In the Wake of the Wind (21 page)

She raised her head and met his eyes, her own filled with a dismay that crushed his heart and his hopes.

“Hello,” she said in her sweetly musical voice, and he knew she forced the smile to her lips. “Welcome home.”

“Thank you. It’s good to be back.” But he was beginning to wonder. She resembled a doe about to bolt into the woods, her sea-green eyes filled with alarm.

Serafina
cast his father a beseeching glance, as if rescue might come from that direction, and Aiden wanted to laugh. His father was the last person likely to rescue anyone.

“I think I might amble back to the house now,” Lord Delaware said, missing his cue as Aiden knew he would. “I’ll see you shortly.”

Aiden simply nodded, focusing his full attention on
Serafina.
“I hope I don’t come as too much of a surprise,” he said, handing her the flowers. “I’m actually very happy to see you, even if you don’t return the sentiment.”

“Oh—but I’m happy to see you too.” She ran her tongue over her lips, lips that Aiden longed to take under his own but which were unavailable to him.

“It’s just that I didn’t expect to greet you in this manner,” she finished, flustered.

“And what manner did you plan to greet me in? Maybe with a hatchet at the front door?”

To his delighted surprise,
Serafina
burst into laughter. “Nothing so diabolical,” she said. “I planned to greet you properly in my Sunday dress, curtsy nicely to you, and
then
run for my life.”

Aiden tilted his head to one side, scrutinizing his wife. If he wasn’t sure he was making it up, he’d have thought
Serafina
really did look pleased to see him. In that moment she reminded him far too acutely of the queen of the fairies he’d met that first day in the forest, her cheeks flushed, no wariness in her eyes. “What’s this—an actual smile for me?” he asked.

“And why not? Isn’t that how wives generally greet their husbands?”

“Begging your pardon, but the last time I saw you, I had the impression that you would have been perfectly happy to slit my throat.”

Her smile abruptly faded at his comment, and he felt as if the sun had just disappeared.

Clod pole,
he told himself furiously.
When are you going to learn to guard your tongue with her?
“What is it?” he asked gently. “Why do you suddenly look so somber?”

“Aiden, I—I have an apology to make to you,” she said, glancing down.

“An apology?” He studied her hard, trying to decide what sort of trouble she’d gotten herself into during his absence. Maybe a guilty conscience explained the warmth of the smile she’d given him, he concluded with disappointment. “For what? What have you done?”

“I—I’ve had some time to think while you were away, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I was perhaps a trifle unreasonable in my behavior toward you.”

“You were?” he said, caught off guard. This type of apology was the last thing he’d expected to hear.

“Yes. I was angry and frightened and unhappy.” She tugged on her bottom lip with her teeth in a sweet gesture of confusion. “But I’ve come to realize that you were right. Since we can’t change the fact that we’re married, we might as well try to be friends.”

Aiden couldn’t believe his ears. “You want to be friends,” he repeated. “Despite everything.”

“I would,” she said shyly. “It will take some time to grow to know each other well, but since we have to live in the same house, I thought we might at least try to get along.”

“Do you have any particular idea in mind as to how we might accomplish that?” he asked, regarding her with supreme curiosity. He’d long since discovered that Serafina’s brain did not follow any standard logical pathways, so he had no idea what might be coming.

“Yes, I do,” she said. “I think we should start the way all friends start and spend some time together. If the suggestion is agreeable to you, of course.”

Agreeable? Oh, he found her suggestion extremely agreeable. He could hardly believe his good luck. “How would you like to spend this time?” he asked, all sorts of wickedly delicious ideas occurring to him.

She touched a finger to her
chin.
“I thought we might start by walking together, but only if you have the time. I know you are busy with your work.”

“Not at all,” he said, contemplating all the possible opportunities isolated walks presented. “I enjoy walking. What else?” He reached out and gently disentangled the twig from her hair as he spoke, pleased that she didn’t pull away from his touch.

“I’m not sure,” she said. “Maybe we could read aloud to each other?”

Not so promising, but not without possibilities, he considered. “I wouldn’t be adverse to that. I like books.”

“Oh, you see?” she said, clapping her hands together gleefully. “I do as well, so perhaps we have a few things in common after all.”

