Rebellious Bride (12 page)

She halted her pacing and stared, as though the fuzzy red wallpaper was engrossed in her words. “Not that he’s hard to look at... Actually I must admit he’s handsome. Yes, definitely handsome. He’s built rather nicely, too. And there was that moment in the church, after the wedding, when he actually seemed concerned with my feelings... .

Lil threw her clenched hands up in the air and angrily shook her fists at the wall. “What am I saying? That man has no redeeming qualities. He thinks his noble title allows him to dictate to others.”

She dropped her arms to her sides and spoke more softly as if revealing a secret. “I’m glad he doesn’t wish to consummate our vows. I have no desire to share such an intimate part of marriage with him.” She paused and lowered her voice even further. “His body felt mighty good this morning, though. He was so warm and hard and comfortable to rest against. And safe. I felt safe wrapped so close around him.”

Lil licked her lips slowly. “And the taste, that was the best part of all. His taste stung my tongue and made me want more. I’ve never...”

Lil took a sharp step backward. “You fool. Of course you’ve never tasted anything like it. You’ve never been intimate with a man.”

Then why did it seem so natural to do what I did, and why did I enjoy it?

She shook her head at her inner question and returned to her one-sided conversation with the wallpaper. “I need to make Rolfe understand how important my work is to me. How much it would hurt me to give it up. That will take some doing, but he is my husband now, whether I like it or not, and I must learn to deal with him. And he must learn I am not an English lady.”

