With His Ring (Brides of Bath Book 2) (17 page)

"It appears I'm at your mercy, Mr.
Jefferson." She stood up, removed her earrings and tossed them on
the table, then swept from the room.

Chapter 14

Why had he let that red-headed pixie talk
him into marriage, Gregory lamented as he sat waiting for Glee to
come down to breakfast. He picked up the spoon and began to
stir—for the twelfth time—his now-cold tea. He had already been
there half an hour, angrily drumming his fingers into the linen
tablecloth. He'd had nothing but aggravation since his marriage, a
marriage Glee had once made sound so wretchedly simple. And it was
anything but. In fact, he could not remember ever being more vexed
in his entire life. Not even with Aurora.

The trouble with having a wife meant you
were completely responsible for them. He had never been responsible
for anything in his four-and-twenty years, not even his errant
self. And now he was being charged with the impossible task of
reining in his hopelessly irresponsible and irrepressible wife.

Vexing him at every turn, the chit needed a
sound spanking like a child. But he was not the one to administer
it. He still felt too guilty over robbing Glee of the normal
marriage he knew she truly wanted.

But, sweet heaven, she could try his
patience! First, his vexatious wife had caused his blood to boil
with that scandalous red dress. One as lovely as Glee need hardly
resort to outrageousness to draw attention. As her husband, he
quite naturally had to keep a careful watch over her to prevent
scoundrels from taking advantage of her when she wore that deuced
red dress.

Then there was her propensity to address his
friends by their Christian names. Anyone would think they were on
very familiar terms, which scorched his temper.

And he didn't above half like his wife
dancing or playing cards with the devil incarnate, William
Jefferson.

Then, there was the maddening business about
that damned conveyance. Gregory fumed over his wife's purchase of
the phaeton. The purchase itself was innocent enough. He would
never begrudge her anything because of mere money. But the idea of
her flying through Bath flicking the ribbons and driving like a man
fairly irked him. Especially when he pictured her doing so in the
scarlet dress! Yesterday, he had been too angry to even bring up
the matter of the phaeton, but he would have to broach the subject
today.

Summoning the most fury in him, however, was
the absence of the diamond earrings he had given to her the night
before. He knew without a doubt she had worn them to the assembly,
and he was certain she had not worn them home. How could one lose
two
earrings? He was rather convinced one couldn't.

Then what
did
happen to them? Had she
found them so unacceptable that she had removed them rather than be
seen in them? Or had she given them away out of displeasure? Surely
she hadn't lost them at whist.

Whatever the reason they had gone missing,
he was deuced low over their loss. By Jove, he had put himself out
on her account. He had made a not insignificant purchase and had
been rather pleased with himself over his thoughtful action.

Nothing would please him more than demanding
an explanation from Glee. But he hated the man he was becoming and
vowed to be patient. He shouldn’t like to confirm Glee's charges
that he was an ogre. Perhaps she would wear the earrings again. He
would give it a fortnight before he would demand an accounting.

He stretched his arms over his head and
yawned. A pity he had awakened so deuced early. Were he still a
bachelor, he would be comfortably snoring away in his chamber right
now. But since marrying the exasperating Glee, he had not been able
to sleep until afternoon on a single occasion.

As Glee jauntily sauntered into the morning
room, where their breakfast table was set up, Gregory glared at his
wife.

"A lovely day, is it not?" she cheerfully
asked. She went first to the windows and drew open the green silk
draperies, flooding the room with light. Then she stopped and
closed a hand over his shoulder, her brows lowered in concern. "Are
you quite well this morning, Blanks?"

His brows pinched together, Gregory scowled
up at her. "Is there some reason why I shouldn't be?" he
demanded.

She drew tea from a sterling urn and sat
down next to him. "Of course not."

"Correct me if I'm wrong," he said in a
level voice, "but it was my understanding that husbands and wives
communicated to one another."

She smiled at him. "Oh, they do, Blanks! I'm
so grateful you understand that. Is there something about which you
want to communicate with me?"

