The Werewolf's Pregnant Bride (6 page)

Her chances at a happy marriage were hopeless. There was no way she and Nathaniel would ever find to be civil to each other let alone friendly. Love was certainly out of the question.

Nathaniel slammed the door which made Snow and Winter startle. The dogs jumped up to sniff at him and a moment later cowered on the floor by his side. They must have been able to smell the stench of his anger. He did not know why Sophronia's words got to him. She was nothing to him. Why did it matter if Baltz looked at her with lust? Why did it matter if she went unescorted to the circus in the company of his brother? None of that should matter to him.

He tried to pull it together in his mind. The only reason he could imagine for his ridiculous emotions to be so treacherous was the fact that he bedded her. Did bedding a woman really cause such ridiculous proprietary feelings? How could men lay with whores and be well aware that the man in the hallway would bed her the second he left her room? How could Eldon seem uncaring that Nathaniel was married to her and bedding her?

It was ridiculous. He loved Vivian. He should be married to and bedding Vivian. Sophronia should be nothing to him.

Chapter 9

Sophronia could tell as she sat down at the breakfast table that both Claire and Nathaniel had taken extra time on their appearances that morning. She had a pretty good idea why Claire was wearing her hair a bit more stylishly than usual and why she was in her second best dress though she was not sure what had possessed her husband to make sure his clothes were completely wrinkle free and his face shaved smooth as a baby mouse.

No one else at the table looked any different than they had at the breakfast table on the other mornings she had shared with them.

Mercy was at the table with a book which she was paying more attention to than her food. Eldon had a glass of ale in his hands and no plate. The Marquess was absent from the table but likely in his study already working on business.

She tried to ignore the tension in the air as she filled her plate. Her appetite was especially hearty that morning. The child within her must be growing large and strong. She hoped the babe did not grow too large. She had tried to put thoughts of birthing the babe out of her mind because the idea of childbirth was terrifying. The babe inside her was a punishment for her night with Eldon. She hoped that would be adequate penance. That, and marriage to a man she did not love and barely knew.

"Are you unwell?" Mercy asked looking up at her. Apparently, her thoughts were showing on her face.

"Just fatigued," Sophronia said. Mercy did not say anything more but she did not look quite convinced.

"Perhaps you should plan to skip the circus," Eldon said. She was pretty sure it was the first word of concern he had given for either her or his child. His words made her angry but she tried not to let it show. She would much rather have had the concern coming from Nathaniel but he merely glanced at her then returned his eyes to his plate.

"It is not for a few more days. I am sure I will feel better by then," Sophronia said.

The room was deafeningly silent for what seemed like forever. Sophronia had almost finished her food and was debating returning to her room to rest when Owen appeared to announce the arrival of Vivian.

The woman swept into the room and Sophronia instantly understood why Claire had outdone herself on her appearance. Even at her best Claire was plain next to Vivian. Her sister had not only been born prettier and with more feminine attributes but there was also a mischievous sparkle to her eyes. It was a sparkle that she had seen before in female friends who boasted about clandestine meetings with rakes behinds the backs of their fathers and husbands.

Vivian did not have the sweetness that Claire had.

"We have not been introduced," she said looking at Sophronia and then Claire who blushed.

"Of course. I am sorry. This is my new sister-in-law, Sophronia." Claire gestured and Sophronia curtsied. "Sophronia, this is my sister, Vivian."

"Charmed," Sophronia said even though she was not feeling at all charmed.

"An American wife. Nathaniel, this is a surprise," Vivian said. Sophronia did not care for the tone that the woman was using on her husband. Nor the coquettish look she gave him.

She wondered if the little pleasure tricks Nathaniel had used on her to consummate the marriage had been taught to him by this woman. She looked at Nathaniel carefully trying to divine what relationship he and Vivian had.

His worshipful look made her fairly confident that he had not actually bedded this woman. He looked at her like a fantasy not like a man remembering a pleasant bedding. At least, she hoped she was reading his look correctly. Vivian was not the type of woman one tried to compete with. She could have any man she wanted, married or not. Sophronia had no doubts in her mind about that.

"It was unexpected," Nathaniel said.

"I suppose once I grow accustomed to her American manners I will find that I love her like a sister," Vivian said. Sophronia was sure there was no chance that they would grow to love each other like sisters unless perhaps she meant the step-sisters from Cendrillon.

"We have plans to go to the circus later this week. Would you care to join us?" Mercy asked.

"I do not hold circuses in particularly high regard. However, I suppose that if the rest of you are going I will accompany you," Vivian said.