Lil bobbed her head, satisfied with her resolution, and disappeared into Bibi’s room.

~~~

Rolfe’s strides were purposeful and strong as he walked into the saloon, passed the barkeep, and came to a halt in front of Susie at the end of the bar. “Where is she?”

“Busy tending to one of the girls.” Susie smiled and rested her hand on his chest. “Why not have a drink while you—”

Rolfe grabbed her wrist and drew her hand away. His reply was terse. “While I wait? I think not. Where is she?”

Susie was instantly defensive. “I don’t disturb her when she’s tending someone.”

“You aren’t going to disturb her. I am.”

“She won’t like—”

“I don’t care what she likes at the moment. Now tell me where she is, or I’ll go through every room in this place until I find her.”

Susie had no doubt he would. His stern glare and the directness of his speech warned her that he would tolerate no objections. He expected obedience, pure and simple.

Susie pointed straight up and tilted her finger to the right. “Corner room.”

Rolfe showed no appreciation for her cooperation. He walked straight for the steps. He was furious. How
dare
his wife disobey him! How
dare
she enter a saloon! She was Lady Sherborn now and would act in a manner befitting her title. His explanation of her duties and of his expectations of her had been clear. He had been candid and fair. He had assumed she would comply with his orders, whether she liked them or not. He had never thought she would openly and rudely defy him. She would learn quickly what defiance would cost her.

He heard soft whimpers when he approached the corner room. His stomach instantly knotted. Worried it was Lillian, he stopped and listened next to the door, which stood ajar. The voice that spoke was pathetically weak, not strong like Lillian’s, and his stomach muscles relaxed.

“I... I don’t know how to thank you,” Bibi said, squeezing Lil’s hand as she sat next to her on the bed.

“There’s no need.”

Bibi’s assertive nod expressed disagreement. “Yes, there is. You saved my life. If you hadn’t helped me, the girls here in the saloon would be standing over my coffin today.”

“Hush, now,” Lil ordered, concerned over Bibi upsetting herself.

Bibi shut her eyes for a moment, fighting back the threatening tears. When she opened them, they shone like two pools of water. “You stayed with me, took care of me, fought for my life when I couldn’t. You’re a special woman, Lil. I will always be grateful to you.”

Lil choked on her own emotions when she attempted to speak. “Non-nonsense. I did what any decent person would have done.”

“You did more. Much more,” Bibi insisted with an adamant shake of her head. “You fought, actually fought, to save me. Another person would have given up.”

Lil cleared her throat before laughing lightly. “Some people say I’m obstinate. Not a good quality, they warn me.”

Bibi smiled tenuously. “They’re just jealous ‘cause you’re so smart and beautiful.”

The young girl’s compliment left Lil speechless. She could manage only a simple thank-you.

“You will keep tending me, won’t you? I mean, Doc Talbert won’t take your place, will he? I really prefer you.”

Lil patted Bibi’s hand. “Don’t worry. You’re my patient. I’ll continue to take care of you.”

Bibi sighed, then smiled. “I’m glad to hear that. I heard some of the girls talking this morning, but only caught snatches of their conversation. It was something about you and changes, whether you liked them or not.”

Lil stiffened and so did her resolve. “I assure you, Bibi, the only changes in my life will be the ones I decide to make.”

“Good,” Bibi said with a yawn. “I always knew you were stronger than most women. I knew you wouldn’t let anyone push you around.” Another yawn attacked the weary girl.

“You need your rest,” Lil ordered and stood, leaning over the bed to tuck the covers around her.

“You’ll be back?” Bibi questioned anxiously.

“I’ll stop by later. I promise,” Lil said.

Bibi’s smile was brief before she contentedly closed her eyes.

Lil checked to make certain that all was in order and quietly slipped out of the room, closing the door softly. She turned to hurry off and face her fate and ran smack into her husband’s hard chest.

Rolfe grabbed her arms to steady her, keeping her close up against him.

They assessed each other with their eyes. His were stormy with anger, yet strangely questioning. Hers were hopeful, yet languid with weariness.

Rolfe again felt his stomach muscles clench. He silently cursed his emotions—and her for having such achingly sensuous eyes. He moved to speak, but she pressed her fingers to his lips, silencing him.

“Allow me to work, please?” she queried softly.

Stunned that she had sought his permission, Rolfe acquiesced without hesitation, yet his hold on her remained firm.

Lil’s breath caught for an instant in her throat. Being so close to him only heightened her awareness of his good looks. His features were strong. Vibrant.
Tempting.
She chased those distracting thoughts away and faced the issue at hand. “You must understand how I feel about my work. I could never, never give up helping and caring for people. It is as much a part of me as breathing. Take it away, and you take away that which sustains me.”

Rolfe felt a stab of jealousy he didn’t comprehend.

“I need to continue my work. I need a certain amount of freedom. You cannot expect me to change my life just because we’ve been suddenly forced upon each other.”

Laughter from one of the nearby bedrooms drew their attention.

“It is best we discuss our private life at home,” Rolfe said, releasing her only to take her hand.

Lil nodded and surprisingly enjoyed the simple pressure of his hand against hers. “I’d like to get some of my belongings from my father’s house before we return home.”

“Certainly,” Rolfe agreed, pleased she had at least accepted the fact that she now resided in his home.

Upon their arrival at the Prescott house, Rolfe instructed her to pack only a few necessities. He insisted that Jonathan would fetch the remainder for her the next day.

Lil didn’t bother to argue. Rolfe still didn’t understand that she was accustomed to seeing to her own needs and didn’t require a servant to help her.

