At the Earl's Convenience (3 page)

“But, darling, you can learn to love someone,” Anne said. “And you can just as easily fall out of love with someone.”

Selina resisted laughing at such a cold-blooded statement from her gentle sister. Anne didn’t believe it of course. She was completely devoted to Harry. “Then it’s a gamble either way.” Selina took off her straw bonnet and raised her chin, enjoying the last few days of summer warmth.

Anne slipped an arm around her waist as they strolled down the leafy lane toward the house. The three children and dogs romped ahead. “We shall all miss you most awfully.”

“Oh, and I you. Every one of you.
Even
Busker.”

Anne gurgled with laughter. “Oh no. Not Busker!”

Busker was the children’s large white rabbit, which ran riot amongst the cats and dogs.

“We have become firm friends. Particularly after I fed him carrots.” She sobered. “I don’t like to leave you when you’re increasing, dearest.”

“You are not to worry about me, Sel. I’m well and in the best of hands.”

Selina gazed at her. Anne was glowing, the condition definitely agreed with her. “As soon as I receive word, I shall come and visit. I look forward to meeting the new edition to the family.”

“You may soon be in the same condition,” Anne said.

Selina’s breath caught, it was entirely possible. “I suppose so.”

“You are going to make a beautiful bride, Sel.”

“Liar,” Selina said softly. “I look horrid in white.”

“Put your hat back on, darling,” Anne said tactfully.

Selina tied the strings of her bonnet. “Think, Anne. Once I’m married, I shan’t have to wear white ever again.”

“I know you won’t become a slave to fashion, dearest.” Anne laughed. “Oh, I hope he makes you happy. You deserve it, dearest, you really do. Unselfishly taking care of Mamma the way you did, then Papa, and now us.”

“I like to care for the people I love.”

Anne gave a sad shake of her head. “And you love the Earl of Halcrow.”

“Yes. God help me, I do.”

“He’d better treat you well, or Harry will come and pound on his door.”

“Promise me Harry won’t, Anne. It’s time I took care of myself.”

“Knowing how capable you are does reassure me.” Anne smiled, but her eyes looked anxious. “Marriage to an earl
should
be a wonderful adventure.”

“I know it will be,” Selina said with a false note of confidence.

Pushing the gate open, they entered the grounds of the creamy-walled house set in its cottage garden. They walked up the carriage drive and crossed the lawn to a path bordered by lavender.

“You can always come back to us,” Anne said, sounding wistful.

“Thank you, dearest.” Selina bent to break off a stem of lavender. She held the stem to her nose. It was known to be calming but had little effect on the excitement coursing through her. She firmed her lips. No matter how hard things became, she would never return here to live. That would be admitting she had failed, but she would miss them all so very much.

The morning wedding was a small affair. Devereux wished it that way, and Selina felt the same. Society was already agog at the match; she didn’t want to be the subject of scrutiny from the
ton
. Apart from the clergyman, and the parish clerk to ensure formal logging in the register, there were twenty guests occupying the pews of the Bath church, all but one on the bride’s side. If residents of Bath hoped the beau monde would come en masse, they were destined to be disappointed, for only an aged bachelor uncle attended.

Devereux’s brother had died some years ago in a riding accident, and his parents had both passed away. If he died without issue, the title would die with him, for apart from his aged uncle there wasn’t so much as a cousin to claim it. Selina well understood his need for an heir and his desire to remove himself from the dangers of war until it came about.

It seemed like a good omen when, after days of rain, a watery sun emerged from the clouds. Anne had taken control of the church decorations. Festoons of roses and lavender hung at the church door while, inside, white ribbons adorned the end of each pew.

Selina arrived at the church in a white muslin gown with a pretty lace trim. She’d added a primrose shawl and a lace cap covering her hair. Her mother’s pearls, the something old, were at her throat and her ears. For something borrowed, she pinned a small diamond brooch of Anne’s to her breast. A bow sewn onto her petticoat served for something blue.

She’d thought it odd that Devereux had forsaken a best man. He stood alone at the altar and turned to watch her as Harry escorted her down the aisle. His royal-blue coat, which highlighted his blue eyes and fair hair, sported a white rose boutonniere. How tall and elegant he looked in fall-front grey breeches and a white silk waistcoat. Excitement and anticipation pushed her doubts aside.

Selina handed her posy of white roses tied up with lace to her bridesmaid, Elsbeth, wearing a muslin gown with a yellow sash.

With a deep breath, Selina took her place beside Devereux at the altar, and the vicar cleared his throat.

After the ceremony was completed, a line of guests followed along behind them as they walked home for the wedding breakfast.

They were to honeymoon in London, their wedding night spent at an inn just outside Reading on the way. After the guests had enjoyed their breakfast, eaten as a fiddler played a tune, the newly married couple took their leave. At the gate, Selina threw her bouquet into Elspeth’s hands. Her delighted laugh rang out as they entered the carriage and it rolled away down the road.

Chapter Three

Devereux took her hand. “That went well, Lady Halcrow.”

“It was perfect.” Smiling into his brilliant blue eyes, her breath caught. She was a countess. She’d given that aspect of their union very little consideration. Her thoughts were always on him.

“No regrets?” His gaze roamed her face as if searching for a change of heart.

“Of course not. Why would I have?” She swallowed, wondering why he would ask her that.

He squeezed her hand. “You look charming.”

“Thank you.” Had his voice lacked conviction? She’d changed into a carriage dress of grey twill with three rows of silk frogs and a matching pelisse.

“I shall enjoy advising you on your clothes.”

“Will you?” Was that something a husband did? Or didn’t he like the way she looked?

“When the war is over, we shall visit Paris. The French fashions are incomparable.”