"I expect it will be fun," Sophronia said.

"I suppose you would be amused by a Punch and Judy show as well," Vivian said with a laugh that seemed haughty to Sophronia though she could not be sure. She did not know Vivian well enough to read her.

"I thought we could stay inside today and read. It looks like rain is coming," Mercy said.

"It does indeed," Vivian said.

"I just finished reading this lovely book about a family that is stranded on an island-" Mercy started but Vivian cut her off.

"Mercy, dearest, you know I love you like my own sister. But like her, I find your taste in books lacking a certain refinement. I have no interest in the adventure stories you read as if the publishers would quit them. I almost wish they would. Really, how many people end up stranded on deserted islands fending off savages and such nonsense."

"Dearest sister, you know that the Wolstenholme library is vast. I am sure we can find a book suited to your taste," Claire said.

Claire took Vivian's arm and led her out of the room.

"I suppose I shall check to see if you have a copy of The History of Maria Kittle. It is just the kind of book that Mercy would love," Sophronia said. It was also exactly the kind of book Vivian would hate. It was a story about savage Indians taking a family captive.

Nathaniel was glad when he and Eldon were the only ones remaining in the room. He was sure the library was erupting in sparks but that was not his concern so long as those sparks did not turn to flames.

"You will want to watch yourself," Eldon said softly.

"How do you mean?"

"Vivian. She is not to be trusted," Eldon said. He was looking down into his drink and Nathaniel was not entirely sure that his brother was actually talking to him at all.

Still, what right did Eldon have to give advice on women?

"I am sure she will avoid thieving any books from the library. I would wager a woman like her would prefer to steal jewels if she was to be a thief at all," Nathaniel said.

"The books are safe. Jewels too. Hearts are another story," Eldon said.

"I am married now so I think it unlikely that my heart is at any risk. It would be of no benefit to her. I can not marry her any more easily than you could," Nathaniel said.

"I have made many mistakes over the years but Vivian was never one of those no matter how much she wanted to be," Eldon said.

Did his brother really think he was God's gift to women? Just because he had a drunken night with Sophronia did Eldon assume all women wanted to fall helplessly into his bed?

Nathaniel bit his tongue. Nothing he said would make a difference. Not to his brother or to himself.

Instead he stood up from the table and walked out of the room. Hercules needed more training and he was sure Jonah had already cleaned their kennels, fed them, and taken them for their morning exercise. He might be able to train through all the meals of the day. It would be a nice excuse to avoid both Vivian and Sophronia. The more he could avoid the two of them the happier his life would be.

Chapter 10

Sophronia looked one final time in the mirror. Ruth had done an excellent job. Not only did her clothes hide her protruding belly but they also brought out the plumpness of her breasts which were swollen as a result of the pregnancy. An onlooker who did not know her situation would think only that she was an attractive and well endowed woman.

Ruth had also put up her hair beautifully. It was braided in intricate patterns that the servants her father employed would never have thought to do. She was sure she was still no match in beauty for Vivian but she would be pretty enough that Nathaniel would not be ashamed to have her on his arm.

Nathaniel and Eldon were already waiting at the bottom of the staircase with Mercy. She thought she saw Nathaniel take a deep intake of breath but she could not be sure. She also did not know why his reaction to her should matter. She was no longer some young girl seeking a husband. Now, she was a married woman. She was a woman who could grow plump and dour with no consequences to herself. She did not plan to be either plump or dour as those things best described her mother and she had no interest in becoming a younger model of her mother. Still, it would not change her marriage status if she ignored her looks.

"Claire and Vivian had better hurry if we are to get there before it starts," Eldon said. She noticed that his eyes were red and his hand shook. She wondered if he had a flask with him or if he was planning to attempt to get through the evening without the help of alcohol.

"Let me take you to the carriage so you can get comfortable while we wait," Nathaniel said. He offered his arm to both her and Mercy. They both took an arm and he led them outside to where the carriage was waiting.

A footman that Sophronia had not met before opened the carriage door. She was about to step into the carriage when she started.

"Are those dogs?" Sophronia asked. Instead of the horses that she had always seen pulling carriages it appeared that a line of eight dogs were hooked up to the carriage. They were larger than any dogs she had seen before. Surely, these dogs could not be the grown version of the adorable little pup that had stole their shuttlecock so many days ago.

The footman glanced at Nathaniel as if it was very odd for her to ask such a question.

"They are indeed. I am sure you have noticed that there are no horses on the property. Did you expect my brother and myself to be hitched to the carriage and pull you ladies the whole way ourselves?" Nathaniel asked.