He must repress his urge to strangle her.
"There is." He glared at her. How sweet she looked this morning in
her muted turquoise morning dress of soft muslin. Like a girl,
really. Why couldn't she dress so sweetly all the time? What was
this penchant she seemed to have developed for wearing scarlet? And
black?

She smiled up at him innocently and set down
the knife she was using to slather her toast with jelly.

"You haven't mentioned to me a rather
significant purchase you made yesterday," he began.

Her brows plunged while she thought. "Oh!
The phaeton! Should you like to see it?"

"I have."

Her eyes rounded, and her uplifted lips
fell. "You're not happy with it? Timothy assured me it was of very
fine quality."

He continued to glare at her. "Why didn't
you discuss the purchase with me first?"

"You're jealous of Timothy?" she said with a
pout.

He scowled. "Oh course I'm not jealous of
Timothy, er, Appleton."

"Then why do you act so angry?"

"I'm angry that you bought a phaeton without
discussing it first with your husband."

"But you said you weren't to really be a
husband, so I thought not to bother you with such unimportant
matters."

He pounded the table. "It was
not
an
unimportant purchase. In fact, it wasn't at all the type of
purchase a woman should make. Especially without her husband."

"But I did seek Timothy's advice."

"Did George completely fail to instill
propriety in you?" he asked angrily.

She jerked up her head, a haughty expression
on her face. "You don't have to bring my brother into this."

They faced each other, flaring eyes locked.
It was as if neither of them would flinch first, so intense were
their unwavering gazes. Then all of a sudden, Glee's face softened.
"Forgive me, Blanks," she said contritely. "You're absolutely
correct. You're my husband, and I should always defer to your
judgment. Would it please you if I returned the phaeton?"

He thought about the poor coachmaker who had
likely tipped a few bumpers last night to celebrate having made a
sale. "It's not the phaeton, nor the money. It's the idea that my
opinions weren't solicited by you."

She lifted her thick, dark lashes. "I've
been most insensitive. I'm sorry."

Now what was he supposed to say?
All I
really want is for you to never make a public display of yourself
on the phaeton's high perch
. When, truth be told, what really
bothered him were the missing earrings. And he begrudgingly refused
to speak of them.

Now she made him feel the oppressor when he
was being the oppressed. She did display extraordinary
understanding.

"I thought perhaps the two of us could take
a turn about Bath in your new rig," he said.

Her lips lifted into a smile. "Could we see
the lad who hangs about your solicitor's?" she asked hopefully.

He frowned. Why did she have such a knack
for reading his mind? Were there other matters she read with equal
accuracy? The thought frightened him. He hadn't wanted to ever be
that close to a woman. Or to anyone. He especially hadn't wanted to
ever be saddled with a wife. "I looked for him yesterday while I
was at Willowby's but saw no sign of him."

She shrugged. "We'll just have to make
inquiries."

"And when we find him?"

She shrugged again. "I'm not really sure. .
."

"Together, we'll be able to think of
something," he assured.

After the groom brought around Glee's new
phaeton, Gregory assisted her in climbing up on the box, then he
joined her and took the reins.

They went north first and circled along the
Royal Crescent, then came back down Milsom Street past Bath Abbey
and stopped near the quay and the three-story edifice where
Gregory's solicitor had offices.

The lad was in front of the building,
Gregory noted with satisfaction. Giving Gregory even greater
pleasure was the fact the boy sported a new woolen coat and sturdy
new shoes.

"Is that him?" Glee asked.

Pulling the phaeton parallel to the
building, Gregory nodded.

The lad, a huge smile on his thin face, came
running toward the phaeton. "Need an experienced ostler?" the boy
asked excitedly.

Gregory's eyes narrowed, a grin pinching his
cheek. "Do you remember me, lad?"

The boy nodded. "You're the gent what gave
me a crown."

"There'll be another crown for you today if
you watch the horse while my wife and I take a short walk to
unstiffen our legs."

"Ye can count on me," the lad said
confidently.

Gregory disembarked and offered a hand to
Glee.

"And what might your name be?" Glee asked
the boy.

