“He’ll not like it, ma’am.” The maid clucked. “Jasper gave strict instructions on how t’ dress yer ladyship. I’ll not take blame fer ordersyouchoose t’ disobey.”
“Disobey?” Elizabeth was livid. “You listen to me, Miss Ginny. Asmylady’s maid, you will obey my orders when dressing me, notthe Baron’s. If he takes umbrage with you, you tell him to speak with me.” She stared the girl down. “I will notdress sans smalls.”
Ginny grudgingly fetched Elizabeth’s drawers, muttering, “As y’ wish, ma’am.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Elizabeth sat at her spacious new desk to pen a few necessary letters. Her room contained a dressing table, two armoires, a dressing screen, chaise, two armchairs, washstand, four-poster bed, and yes, modern plumbing. It lacked but one thing: books.
She hoped her precious collection would arrive soon, along with the rest of her more meager belongings. Her writing portfolio, at least, she’d tucked into her wedding chest. She itched to continue the brooding baron’s story, but she had more important missives to compose right now.
Elizabeth wrote first to Annabelle, to assure her she’d survived her wedding night; no more detail than that. She wrote to the Duchess of Allendale next to thank her for her counsel and boldly request an audience before Her Grace left London. Then she wrote to Miss Li and to Madam Audrey, asking each to call at their earliest convenience, as she wished to discuss her husband’s?—
Elizabeth crossed out the word ‘proclivities’ and wrote ‘history’ when a knock interrupted.
“Ma’am.” The Baron’s butler, Gerald, poked his head inside. “Your first caller has arrived.”
“Already?” She twitched. “But it is barely?—”
He nicked his head at the clock and Elizabeth jumped. Where had the morning gone?
“Goodness.” She gave him a tight smile. “May I ask who calls?”
“A Lady Stanton, ma’am, and her”—Gerald hesitated—“pug.”
“In that case, Gerald, you may inform the lady I am unable to entertain her this morning but will call at her home later this week. Let me know when other visitors arrive.”
Gerald frowned, then bowed and left.
Elizabeth returned to her desk, only to be interrupted minutes later by another knock.
“Ma’am.” The butler poked his nose in once more. “The master wishes to see you downstairs.”
“Tell him I am currently engaged but will be down presently.”
“You sure, ma’am?”
“Yes, Gerald, I am sure.” Elizabeth returned to her escritoire, thinking Gerald was a rather odd sort of butler.She’d expected aVery good ma’amorAs you wish, ma’amfrom him instead.
Five minutes later her husband stormed in, ready to pounce. “Did Gerald not deliver my order?”
She cleared her throat to hide her nerves. “He did. But as I was in the middle of correspondence, I did not think you’d mind if I were a few minutes delayed.”
Milton stepped inside. “Did he not inform you Lady Stanton awaits?”
Elizabeth did not wish to cause Gerald any trouble. “He did, sir. I have decided to call upon the lady myself later this week.”
Milton stepped closer.
“I will not entertain her,” she told him firmly.
“Yes, you will.”
“Sir.” She swallowed. “I obeyed your wishes in full last night, as expected of a wife. I find it only fair that for every favor Igrant my husband, he grant me one in return.” The idea had justpopped into her brain.
“Did I not do you enough favors last night in bed, wife?” Her husband prowled toward her.
“Those were not favors, those were … they were …” She did not know what to call what he’d done to her flesh, but he was making that flesh tingle and prickle the closer he stepped.
