Love Sneaked In (Montgomery Family Trilogy) (14 page)

Matthew watched the play of emotions roll over her face. “You’re right, I do enjoy your touches. That was the most incredible experience I’ve ever had. Let’s make sure we spend more time together and I’m sure I’ll be ready soon.” Beginning to shiver, she gasped, “I’m starting to get c-cold, so I think I’ll put my c-clothes back on. We’ll have to go back to the house, because I wouldn’t want your t-tenants to see me this way. I was just so c-carried away when I saw the ocean. I wasn’t thinking about what we had planned for the rest of the day.”

“That’s no problem. We can head up to the house now. I promise to keep my passions in check until you’re ready for more. When you do decide you want to fully be my wife, I want you to do it because you’re completely ready, not because I pushed you too soon.”

They struggled as they put their clothes on, since they didn’t have a towel to dry off with. Once they were dressed, they mounted their horses, rode back up the beach, and took the path back to the house. As they entered, Matthew said, “Go on and get changed. I’ll meet you out front in twenty minutes, and then we’ll go on to meet some of my tenants.”

While Helen hurried up to her room to change, she thought about their time on the beach. It was one of the most incredible experiences of her life. While she looked out at the ocean, the magnificence had overwhelmed her senses. The sand between her toes was sublime. She knew she would love the sea forever and that she would never want to live anywhere else.

Helen was so overjoyed she had married Matthew. She never would have experienced the wonder of the sea if she hadn’t. When he had touched her while they were on the beach, she felt sensation after sensation roll over her, and then she felt as if she were sailing on a cloud. That must be what Melody meant when she said that physical love was beautiful.

While she still wasn’t ready to consummate her marriage, she did enjoy Matthew’s touches. Grateful for Matthew’s patience, which was most unusual she was sure, she hoped she would be ready to make love soon. She agreed with Matthew, she did want to be completely ready to be his wife the first time they made love. Then glancing over at the clock, she realized more time had passed than she had thought so she rushed out of her room.

Matthew had the gig brought around and they went in it, instead of riding. They started the rounds of all the tenant farmers. Since there were too many to see in one day, they visited about half of them, and Helen enjoying meeting everyone. They stopped for lunch around two o’clock. They were both famished, so the basket was soon empty.

After they finished eating, they lay down on the blanket and looked up at the sky. As Helen admired the beautiful summer day and enjoyed the peaceful surroundings, Matthew reached over and clasped her hand. Helen rolled over onto her side so she was facing him. Leaning forward, Matthew kissed her gently and smiled. Helen enjoyed the closeness as they lay there and drifted off to sleep under the warm sun.

When Helen and Matthew woke up it was time to head back to the house. When they got back, there was a carriage out front. A young girl stepped out of the carriage, tucked a lock of her curly dark blonde hair back behind her ear, and looked around. Her bright green eyes glanced over at Helen, but then she spied Matthew. She ran over to him and threw herself into his arms. He swung her around laughing, and she shrieked for joy.

Helen realized Margaret had arrived. She wondered how her arrival would affect their household. From what Matthew had told her about Margaret, there was probably going to be quite a bit of upheaval. She just hoped they could become friends. Helen knew Matthew was counting on her to help Margaret. With his arm still around the young girl, Matthew said, “This is my little sister. Margaret, this is my wife, Helen.”

Margaret curtsied. “Pleased to meet you, my lady. I wish I could have come to the wedding. You’re so beautiful. I’m sure you made a lovely bride.”

“Thank you, Margaret. We had a small country wedding, and I wish you could have been there too. Since we’re now sisters, please, call me Helen.”

Matthew gazed down at his sister and said, “Let’s get you into the house and settled in. It’s almost time for tea.”

Matthew didn’t exaggerate about Margaret. She was like a whirlwind, and she never stopped moving. Of course, the twins loved every minute of it. Helen found it difficult to get to know her, because she couldn’t seem to stay in one spot for more than five minutes. It was obvious that she was very spoiled and very used to getting her way, and she had Matthew wrapped around her little finger.

Every day brought some kind of crisis in Margaret’s mind. If it rained, it drove her crazy, because she couldn’t get outside. If it was a sunny day, then it was too hot. Margaret was cheerful and pleasant when she was getting her own way, but if she wasn’t, she became irritable.

By the end of the week, Helen was exhausted from trying to keep up with her. Matthew was no help because he would just go off to his study. The highlight of her day was her morning ride with Matthew. Margaret wasn’t an early riser, so that gave Helen a little peace each day.

While riding on the beach, about a week after Margaret arrived, Matthew remarked, “I’m pleased to see that you and Margaret are getting along. I do realize she can be a bit much at times. Thank you for befriending her.”

Helen shifted in her saddle and readjusted her leg around the pommel. “I’m trying to get to know Margaret, but she’s a bit of a trial at times. Don’t worry. I shan’t give up on her.”

“I really appreciate the effort you’re making.” Then changing the subject, he asked, “What was it like growing up the daughter of a duke? At the wedding, I noticed that you aren’t close to your mother. Why is that?”

“My mother never seemed to have time for me. Neither of my parents spent much time at home. They preferred London most of the year. Being the daughter of a duke did have certain privileges, but for most of my life, I didn’t realize it. It wasn’t until I got to London that I understood I was treated differently. At first, some of the other girls who made their come out with me weren’t very nice, but once they took the time to know me, they realized I was friendly and outgoing. I think they thought I would be all stiff and proper like my parents, which is not me at all.”

“It sounds as if you had a lonely childhood. I know many of the ton leave their children to be raised by servants. I realize that I was very fortunate that both my parents took such an active role in my early years.”