"Me name's Archibald, but those what know me
calls me Archie."

Smoothing her skirts as she got to the
pavement, Glee asked, "And how old are you, Archie?"

"Eight," he boasted.

"You seem rather young to be wandering the
streets with no adult," Glee said.

Gregory scowled at his wife. She would have
to be blind not to have seen hundreds of the boy's class similarly
unchaperoned. Gregory's chest tightened. A pity he couldn't help
them all.

"Oh, me mum's just inside the building if I
should need her."

Gregory laid a hand on the boy's bony
shoulder. "I had need of you yesterday but couldn't find you."

The boy's cork-colored lashes downcast, he
shrugged. "I had to help me mum yesterday, but I'm here most
days."

"You help your mama clean?" Glee asked.

The boy shook his head. "She don't ever let
me clean. The nobs don't like having a child underfoot."

Archie did not divulge in what manner he had
helped his mother on the previous day, Gregory mused.

"Did your mother work yesterday?" Gregory
asked.

"She did her work later. So long as she gets
her work done, it don't really matter when she begins," the boy
said defensively.

Glee mussed his light brown hair. "I'm sure
she is a very good worker. As are you."

The boy looked up at Glee, shading his blue
eyes from the sun. "How'd ye know?"

"Oh, I can tell by looking at you what a
very fine helper you must be. And my husband has bragged of your
service to him any number of times."

Archie tossed a satisfied smile at
Gregory.

As Gregory and Glee strolled through lower
Bath, they had the good fortune to run into Appleton and the twins,
the three of whom promptly addressed Glee as Pixie, much to her
husband's consternation. Gregory glared at his friends but said
nothing.

The five of them fell into step in two rows
along the pavement. "We were turned out," Elvin announced
dejectedly.

"Turned out of what?" Gregory asked.

"I expect they were given their walking
papers from the serving staff at the Upper Assembly Rooms," Glee
said.

The three bachelors nodded.

"Elvin was caught in the act of. .
.enhancing the flavor of the tea," Appleton said.

Melvin and Elvin laughed. "Then they
realized we weren't the regular staff and made a big scene," Elvin
added.

"And I thought you did such a very good
job," Glee said with mock outrage.

Appleton turned around to address Gregory,
speaking with naked admiration. "A deuced fine wife you've got for
yourself."

"If one has a penchant for extricating one's
spouse from scrapes," Gregory mumbled under his breath.

Appleton offered Glee his arm, and they
walked together a few feet ahead of Gregory. "I say, Pix, I've had
another deuced good idea on how to enliven the Assembly Rooms next
Tuesday."

Gregory—quite oddly—fumed as his wife
expressed an interest in Appleton's schemes. The both of them were
far too old to behave so childishly.

"Elvin and I plan to pen a note to Miss
Holworth that purports to be from a secret admirer. The note will
request that she meet her admirer at the Bennett Street entrance to
the Assembly Rooms at nine."

Elvin came up on Glee's other side. "Then
we'll also send a note to old Mr. Goodfellow, begging him to meet
Miss Holworth at nine at the Bennett Street entrance.

Glee was silent a moment before reacting to
the trio's scheme. Then she spoke cautiously. "I daresay your lark
will cause much merriment, but let's hope it's not at the expense
of either participant. For I know of nothing against Miss Holworth,
save a profound shyness. Now, if Miss Aggremont were to be the
pawn. . ."

Elvin coughed. "But Miss Aggremont's a
paragon!"

Glee frowned. "And well she knows it."

"If Pix says Miss Aggremont needs taking
down a notch, Miss Aggremont it will be," Appleton said.

Gregory unaccountably swelled with pride.
Glee wanted no part of a scheme that would entrap innocent persons.
And Jane Aggremont, he had to admit, was far from innocent. In
fact, she was a worthy target for such a prank. A more
self-centered woman he had never met.

"What of old Mr. Goodfellow?" Elvin
asked.

Glee thought for a moment. "The poor man has
only just come out of black, and I hear he still mourns his
deceased wife dreadfully."