She left a short note for her father, telling him she’d see him tomorrow. She was soon back at Rolfe’s home, which was now hers as well, though she had difficulty accepting it as such. Her surroundings were too new, too fresh, to be termed her home.

Lil was surprised and disappointed when Jonathan directed her to her room. Even though Rolfe had announced their marriage would not as yet be consummated, she had assumed they would share a bed. She knew of no married couple in Little who slept in separate beds. But then, no one else possessed such a grand house with so many bedrooms.

Jonathan placed her small suitcase on the wooden chest at the foot of the bed. “Can I get anything for you, Lady Sherborn?”

Lil sighed, shook her head, and smiled. “What is it going to take to get you to call me Lil?”

Jonathan grew fidgety, fumbling nervously with the leather straps of the suitcase. “It—it would be most... most inappropriate for me to refer to you in such a personal manner.”

Lil realized she had placed him in an awkward situation and regretted doing so. It would take time and patience to change long established patterns. Jonathan appeared to have had enough change to deal with, after moving here from England. She couldn’t force even more change upon him.

“If you prefer to address me as Lady Sherborn, please do so.”

The relief on Jonathan’s thin face was so startling that it brought an even wider smile to Lil’s face. “Thank you, Lady Sherborn. Now how about some tea before I unpack your things? It’s been a long day for you.”

It was senseless to insist she didn’t require his help, so she agreed to the tea, which would give her time to unpack her own clothes.

As soon as the door closed behind Jonathan, Lil opened her suitcase. She glanced about, checking out the five-drawer chest with a print of the English countryside above it, the vanity table with its mirror and bench, the seat cover done in a beautiful petit point design, and an intricately carved cherry-wood wardrobe. There was more than enough space for her meager clothes and possessions. The room was far beyond her expectations. Soft cream, rose, and green colors blended beautifully in the flowered wallpaper, and the gentle green was picked up in the quilt and in the drapes that covered the two windows flanking the vanity table.

Lil quickly stored her few clothes in one chest drawer and arranged her comb, brush, and toilet water on the silver vanity tray. The ribbons and combs, which she used frequently to secure her hair, she tucked into the drawers on either side of the vanity.

Her eyes caught her reflection in the mirror. Her hair, as usual, looked unkempt, with loose strands carelessly falling around her face. Her cheeks were bright with color, her lips rosy, and her eyes slightly languid from lack of sleep. Only her yellow dress was presentable.

Jonathan entered the room, upbraided her for doing his job, and warned her that he would be vigilant from now on.

He saw to it that she sat in the comfortable cream-colored wing chair near the window while he arranged the tray with a single tea service on the table beside her.

“Supper will be ready in one hour. Lord Sherborn requests you join him in the receiving salon in thirty minutes,” Jonathan explained as he poured her tea.

She nodded with a pleasant smile. She had her work cut out for her. Rolfe’s stuffy and starched way of life was about to change.

Lil’s hair was tucked in place, but her green eyes still possessed a languid look when she entered the salon—though, to her, it was a parlor. The same one she had been in earlier today and had left in haste.

Rolfe stood, greeted her with a smile, and extended his hand to assist her to the cameo-blue settee. How was it possible that he looked even more handsome than earlier?

“We have much to discuss,” he said, taking the seat beside the sofa.

“Much,” she repeated, anxious to voice her opinions.

“You appear determined to continue your work with Doc Talbert.”

“I am,” she said without hesitation. “I tried to make you understand earlier that my work is very important to me.”

Rolfe’s expression remained unreadable, though the straight angle of his nose fascinated Lil. It looked almost perfect, no bend, slope, or hook. It defined his facial character and strength. It amazed her that one man could boast such prominent features.

“I have tried to approach this matter fairly. You must do the same. You must understand that you are now my wife... my responsibility.”

“I find it difficult, after all these years of being responsible for myself—to suddenly have another person take charge of me.”

Rolfe remained calm and decisively in control. “I can see where the change might confuse you. We will need time to become accustomed to each other.”

“I agree that we will both need time.” She waited, saying no more, allowing him to retain his superior position of control.

“I suppose it would be unfair of me to expect you to change immediately and to relinquish a position you obviously enjoy.”

Lil felt silence was a wise choice at the moment.

Pleased by her rapt attention, Rolfe continued. “After giving the matter careful consideration I have decided that we could compromise. You may continue to care for the ill... but only females.”

Lil fought back the wide smile that threatened to escape and the bubble of laughter that caught in her throat. She found his ‘compromise’ amusing and downright interesting when seen from a different viewpoint—the viewpoint of a jealous husband who had good reason to object to her treating males. The idea delighted her. Of course, complying with his suggestion was another matter, but she would confront that issue when necessary.

At the moment she decided it was best to approach this marriage with patience. She’d attend to each problem as it arose. She would be able to continue her work, with what he assumed would be limitations. That was a beginning. The next problem needing attention was her fascination with his physical features. She found it difficult to keep her eyes off him.

“Your silence leads me to believe you find my decision unacceptable,” Rolfe said, cutting into her thoughts. “Perhaps you underestimated my strength as a husband when you climbed into my bed last night?”