Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“I know! I know. Tell me about this grand ball the king’s giving.”
Elizabeth said it to move the conversation forward, but her mind was stuck on the idea of Felicity visiting so soon.
“Of course, the king’s keen to show off Buckingham’s new ballroom,” Rosalind said. “It’s rumored to be the grandest now in all the world. And the palace gardens—they’ve been redesigned in the French style. He’s added new wings to the main structure, with tons more rooms for guests to stay over. I imagine we’ll all attend with Felicity and Carlo. It’ll be a magnificent party, considering how King George likes to entertain.”
Elizabeth sipped her tea, thinking of spring and the Season, and the ton. St. Pierre gave one a false sense of security. Tongues would wag—mercilessly—when she and August attended the coming Season’s events. Another reason for August to resent her, rather than fall in love with her.
Perhaps he would not wish to go to the king’s noteworthy gathering, for fear of gossip and embarrassment… Perhaps they needn’t encounter his former flame after all.
But August was a wealthy earl, a lord of the realm. He would be expected to go, and she would go with him like a good wife.
He will defend me, she thought, if anything bad is said about me. And he wouldn’t embarrass her by openly admiring Felicity, his heart’s love. He was not that sort of man, to be careless and cruel, though she feared he would still love Felicity secretly, in his private thoughts.
Dear God, never let me hear those thoughts.
“What are you pondering?” asked Rosalind, pouring more tea in her cup. “You seem a thousand miles away.”
“Oh, nothing. Just how hard it is to sit still, even on these soft chairs.”
“Poor Lisbet. Paddles are the worst. I know that from experience,” she said ruefully. “You’ll recover soon. And then you must come visit Maitland Glen and give me an update on…well…” She tucked her long gold locks behind her ears with a sheepish smile. “The intimacies we talked about. And tell me if you’ve received any more spankings.”
“I sincerely hope I have not.”
Rosalind laughed and leaned close to give her a fortifying hug. “Marriage can be hard sometimes, but it’s worth it. The love you build together will be worth it.”
Elizabeth wanted to believe her. Her friend’s twinkling silver-blue eyes told more of a story than her heartfelt words. If Rosalind and Marlow could persevere through a close brush with death and a villainous scheme to part them forever, then she could make it work with her new husband who might or might not be pleased to be married to her.
“Goodness,” she whispered, hugging her back. “I’m so glad you visited today.”
“Me, too. Although I ought to have mentioned this before now…” Rosalind pulled away, her smile transforming to a grimace. “Marlow came with me, to visit August. Let’s hope they aren’t giving one another any unsavory ideas.”
*
“Well, cousin.” Marlow leaned back in a deep leather chair, hoisting his feet onto a nearby ottoman. “How are things going? Is Elizabeth well? Are you steeped in marital bliss?”
August handed his friend a snifter of brandy. “I wouldn’t call it bliss, exactly. Elizabeth is not well pleased with me today.”
“Oh?” Marlow’s pale blue eyes registered concern. “Did you have an argument?”
“Something like that.” He took a sip from his own brandy, letting it roll about on his tongue. “I had to communicate to her the inappropriateness of certain behavior.”
Marlow’s smile tilted higher, becoming a mischievous grin. “A punishment, already? Our sweet Lisbet, spanked?”
“Yes. Paddled, I fear.” He swirled the brandy in his snifter. “I hated to do it, but she took the boat out on the lake without so much as telling her lady’s maid.”
“Ah, then, I suppose it was warranted.”
“I told her so. If she’d capsized and gone under in her heavy dress and cloak…”
August had experienced real panic when he’d been unable to find her. He’d looked outside and saw the boat missing from the dock, and had scanned the lake with true alarm before she’d emerged from behind a thicket of rushes.
“Elizabeth’s a good swimmer, I recall,” said Marlow.
“It’s a deep lake.”
“From your frown, I think you must be contemplating ways to drain it to keep your wife safe.”
August managed a tight smile. “She won’t go out alone again. I tried to make sure of that.” He took a seat in the other fireside chair. “I’ll have the boat inspected and fortified, if she’s going to want to use it. It’s the same rickety conveyance my father used as a boy.”
“Well, I’m sorry you had a scare. And sorry for Lisbet’s backside.” Marlow gazed pensively into his brandy glass. “These wives do change our lives as soon as they come into them. For better or worse…isn’t that what we say at the altar?” His expression lightened. “I hope you’ve also found some time for fun. Are you having a proper honeymoon?”