Selina pushed away the thought that he would be an expert on ladies’ fashions, including their underwear. And how best to remove them. She tensed. Was she to be compared with a bevy of beauties? His thigh pressed against hers as he leaned toward her. It was enough that he wanted her. She was determined to make theirs a good marriage and wanted to learn all about him.

“How old was your brother when he died?”

“Henry was twenty-two, two years my senior. He was the heir and had been schooled to take over the title and estates. As second son, I was either to join the church, the law, or go into the army. I chose the army. When Henry’s horse fell, crushing him, my father wrote to ask me to come home.”

“But you didn’t.” The church wouldn’t have been a good fit for Devereux, nor would the law. He seemed a law unto himself.

“No.”

Selina clamped her lips together; his flat tone had brooked no more questions.

“Are you nervous about your new position in society?” he asked.

“A little.” She swallowed on the lie and fear tightened her rib cage as she tried to come to terms with all that would entail.

“Have no fear. I shall be there at your side.”

“I don’t believe being a countess will much change who I am.”

“Nor should it,” he said emphatically.

They were both rebellious in their own way. Perhaps that was part of the attraction.

“What does a lady call her husband?” She’d observed ladies of the
ton
referring to their husbands by their titles, but Halcrow seemed too formal. As he referred to himself by his surname, she’d got into the habit of thinking of him that way.

“You may call me anything as long as it’s complimentary, madam, but my friends call me Devereux.”

She frowned. “I hope you don’t call me madam.”

He laughed. “It depends on how you behave.” He placed his arm around her, and his hand settled warm on her ribcage. “Or misbehave.”

She stilled, breathing in his musky scent. “Devereux then.” If the day came when she could call him by his given name, Giles, she would feel they were truly bonded in marriage.

“You’ve had a very busy few days,” he said, settling her closer. “You must be tired.”

“Only a little.” Encased within his strong arm, she was too apprehensive and excited to be tired.

“We shall rest before dinner.”

Did he really mean to rest? Did people make love in the middle of the day? Her cheeks burned as uncertainty returned. She felt so unprepared. This man had experienced so much and she so little. Anne had tried to advise her, but she was easily embarrassed. Selina did know the mechanics of it. She was a country girl after all. But the idea of making love in broad daylight seemed overwhelming. Her stomach tensed.

“Perhaps we might take a walk. I’ve seen little of the countryside around Reading.”

Devereux’s mouth twitched. “You look very appealing.” His long fingers stroked down her cheek. “Very unsure of yourself, for once. And very kissable.”

When he shaped her face with his big hands, her heart began to thump madly. He lowered his mouth to hers. The slow, drugging kiss left her breathless and warm all over.

“The countryside around Reading can wait,” he said, his voice husky. “Perhaps after breakfast tomorrow we might take a walk. If we have time before we leave for London.”

Selina sat ramrod straight for the rest of the trip, and by the time the carriage pulled into the inn’s forecourt, her back ached between her shoulder blades.

The coaching inn was well appointed. Fragrant aromas wafted from the kitchen. Selina’s stomach growled with either hunger, or nerves, or both. She followed the servant girl up the stairs, leaving Devereux to see to the arrangements for their departure in the morning.

****

Giles was instructing his coachman when a carriage pulled up beside him. Will Nash alighted and clapped him on the shoulder.

“For God’s sake, Nash, what are you doing here? I’ve just been married. Can’t I have one night? My bride awaits upstairs.”

“Not the best time to marry.”

Giles cursed. “What I do in my private life is my own business.”

“You know how impossible that is,” Will said. “It would have been prudent to wait.”

“Wait for what? Until I’m dead?”

Will pursed his lips, appearing sympathetic.

Giles nodded toward the bustling inn. “At least allow me to….” He glanced up at the inn windows. Whatever he said, he couldn’t make this right.

****

The bedchamber was like the rest of the inn, clean and fashionable. Waiting for Devereux, Selina removed her pelisse, hat, and gloves and neatened her hair in the mirror. She was too pale. She pinched her cheeks and rubbed her lips. Not wishing to appear nervous, she sat in an armchair. An hour went by. Where was her husband? Surely, he wasn’t drinking in the taproom. He’d seemed quite keen to consummate the marriage, hadn’t he? She sagged into the chair, trying not to think the worst. Was she undesirable? When dusk fell, she went to their private parlor, but it was empty. She left the room in search of Devereux. There was no sign of him downstairs. Was he in the stables? Resigned to wait, she returned to her bedchamber and laid her head against the back of the chair. Confused and upset, she closed her eyes.

Selina woke shivering. Deep in shadow, the room was cold, the fire unlit. Beyond the open curtains, the black night was lit with stars and a crescent moon.

“Devereux?”

No answer.

Where was he? She rose and fumbled her way to the table. Finding a candlestick and flint, she lit the candle. The room was empty of both him and his baggage. Her throat tightened on tears. As she hadn’t yet employed a lady’s maid, her trunk sat where the servant had left it. Selina hurried to the window. Nothing moved in the courtyard below. She opened the door to rowdy singing wafting up from the taproom. Did he prefer men’s company rather than be here with her?

Her hair had unraveled as she slept. Twisting it into a bun, she retreated to the bed, frightened and hurt, and crawled under the covers. She tossed about until a cock crowed and a lavender-grey dawn lightened the sky. Noises erupted as the inn stirred.

Selina dragged herself from her bed as a stagecoach pulled into the inn yard loaded with passengers, trunks, and bandboxes, on its way to London.

Chapter Four

Had Devereux taken another room so as not to disturb her? It was too early for the servants to bring her hot water. Selina washed her face in cold water from the jug on the dresser and changed into a fresh gown. Then, stomach rumbling with hunger, she went down to the coffee room, now quiet after the guests had departed on the coach.