“It wasn’t that lonely because of my brothers. Nelson was wonderful. He made sure that Kathryn and I were taken care of, and that we felt loved. Kathryn and I are very close, even though we’re four years apart in age. Henry was a good brother also. Even though I wanted to follow him around everywhere, he never grew impatient with me, no matter how much I annoyed him.” She smiled as she remembered all the wonderful times she’d had with her brothers.

“I’m glad you had your brothers and that you and Kathryn are so close. Since there was such an age difference between me and my brother and sister, we’ve never been close. Until my father died last year, I didn’t spend much time with them. Now, tell me more about growing up at Sanderford Park. From what I saw of it, it appeared quite lovely.”

“Sanderford Park was a wonderful place to grow up in, what with its verdant green hills, and a great lake, which I learned to swim in. Lady Penelope was the only child that my parents would allow me to play with. She’s the daughter of Lord Stanton, and his estate borders Sanderford Park. Lady Penelope was two years older than I was, but we didn’t get along at all,” Helen said, as she retied the ribbons of her shako hat. “What was it like for you growing up?”

“I was the only child for nine years. I remember how delighted my mother was when she had Gregory. When he was born, I was very jealous of the time my mother spent with him. Gregory was a hand full from the day he was born, and he kept everyone busy. What I soon found out was my mother still made time for me, so I was able to get over my jealousy.”

“It sounds as if your mother was wonderful. I’m somewhat envious of you. My mother has always been aloof. I imagine your mother was overjoyed when Margaret was born.”

Looking somber, Matthew answered, “When my sister was born, it was very hard on my mother, and she didn’t survive the birth.”

“I’m sorry,” Helen replied, concern reflected in her voice, “I didn’t realize that was how you lost your mother. That must have been awful for you and your father.”

“It was. My father had been very much in love with her, so his grief overwhelmed him. Up to that point, he’d taken an active role in parenting me, and I thought the world of him. It was difficult to see him so overcome by my mother’s death. Right after she died, I was sent away to school.”

Helen’s heart went out to him, because she could hear the pain in his voice. “That must have been hard, having to leave for school so soon after your mother’s death. Where did you go to school?”

“I went to Eton, and while I was a good student, I didn’t care for school. My only real friend was Bradley. We were both misfits, so we stuck together. We were smaller than many of the other boys, so they picked on us unmercifully. I went through something of a wild stage and got into some trouble at school, but nothing awful.” Matthew’s face grew flushed as he said, “I’m embarrassed to say this, but I was something of a rake.”

Helen laughed. “Remember when we first met at Lady Molson’s ball? I saw you talking to Lady Helton before you came over to meet me, and I thought you were probably a bit of a rake because of the way you looked me over. How did you end up married at such a young age?”

“When I got into trouble at school, Father thought marriage would help me settle down. When I was one and twenty, he arranged my marriage to Belinda, and I hated him for it. I knew I was far too young for marriage, but he wouldn’t listen to me. I made a very bad husband,” he said, and then looking contrite, he added, “I wasn’t faithful to my wife, and she knew it, because I wasn’t discreet. When she died, I felt tremendous guilt over the way I had treated her.”

With a determined voice, Helen replied, “I can’t even imagine being forced to marry at such a young age. Of course, that was no excuse for the way you treated Belinda. It wasn’t her fault that you had to marry so young. I need to let you know right now, I’ll not tolerate you being unfaithful to me. I know that in many tonnish marriages it’s acceptable to have lovers, but I don’t agree. I’ll never be unfaithful to you, and I expect you to be faithful to me. I guess we should have talked about this before we got married, but I just didn’t think about it.”

Matthew looked earnestly at Helen. “Helen, I promise I’ll always be faithful to you. I was too young and too stupid to know any better when I was married to Belinda. I respect you far too much to ever betray you.”

Helen was relieved to hear Matthew say he wouldn’t betray her. She’d never thought about adultery before. She’d just assumed that Matthew would stay true to his vows. She guessed it was quite na�ve of her to not think about this before she married him. “Well, I’m glad we have that cleared up. I promise that it won’t be much longer before I’ll be ready to…ah…consummate our marriage. I understand that it’s difficult for you to wait, but I’m so glad you’re willing to give me time to get used to being married to you.”

“I won’t deny that I want you badly, but you take as long as you need to feel comfortable with the idea of making love.”

Helen didn’t want to discuss making love, so she changed the direction of their conversation. “I’ve been wondering about something. Since you loved your father so much, I imagine you miss him terribly.”

“I do. I miss my father desperately. Even though I hated him when he made me get married so young, I forgave him years ago. I loved him very much, and when he died, it just about brought me to my knees. Once he was gone, I had a rude awakening. Collingswood Hall was in bad shape, and I told you about the steward. I had to put my philandering ways behind me and face my responsibilities.”

“I’m sure it was a surprise when you found out that he hadn’t been taking care of the estate.”

“It was, to say the least. Another thing that bothers me is that I know he was counting on me to turn Gregory around, but I’m not sure I can. My brother is totally out of control. He’s been in trouble constantly this entire year. He’s always overspending his allowance, and it’s created quite a few problems for me. My father was right to be concerned about me not having an heir, because Gregory would probably gamble away everything he could get his hands on.”

“I can just imagine how exasperating it is to watch your brother going down the wrong path.”

Matthew ran his fingers through his thick wavy hair. He tended to do this whenever he was troubled by something. “Yes, it is. My father was also concerned about Margaret. He made me promise to watch out for her, and when the time comes, find her a good husband. I haven’t spent much time with Margaret since we’re eleven years apart. I told you that my father spoiled her terribly, so I’m reaping what he sowed, so to speak. Please try to reach out to her. I know she’s a real trial, but I’m sure with your guidance she’ll calm down. Will you help with her?”