumstances he could not control. Her treatment of him since they arrived home had been quite harsh considering his naïveté was not his fault. A thread of guilt swirled in her stomach as she watched him. The corners of his mouth pulled down into a frown.
Keturah tilted her head. Had she contributed to that expression, or did another issue weigh on his mind? Either way, she was his wife now, and it was her responsibility to ease his burdens. In fact, rather than focus on how frivolous his many clothes were, maybe it was time she refashioned some of her father’s clothing into items she could wear, thereby expanding her own options. Though most of her father’s old garments were stained and threadbare.
“Where should I place these books?” Daniel’s shift to another topic jerked her from her thoughts. She refocused her gaze on where he stood now with a leather satchel in hand.
“Books?” Keturah stepped closer. Though she enjoyed reading, her father had thought reading to be a waste of precious time. So she only owned one small volume which once belonged to her mother.
“Yes. I quite enjoy reading, and there were several books I could not bear to part with.” Daniel opened the pack to show her the contents.
She sucked in a breath. Rather than the handful she had imagined, there were more than a dozen volumes inside. What an incredible blessing. Her heart warmedas she smiled up at her husband. A new respect for him bloomed. Their children would be well provided for in the way of literature.
Keturah stopped herself. Where had that thought come from? While Daniel had made it clear he wanted children, it would still be a time yet before love grew and children came. Right?
“Keturah?”
Her gaze darted to Daniel’s face. His brows rose in question. The books…
“Oh, um…” She glanced around. “We will need to build a bookcase for them. Perhaps some of the broken timbers from the barn can be cut down to be of use.”
Daniel hesitated before he gave her a small, tight smile. “Yes. That should work just fine.” He nodded, but something in his demeanor gave Keturah pause.
Was he trying to convince her or himself? Was it the task of building the bookcase that concerned him? A wealthy upbringing would mean he had never had the need to build his own furniture. Ah, well, they would figure it out. Together. If she kept telling herself that, surely, it would come true.
“Do you like to read?” Daniel’s question competed with the sizzling of the food.
Keturah darted over to the hearth but spoke as she knelt and stirred. “Aye. I do.”
Daniel leaned the satchel against the wall near the wardrobe and came to crouch beside her. His hand rested on her elbow, and she tried to ignore the warmth.Surely, it was from the fire. “You know we are married now. What is mine is yours. You can read any of the books you wish, as often as you desire.”
When Keturah turned toward Daniel, the fire reflected in his golden-brown eyes, and she had to swallow as her mouth went dry. “I appreciate it.” For some reason, her words came out in a whisper. She ducked her gaze back down to the food. Food. Stirring. That was safe ground, away from the new sensations that coursed through her. Was it normal to feel this way around one’s husband? So unnerved and off-kilter? She much preferred to be in full control of her faculties.
But Daniel hovered there, his breath so near her ear. Her heart quickened its pace. Keturah swallowed. She stirred the venison and potatoes a moment longer before she cleared her throat. “Did ye finish puttin’ all yer belongin’s away?”
“Yes. Is there another task I can assist with?”
Keturah racked her brain. “Ye could set out a couple of plates an’ forks. They are on the shelf there.” She gestured with the wooden spoon in her hand, and Daniel moved to comply with her request. Keturah let out a breath. Being a married woman was going to take some adjusting to.
Daniel doubted a single speck of dust lingered within the cabin. After tending to the dishes, Keturah had taken to cleaning every surface within their home. Though he could not tell, she claimed that the cabin had gathered dust in her absence. And she had attacked it vigorously.
Daniel stood, unsure of what to do with himself. His belongings were all put away, Scamper had been convinced to take a short walk, and there was only one broom that he could tell. “Is there any way in which I can be of assistance?”
Keturah shook her head and continued her aggressive sweeping. Daniel frowned. Had he done something to offend his wife so that she was avoiding coming to bed? Suddenly, it struck him. This was their wedding night. She was married to someone she barely knew, and considering his speech about wanting a true marriage in every sense of the word, she likely expected him to require her to fulfill her wifely duties.
Daniel let out a relieved sigh and padded up behind his wife, placing a hand at her elbow. “Keturah?”
She turned to look up at him, her light-green eyes wide.
He gentled his voice. “Stop cleaning. Come to bed.”