Sophronia did not answer. Instead, she allowed the footman to help her into the carriage and then the footman assisted Mercy who took a seat beside her.

The inside of the carriage was nice enough. There were two benches facing each other. The benches were padded and upholstered with a soft fabric that was beige in color. There was room under the benches though she had not thought to bring anything with her for the ride. She knew the circus was rather a ways away. Had Nathaniel said it would take two hours to ride to the circus and another two hours home? She was not sure of the exact times though she knew he had said that their excursion would take the entire day.

The footman closed the door.

"Why did Nathaniel not take his seat?" Sophronia asked. 

"Eldon and Nathaniel will sit on top since it is a nice day. I am afraid that it would be quite crowded if we all tried to ride inside. Six men might squeeze in well enough but four women in fine clothes will be a squeeze," Mercy said.

"The dogs can really pull all of us?" Sophronia asked. She had seen a draft dog or two pulling a milk cart but she never imagined one pulling a carriage.

"They can. My brother raises some of the best draft dogs in England. He is not the only one of course. He is just the best," Mercy said.

"I do not see why anyone would prefer to use dogs over horses," Sophronia said.

"Some families seem to have a smell that the horses do not like," Mercy said.

"I have never heard of such a thing," Sophronia said.

"Perhaps those in America do not have the same issue. It is not terribly common but there are perhaps a dozen families I know of personally whose scent makes horses ill at ease," Mercy said. Sophronia was not sure if Mercy was jesting or not. She was not smiling but at the same time the idea that certain people had a smell that affected horses so much that they could not pull a carriage seemed like it must be poppycock.

The door opened again and Claire and Vivian entered the carriage. Claire's maid had done a good job on her and she looked the picture of angelic innocence. Vivian on the other hand looked like feminine beauty. Claire's looks would make men throw jackets on mud puddles for her while Vivian's look would have men offering her the jewels from the family coffers for a kiss.

The footman handed them a basket and then closed the carriage door. It suddenly felt quite warm and cramped.

"I wish I had brought a book," Mercy whispered. "Though of course the light and movement makes reading difficult. I do not suppose I could sleep without making a mess of my hair."

"Well, I have some news," Vivian said. Her voice was full of excitement but there was an air of mischief to it as well.

"You have told me no news," Claire said.

"I thought I would wait and share it with everyone. I did not think I would be believed if I only told you and you certainly would not be believed if you repeated it."

"Tell us," Claire said.

"A man has asked for my hand in marriage," Vivian said.

"Have you accepted it?"

"I can only say that I have promised it to him in secret," Vivian said. The sly look she gave made Sophronia wonder if that secret had been promised in a bedroom and with few words being spoken.

"Who is he?" Claire asked.

"It would not do to reveal his name. Not now anyways. What I can tell you is that he is very rich and very powerful," Vivian said.

"Is he a duke?" Claire asked.

"Sadly, no. Which is part of the reason father and mother have not yet been told of our affections."

"Who is he?" Claire asked again.

"Have you ever heard of John Astor? He is involved in real estate. Apparently he is quite good at it," Vivian said with a titter.

"I have," Sophronia said. He was a rich man and someone she was sure Vivian had not managed to get her claws dug into.

"Let us just say that this man is a very close personal friend of Astor. More like family, really. He stands to inherit a small fortune when Astor passes from this world. More importantly, he has connections to some very important people from our circles," Vivian said.

"Your circles?" Sophronia asked. She did not recall Claire mentioning what her father did for business. He must be wealthy and prestigious for his daughter to marry a Wolstenholme.

"My father travels in many circles," Claire said and swiped her hand as if to make light of the comment.

Sophronia wondered for a moment if Claire and Vivian's father was involved in something untoward. That was the main reason she had found for people to be vague about their business. She had not met many people like that. Her mother and father were both upstanding and moved in circles of equally upstanding people. Still, occasionally they had befriended a wealthy man who seemed interested in business only to find that the business he ran was questionable.

"Is he American?" Mercy asked.

"His family is German. Apparently his family had some connection to the Astor's in the old country. My love is sadly an American, now though," Vivian said with a sigh.

"And you are sure he means to marry you?" Claire asked.

"Whether or not he means to marry me I fully intend to marry him," Vivian said.

"Do you not think you should let father know about him so that his suitability can be determined. I mean, if he is all you say there are reasons to be cautious. The people in our American circles have their own tensions and concerns. I am not sure father would want you joining with an American," Claire said.

