“I cannot say I’m not surprised over the match you’ve made. Westvale was quite a catch in his earlier years. Still extraordinarily handsome, but the younger ladies had since given on him. I can only imagine to what lengths you went through to get your hands on him,” the lady teased her lightly.
That made Isla blush. The woman was perhaps ten or fifteen years her senior, and her husband perhaps twenty. They seemed perfectly charming thus far. And yet Isla couldn’t help but feel awfully anxious over what had just happened. “I hardly did a thing.”
“Certainly not. How could he resist you? That’s surely the question. You’re quite lovely, I must say. And to take in such a lovely little boy. Oliver is his name, yes? He is so terribly charming! I must tell the ladies at once. They will all desire to meet him before the day is through.”
A few faces were familiar to Isla; she was introduced to those she didn’t know. Eight women filled the temporary tent while they braided ribbons and enjoyed chilled lemonade.
It wasn’t long before their hostess had told everyone about Oliver. The tension Isla had tried to ignore lessened when the ladies beamed and nodded in respect over her kindness about the matter. Soon, they were in the thick of conversation about families and fashion like all was well.
Eventually she climbed back into the carriage with Anne, Oliver, and Ronan once the party had ended.
“Did you enjoy yourself?” Ronan asked once they were driving down the lane.
Isla turned from looking out the window. She eyed Anne and Oliver, both of whom were fast asleep. She exhaled and collected her thoughts before turning to her husband.
“You shouldn’t have done that.”
He blinked and then frowned. “What the devil is that supposed to mean? I did as you wished.”
“You––well, yes,” she faltered, glancing over at the other bench when Oliver stirred. The boy wiggled further under Anne’s arm before sighing. “Yes, you did. But you could have warned me. I was caught by surprise.”
“Is that a bad thing? I thought women like surprises.”
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “I usually do, only this was unprecedented. Your plan changed. If your plan involves me in any capacity, I should like to be warned in advance. So if there are any other announcements…”
That garnered a short grunt. “Certainly not.”
“I would merely like to be informed so it is not a surprise to me as well. That is all,” she said as graciously as she could muster. The look he gave her was strange. Almost like he didn’t believeher. “I will stand by your side, Ronan. I agreed to that when I married you. I only wish…”
He leaned forward. His eyes were bright. How dashing he looked even after hours under the sun, she thought. And did his gaze drop down to her lips again or it was just her?
Running her tongue over her lips in case of any lingering crumbs, she felt a blush creep up her cheeks when he looked away.
“What is it you wish?” Ronan whispered.
For you.
The thought came unbidden, surprising Isla. She jolted back and bumped her shoulder into the frame. Ronan started as well. His hand reached out for her before he seemed to think better of it, and pulled back.
“Nothing,” Isla told him after a second. “Nothing. That is all. All is well.”
“Ah. All right. If you say so.”
She nodded. “Thank you, I do.”
“Very well. Good,” he added after an awkward second.
“Good.” And that was that. But Isla gently brushed her hand over her lips a moment later just in case.
CHAPTER 21
There was something about his wife.
Ronan couldn’t place it, only that he needed to sort out what this something was. The need to protect her, to see her, to know her, was beginning to consume him. He laid awake too long most nights. Even shut away in his study, he could not stop thinking of her.
He passed through the halls and swore he could smell the scent of Isla no matter where she might be.
What is it about her that I cannot ignore? Our courtship was sufficient. It should have been. It was supposed to be. Now we have our duties––separate duties, mind you.