What Aiden saw was that the one thing he most wanted to have in common with
Serafina
might be a long time coming, given her idea of amusing things to do. But he wasn’t going to throw away a golden opportunity, simply because she hadn’t come around to that particular suggestion yet.

“Yes, I believe we might have few things in common,” he said carefully. “And I’d be more than happy to explore any avenues of possibilities that might lead us closer together.” He felt like a wolf masquerading in sheep’s clothing.

She beamed. “Really? Oh, that is most amenable of you.”

“I’m nothing if not amenable,” he replied, picking her hand up and dropping a kiss on its back, then hastily returned it to her before she found a reason to object. “I am yours to command.”

“Then I command you to return to the house with me,” she said, smiling at him in a manner that threatened to undo him. “I have a surprise for you. Wait just a moment.”

She fetched her horse, then started toward Townsend, leading the mare by the reins. Aiden followed at her side as readily as if she were leading him by the bit.

C
harlotte dropped the fold of draperies in disgust. She’d seen enough of her brother’s performance with his wife. So. Aiden had returned and his blood was no less hot than before. Typical. She’d hoped his month away would have put some sense into his head, but apparently nothing had changed.

Bile rose in her throat. How could the man be so blind? How could he not realize that he was being played for a fool?

Charlotte had worked it all out:
Serafina
must have known that Aiden came to the marriage filled with contempt for her, feeling entrapped and embittered. So the heiress did the one thing guaranteed to change his mind. She played the unschooled, reluctant virgin and her scheme had instantly borne fruit, Aiden practically falling all over himself to please her. Of course, the minute he’d left,
Serafina
had suddenly acquired all sorts of polish.

Oh, she was clever, very clever.
Serafina
had already wrapped their foolish old father around her finger, and now she was setting out to do the same to Aiden. Charlotte had seen that display of pretended devotion and she knew exactly what was behind it, even if Aiden didn’t.

The witch intended to take over everything. She’d already started trying to sway the servants, fluttering her eyelashes at them, smiling at them, speaking to them as if they were her equals. All of Charlotte’s hard work, her careful training was slowly being undone.
Serafina
had even had the gall to take over conversation at the dinner table—traditionally
Charlotte’s
time to speak, encouraging her father and that awful woman to babble on about stupidities.

Soon enough,
Serafina
would convince Aiden to put Charlotte out into the cold.

Well, Charlotte knew how to deal with that. She would find a way to ensnare
Serafina
yet. She’d been slowly putting her plan into effect, being nothing but sweet and kind to her sister-in-law, pretending affection, even allowing
Serafina
to persuade her to use the oils.

Although she had to admit, she found that she liked her rubs, a pleasant respite from the demands of the day, and it was time for her afternoon treatment. That would help to settle her mind and relax the tension that had set in when she’d seen Aiden and
Serafina
together again.

She wheeled herself over to the bell pull and summoned Frederick.

“My rub,” she commanded the second he appeared.

“Certainly, my lady,” Frederick said. He picked her up from her chair in his strong arms and deposited her face down on the bed, opening her dress at the back and slipping her arms out of the sleeves. He pulled her chemise over her head, leaving her back naked.

Charlotte waited impatiently for Frederick to fetch the oil. And then his hands began to move in slow, comforting circles, working the oil into Charlotte’s skin, starting at her shoulders. Charlotte breathed a deep sigh as the heat began to penetrate. She closed her eyes, giving herself over to the exquisite sensations that Frederick’s fingers induced as he worked, rhythmically kneading her muscles.

She drifted off, imagining Raphael’s hands doing the same, touching her in just such a way, rubbing and stroking. She moaned a little in pleasure as Frederick reached the small of her back, pressing down hard.

She’d never really looked at Frederick before, seeing him as just another servant, but he was really most presentable, with good teeth, a thick head of brown hair, and a broad pair of shoulders. But his hands were what she liked most of all, for they were strong and sensitive and steady, although she was sure she ought not to like their touch quite so much. A man’s touch. Wicked. So terribly wicked, even if she let him touch her only to soothe her pain-wracked body.

