“Benefactor?” Elizabeth seemed only more surprised. “How, sir?”
“In exchange for our scholarly sessions, your husband pays me a stipend to research and write books on?—”
“Kilpert, I pay you to tutorme, not my wife.” Paul had stared at Lizzie long enough. He was also undoubtedly the sort of erudite young man to appeal to a mind as curious as Elizabeth’s. “And Lizzie, you’ve obviously come with a request, so ask it quick, before I lose patience with you as well.”
She promptly changed tack. “I would like permission to redecorate my chamber, sir,” she asked.
Milton scowled to himself, irritated that she should interrupt him for something so frivolous as this. “Of course you may redecorate. I don’t care how you arrange your private chamber. Cost is no issue.”
“Thank you.” Elizabeth bent her head again in deference. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kilpert.” She paused. “And to learn my husband continues to improve himself with further study.”
Milton stared after her as she exited. “Scratch transcendentalism,” he told Kilpert. “I wish to tackle Wollstonecraft instead.”
Relieved her husband had granted her request, Elizabeth sought Gerald to discuss constructing bookshelves in her bedroom. She would ask Murdoch and Ginny to move her to a guest room in the interim, because she was determined to progresstowardsomething now, rather than stagnate in the morass that was her marriage. Bookshelves might seem insignificant, a paltry endeavor even, but they were a change, and any change, however slight, would help improve her mood.
She’d been surprised her husband had a tutor, though, for what did this Mr. Kilpert talk to Milton about? What did they read together? And why could she not join in their discussions?It might have brought them closer, she and her husband, had he only allowed it. Instead, he’d flippantly given her leave to redecorate, no expense spared—as if thatwould shut her up.
Well it would. She’d barricade herself with books and tutor herself. In fact, she’dwriteher own blasted books. She’d emerge only when duty?—
A footman appeared. “You’ve a caller, ma’am. Madam LeBrecht.”
“Oh.”
A minute later, Elizabeth greeted Miss Li in the parlor. “It is good of you to call, madam.”
“Your note concerned me, Elizabeth.” The lady stared back, unblinking.
“Yes, well, wedding jitters are long behind me.” Elizabeth’s own pulse raced. “I have no illusions anymore as to the man I married.”
“My dear, you know next to nothing of the man you married.”
“And you do?” Elizabeth despised Miss Li’s impertinence.
“Yes. And I will share what I know about your husband, provided you will listen.”
Elizabeth squared her shoulders just as tea was brought in. “I am all ears, madam.”
Li’s gaze flicked over her as if she did not believe Elizabeth. “I urged Jasper to tell you himself about his past, but he remains mulishly reticent.”
“But why?” The question burst from Elizabeth’s mouth. “Why not reveal things to one’s own wife, for goodness’ sake?”
Miss Li took up the teakettle just like in her shop, pouring them each a cup in that long, fluid motion she had. “Elizabeth, you’ve been a wife for less than a month, knowing Jasper at most a week longer. That is reason enough, I daresay, as to why he won’t reveal more.”
Elizabeth tried not to scowl at the lady.
“If you had an unsavory past, would you wish to confide its sordid details to a mere stranger?”
“But I am not a stranger, I am his?—”
“For all intents and purposes, Elizabeth, you are as much a stranger to him as he is to you.”
Elizabeth’s retort died on her lips.
“I am not here to defend your husband’s behavior,” Miss Li continued, “which is reprehensible, to say the least.”
So Li also knew Milton had beaten his wife? Had he told her himself? Or did the lady have spies amongst the servants? Perhaps all of London knew.
“But Iamhere to explain, in part, why Jasper does what he does. I do not condone his actions, Lizzie, let us be very clear on this. But I should like you to consider, at least, that the man you married is perhaps not so terrible as you think.”
