Scarlett elected to stay in her room for the rest of the day, convalescing, which was partially in service to her ankle and partially to the tumult of her brain.
Tilly had briefly come to visit her, in between the time she was busy with the various activities of the party, but other than that, Scarlett was largely alone.
Except, of course, for the maid, who had been dispatched to attend to all her needs.This provision was physically helpful but made the possibility of Malcolm returning to her room unfortunately impossible.
Thus, she had plenty of time to reflect on what had happened and what hadalmosthappened between them.In truth, she felt nearly drunk with power.She had never imagined she could have such an effect on a man, or that she herself contained the capacity for such pleasure.
Scarlett was no less resolute, however, in what she wanted to have happen between them.
She was determined that he ruin her, especially now that they had gotten so close.She wanted to experience him in all fullness.Yes, she knew that their relationship couldn’t continue past the next two weeks.That it would be over with the house party.But she believed what she had told him.She wasn’t harming anyone in taking this step, especially since what lay before her in life was years of respectable spinster celibacy.
The next morning, she found she was able to gingerly bear weight on the ankle, as long as she did not try to walk far.
She also discovered that she had gotten her courses.
On the one hand, it was a relief.She had expected her courses to arrive—and she was glad to have been correct.On the other hand, it did complicate her plans to have Malcolm deflower her posthaste.
Nevertheless, she needed to tell him of this development.She had promised to do so on that walk back from church, which seemed now to have been undertaken by two wholly different people.She just had to devise a way to speak with him in private—or near private.
Luckily, she did not have to resort to any desperate stratagems.
For she was seated next to him at dinner that very night.
She had barely spoken to him since their time together yesterday.
When he first saw her in the drawing room, he blushed deeply.She desperately wanted to playfully scold him.If she could, she would tell him that if he kept flushing so furiously when he saw her, others would begin to suspect the nature of their connection.
She would have loved to taunt him with these words, even though she was sure that her face was just as flushed upon first glimpsing him.It was impossible to see him and not think of how the day before he had used his cock to bring her to the best orgasm of her life.
He did not approach her immediately.Which was probably best for discretion, even as she burned to speak with him.When he came to lead her into dinner a few minutes later, she luxuriated in having him close to her once more.
At dinner, after he helped her to wine and she took a fortifying sip, she felt daring enough to communicate her news.“Mr.Brown,” she said softly, her voice nearly lost under the tumult of all the voices around them.“Do you remember that you were anxious about a certain course arriving to table on time?”
He frowned at her, clearly confused.“I do not recollect—”
“It was a course specific to me.And you were concerned that it would be delayed because of an action you yourself had taken.”
Understanding kindled in his eyes.“Ah, yes, I do remember now.”
“Well, I am happy to tell you that it has arrived.Your anxieties were for naught.”
“Ah, I am glad,” he said quietly, taking a sip of wine.“I certainly would not want you to be inconvenienced on my account.”
“I appreciate your consideration.”
For a moment, she allowed herself to reflect on what it would be like if her courseshadn’tarrived.He had offered to marry her.When he had made her that offer, it had affronted her more than anything.She hated the idea that he would marry her out of pity.He couldn’t possibly, she had told herself,wantsuch a thing.
But given what they had shared yesterday, it now seemed less apparent that he would regard a marriage to her as an act of charity.She knew that their lives were fundamentally incompatible.She only knew London, and he only knew Somerset.She had no idea what their lives together would look like.
But she supposed she had little idea what her life would look like once Tilly was married, even in London.Yes, she would resume some of her usual activities, of course.The teas and charity endeavors and lectures and trips to the theater would not cease.Vera was a wealthy woman, and the comforts of their home would not disappear just because Tilly was marrying.But chaperoning Tilly had been most of her life for the past few years.Most of the exciting social invitations would surely dry up once her sister was wed.There would be fewer balls and parties.Further, Tilly would often not be in London at all, but here in Somerset, in this very house.Scarlett would not have Tilly’s companionship.
Of course, it occurred to her that if she had been forced to marry Malcolm on the account of carrying his child, she would not be far removed from her sister.
That idea, rather than calming her, irked her somehow.She wasn’t sure how she had come to have so little life outside of her sister.When had that happened?And how had she let it?
“How is your ankle?”
His question startled her from her reverie.