And yet the constant pain she’d been plagued with for the last twenty-two years had nearly vanished, a different sensation taking its place, one that she wasn’t familiar with at all. All she knew was that a new part of her felt awake, a part that centered deep in the pit of her stomach, that burned and ached even lower down. And the new sensations she felt tormented her. Each day her imagination went just a little farther as to what Frederick might do in the course of her rub, secretly wishing that he’d touch her more intimately, loathing herself for entertaining the thought at all, but unable to help it.

She sighed again as Frederick pulled up her skirt, starting again at her feet and working his way up the back of her legs, stroking her tight muscles into relaxation.
Oh … so
nice. So very nice. She wondered what would happen if she eased her legs apart just a little, inviting him to go just a little higher…

But to her disappointment he pulled her dress down over her legs again. “All done, my lady.”

And then he was gone, leaving Charlotte alone in her bed, trembling with frustration and disgust that she could even entertain such a lustful fantasy.

Serafina
tied her horse to the hitching post, then turned to Aiden. “Stay here for just a minute,” she said, and ran up the front steps, hoping Lord Delaware had done his job in time.

She’d nearly had apoplexy when Aiden appeared out of the blue, no warning to give her a chance to prepare. But his timing couldn’t have been better, for it was past four o’clock now, and Charlotte would be safely upstairs sleeping, unable to interfere with Aiden’s surprise.

She pushed the door open, filled with excitement. This was the moment they’d been practicing so hard for. Lord Delaware and Plum had gathered everyone in the front hall, and they all looked nervous. She smiled reassuringly, her finger to her lips, then turned and beckoned to Aiden. He wore a puzzled expression, but he came up the steps obligingly enough.

Serafina
lifted her hands, then dropped them.

The entire staff of Townsend Hall burst into rousing song,
Serafina
and Lord Delaware joining them.

Aiden stopped dead in his tracks as he came through the door, his face blank at first. His gaze swept from one side of the hall to the other. He slowly shook his head in disbelief, then turned to
Serafina,
his eyes brilliant with something she almost might have thought were tears, except that men like Aiden didn’t cry. Did they?

The last strains of the song fell away, and Aiden rubbed one hand over his face. “Thank you,” he said hoarsely after a long moment, looking up at the beaming staff. “That’s the nicest welcome I’ve ever had.”

The servants shuffled their feet, nudging each other, their faces showing their pleasure.

“We practiced every day,” Lord Delaware said. “Back in the kitchen so your sister wouldn’t be woken from her afternoon sleep. Did you like the harmony?
Serafina
arranged it—and doesn’t your wife have a lovely voice?”

“Beautiful,” Aiden agreed, looking over at her, his face schooled back into composure. “Thank you, sweetheart. I’m truly touched by your surprise.”

She blushed with pleasure. “I’m so pleased, Aiden. I chose an old Welsh song traditionally sung when a lord returned from battle. I thought it appropriate, since in a way you have.”

“Victorious, I’m happy to say. Who was to know Townsend held such musical talent? You have a proper chorus here.”

“They are good, aren’t they? I thought that maybe I’d ask the vicar if he wouldn’t like a choir for the church, since he doesn’t have one. I think music makes Sunday services so much nicer, and we can practice here just as we have been doing, so nobody’s duties will be affected.”

“It’s a wonderful idea,” Aiden said, smiling down at her. “Actually, if you have room, I wouldn’t mind being in the choir myself.”

“Really?” she said with delight. “Of course there’s room. But can you sing?”

“You’ll have to be the judge of that, but I don’t believe I’ll set the dogs to howling.”

“Then we’ll be happy to have you. Won’t we?” she said to the others. They all nodded and murmured they would, but they didn’t look very comfortable with the idea of having the grand Lord Aubrey in their midst. Lord Delaware was a different matter, for his wasn’t an imposing presence, but Aiden did have a certain quality that spoke of authority and breeding, something that set him apart from ordinary people.

Well,
Serafina
considered, he’d get over all that soon enough, and it would be good for him to mingle with his servants.

Aiden reached his hand out and cupped her chin. “Thank you,
Serafina,”
he said softly, so that only she could hear. “Thank you for giving me a chance.”