"In our circles," Mercy added taking Sophronia's hand as if to assure her that it was not all American's that they wished Vivian to avoid. It was only whatever people they considered in their circles that might be questionable. She had heard rumors of some lawlessness in newly settled western towns but that was all she had heard that might cause concerns in her mind. Unless of course the man in question had something to do with the slave trade or perhaps even abolitionists. She wished that she knew Vivian well enough to ask her. After all, the cause that Vivian's partner was backing might be well in line with the things she believed in and wanted to fight for. Or they might not. She did not quite trust Vivian to be fighting for worthy causes. 

Relief filled Nathaniel when the carriage finally pulled into the grounds where the traveling circus had been set up. He and Eldon had spent the ride on a seat behind the driver. It had been made comfortable and it was plenty secure but his body still ached from sitting in one space for so long.

There were two other carriages pulled by draft dogs instead of horses and he had Dalton pull the carriage in by them. Since Dalton was technically Eldon's servant he usually let his brother issue the orders but Eldon's eyes were closed. Nathaniel was not sure if he was asleep or not. He had not been drinking anything so it was not a drunk stupor his brother was in which at least was a comfort.

The carriages beside them were not manned with dogs that had originated in his kennels. One had large spotted dogs with short hair. He had talked to their breeder before about his concerns with the cold and sun more easily penetrating short hair but the breeder had been unconcerned. The other dogs were a mix of colors and coat lengths. Apparently, the family that owned that carriage did not breed their own dogs nor did they buy them from only one breeder. Either that or they were not being selective in their breeding and creating mongrels. He hoped that was not the case. There were so few draft dogs. It was a shame to waste a bitch's heat cycle on mongrel pups.

Dalton hopped down from the carriage. Nathaniel shook Eldon who woke with a start and then quickly seemed to find his bearing. Nathaniel waited for Eldon to climb down from the carriage and then he followed. 

Sophronia took the arm that Nathaniel offered and allowed him to lead her towards the white tent in the distance. Mercy was on his other arm. Vivian and Claire were on either arm of Eldon who looked disinterested but at least did not appear drunk.

"How was the ride?" Nathaniel asked. In truth, it was bumpy and stuffy and had made her queasy. She would not tell him that though. If she did, he might insist she stay on the estate until her babe was born and that thought was unbearable. She needed to see the world and believe that she was still a part of it. Her life was not going to be as a wife confined to an estate while her husband ran about the world doing all the interesting things forbidden a proper woman. Especially a woman with a babe.

As they drew near the entrance she heard Eldon curse. She turned her eyes to see what had caught his wrath and attention.

"Bloody Society for Animals," Nathaniel whispered.

"The what?" Sophronia asked. She could see a commotion ahead but they were not close enough for her to fully view what was going on."

"The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is making their appearance. Probably want to make sure the horses were brushed three times this morning and given gold troughs to drink from. They want damn animals to be treated better than humans. They are just animals."

"Animals have feelings too. They should be treated with kindness even if they do not have souls," Sophronia said. She was not sure she entirely believed that sentiment either. Her mother assured her that animals, Negroes, and Indians had no souls and so could be treated however was seen fit. Sophronia had seen preachers argue that Indians needed taught of Jesus and turned from their heathen ways. She was sure that Indians and Negroes had souls. She was also sure animals did as well though that was harder to prove than the other two.

"The Society is full of self righteous prigs who have never spent a day with real animals. They think their fluffy lap dogs deserve the same rights as human beings."

"You do not agree?"

"Of course I do not. They have come after us a number of times. I have a letter from them claiming that I should cease raising draft dogs because forcing dogs to pull anything, from milk cart to carriage, is cruel servitude. I wonder if they would keep harping on it if I hooked them up to the carriage," Nathaniel growled.

"It does seem like dogs are poorly built to be draft animals. They do not have the strength of a horse or an ox."

"My dogs are specially bred to pull. They are trained to do it practically from birth," Nathaniel said. His voice was rising and she knew she had hit a nerve. Her good sense told her to cast down her eyes and be silent but doing so was not in her nature.

"I have heard many of the same things argued about the Negroes. Do you think that just because a child is made to pick cotton they are happy in that life?"

"We are talking about dogs. Not people."

"I am just saying that perhaps the society has merit in what they say," Sophronia said. She looked over at Mercy who looked green. Apparently, Mercy agreed with her brother. Sophronia should have suspected as much. At home, she was the only person with radical views. How could people like Nathaniel and Mercy not see how civilized many of the ideas were? No man or woman should be kept a slave. No animal should be mistreated. Women should have a say in the world. Why was she considered radical for believing those things?