Amelia lowered her hand to hold his between her two. “I won’t mind if she forgets. I’m just grateful that she forgave me for my poor judgment in rejecting you. She thinks you are infallible, which was my mistake as well.”
He chuckled even as he shook his head. “That is not what she reveals to me.”
“You are her son. She should believe in you. You give her a lot to be proud of.”
And if the truth be told, he’d given her many worries growing up. “Your father and your sister, Lady Northwick, believe in you even more.” He shook his head. “Your sister is a formidable negotiator with the bridal contract.”
“I do hope she was fair. I did tell her to be so.”
“Fair? The woman was far more generous than I wished, but made it seem as if it was all my idea in the end. I am quite good with numbers, but I do think I’ve met my match with Lady Northwick.”
She grinned, so proud of her sister now. The old resentment melted away with the realization that she would have never considered Andrew as a husband if her Aunt Mabry had left Silver Meadows to her instead of to Joanna. “So we and our tenants will be fine until spring?”
He pulled his hand from hers and stroked her cheek with his finger. “I love hearing you say ‘we’ and ‘our,’ and yes, we all will be fine for years with just your dowry.” His brows lowered. “Though I do worry about supplies being available.”
“You can always consult the duke on that. He is highly connected. So you see, I bring more than just money with me.” She smirked to be sure he would understand she jested.
“I know that. You bring warmth and light, laughter and companionship—”
She put her finger over his lips. “Please, no more listings of my qualities. I fear they will turn my head and Belinda said ego was the worst of all faults.”
Unable to resist, he opened his mouth and sucked on her finger.
“Andrew!” She pulled her finger away.
He laughed, loving her reaction and anxious to see more as he introduced her to the marriage bed. “I cannot promise to save you from my compliments. I fear your sister may not approve.”
Amelia’s smile disappeared. “Belinda never expected us to be perfect. She loved us, faults and all, and I know she would have approved of you.”
“I’m humbled that she would because I too have many faults. But you have gone far beyond my expectations for a wife.”
“I have to assume, then, that you did not reach very high.” She held up her hand as he opened his mouth to argue. “And there is one expectation I have to be more cognizant of, not to minimize my own qualities. If you can refrain from listing them, I can attempt to stop minimizing them.”
“I can agree to that.” He looked past her and out the window as the coach turned into the long main drive of Lyonsmere, the bushes lining the lane covered in powdery snow. Soon he would have his wife all to himself. “It was kind of your parents to invite my mother to stay for a few days. She does enjoy socializing and hasn’t done much since my father passed.”
“Was she quite upset that you released Mrs. Bolton from employment?”
“At first, she did seem put out, but when I explained that you would be here, she brightened considerably. I believe she plans to show you how to run everything.” He held his breath, not sure how his wife and new Countess of Sommerset would feel about that.
She cocked her head. “You did tell her that I would appreciate that, having never run a household before. Unfortunately, though I learned the basics, I rarely helped as I was closeted in my studio. With Mariel and Joanna about, Mother didn’t need me.”
He let out his breath in relief; navigating two women in his house was a new experience. “I didn’t, but you can. Though Pratt and Mrs. Ridley cover all the details and the assignment of work, my mother does give direction.”
“And don’t forget, you promised me a studio of my own. I only sent a few paintings ahead until we decided on a room. So I will need your mother’s help for as long as she wishes.” Once again, he was struck by how warm her smile was and how generous her heart. His misgivings about the two women slowly dissipated.
The coach came to a stop and Amelia quickly pulled her gloves back on.
The footmen put down the steps and opened the door for him. Stepping out, he gave her his hand. As his wife came to a halt before his home, he felt a new sense of pride and contentment. This was their home, where they’d raise their children and where she would fill the walls with her art. He would no longer need to determine the authenticity of his paintings, as he’d be able to witness their creations.
“Oh, Andrew. Lyonsmere looks like a dream in the snow. I wish I could paint it right now.”
Her breathless comment had him looking at her and in that moment, that mystic moment, he knew he’d never forget her coming home with him. Her eyes shone with happiness as snow fell upon her blue spencer and bonnet. She raised her head and stuck out her tongue.
“What are you doing?”
She looked at him as if he was a simpleton. “I’m catching snowflakes on my tongue. Surely you did that as a child.”
He shook his head, bemused by her assumption. “No. I didn’t know anyone did.”