“If you’re not any good, I’ll toss you out,” she replied with a light laugh. But she knew what he really referred
to.
And it occurred to her that in giving him a chance, maybe she had given herself one too.

“Oh, my lady, look at what his lordship’s brought you!”

Janie turned from the trunks, her arms full of dresses and petticoats, her face flushed with excitement. “Everything you could possibly dream of!”

Serafina
stared at the array of clothing that tumbled over the bed, the chairs, everywhere she looked. “Good heavens,” she said in wonderment. “It’s an entire dress shop…”

Aiden appeared behind her shoulder. “I hope everything meets with your approval,” he said. “When I left you weren’t at all pleased with the idea of being dressed like a countess.”

She turned to him, her eyes shining. “Oh, Aiden—Aiden, I was only being silly and stubborn. I didn’t really mean it.”

“You didn’t?” he said, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck. “You sounded very sure to me.”

“Well, I was at the time, but that was before I realized that you were right, that I need to learn how to fit in. I appreciate what you’ve done, truly I do. You’re very generous to have bought me so many nice things.”

“Not really,” he said with a gleam of irony in his eyes. “Your money paid for them, after all.”

“It’s not my money, it’s yours now, and you’re welcome to it. What would I do with a fortune?”

“I have no idea,” he answered. “But I doubt you would do any of the usual things.” He looked around the room. “Janie, I think you’d better put everything next door in the other bedroom. The hanging wardrobe will never accommodate all this clutter. And give me a little time alone with my wife, will you?”

“Yes, your lordship,” Janie said with a breathless curtsy. “As you wish. Right away.” She scooped up as much as her arms could hold and went through the connecting door, closing it behind her.

Serafina
regarded Aiden nervously, not sure why he wanted to be alone with her. But he went straight to the point.

“Serafina,”
he said, clearing a space on the bed and sitting down, “I don’t know what happened while I was away to change your attitude toward me, but I want you to know that I’m hugely relieved—and grateful to you. As much as I looked forward to seeing you again, I dreaded living in a constant battle zone. This place is dreary enough as it is.”

Serafina
nodded, feeling ashamed of herself for having made his life so miserable on top of everything else he’d had to deal with. “I know,” she said. “But I do think Townsend is slowly improving.”

“If the sight of a houseful of formerly dour servants merrily singing to me is any indication, I’d say there’s been a vast improvement. Even—” He paused for a moment before continuing. “Even my father seems improved, although I hesitate to trust that judgment.”

“Oh, but he is improved, Aiden,” she said earnestly. “He’s not as lonely as he was, which helps. He and Aunt Elspeth have become good friends, and we hold long conversations while we garden. At least he’s making an effort to change.”

Aiden rested his forearms on his knees and folded his hands together. “I don’t know if the change will last, but I thank you for caring enough to try to help him. I’ve never had any luck.”

“Maybe it’s easier for me because I don’t have an argument with him. And I honestly like your father! All he needed was a little encouragement and some attention paid to him. A little love goes a long way.”

Aiden gazed at her, his expression undecipherable. “Well, as I said, I appreciate your efforts. But to go back to the original issue, I also appreciate your willingness to put an end to the hostility between us. I’d like to return the favor if I can.”

“I don’t see how,”
Serafina
said, puzzled. “You were always much nicer to me than I ever was to you.”

Aiden smiled. “I wasn’t the one with an argument. I told you I was perfectly happy to be married to you. You might not believe that, but it’s the truth.”

Serafina
pressed the palms of her hands together. “Maybe you look at marriage differently than I do. You’re a man.”

“That was never in dispute,” he said, quirking an eyebrow. “And that brings me to my point. Sweetheart, if you’d rather not share my bed, I’ll understand.”

Serafina
stared at him. “You will?” she blurted out, stunned. “But—but why? Why would you change your mind now?”

“Because I know you didn’t like the idea of sleeping with me to begin with, and I probably should never have asked you to strike that particular bargain, not when I deliberately coerced you into it.” He sighed. “I’m sorry for that, I truly am. You deserve far better than me,
Serafina,
and I’m trying to make up for my shortcomings the only way I can think of.”