Page 71 of The Work of Art

“Yes.”

Arthur kissed her once more, this time letting his lips linger against her warm, silken skin. “You needn’t be afraid of me. I promise I’ll never hurt you again.”

“I’m not afraid of you. I’m just a little nervous.”

“Nervous of me?”

“No. Indeed not. Well, that is to say, I suppose…yes. Perhaps a little.”

Arthur pulled back from her to search her face. A line of worry marred her forehead. “Might I enquire what it is I’ve done to make you nervous?”

“It’s nothing you’ve done.”

“I’m very glad to hear it.”

Her hands rested on his chest, her fingers lightly clutching the voluminous fabric of his shirt. “It’s only that, this is all still so terribly new to me. If you’d be patient awhile longer, I’m sure that—”

“You think me impatient?”

“No, of course not.” Her mouth tugged into a frown. “I only meant that, in time, I hope that… That is, I’m determined to become more sophisticated about this side of things.”

Arthur regarded her with solemn attention. “I don’t require you to be anything other than what you are,” he said quietly. “And you’re perfect, Philly.”

She lowered her gaze, a blush rising in her cheeks.

With infinite care, he caught her chin in his hand, tilting her face up so she had no choice but to meet his eyes. “You’re so perfect that, when I look at you, I can scarcely believe you’re mine.” His voice roughened with tenderness. “But you are mine. By whatever miracle. And though I’m unworthy now, if it takes the rest of my life, I will endeavor to deserve you.”

“Arthur…”

“In the meanwhile, it’s you who must be patient with me. I’ve never before had a treasure so precious in my keeping. I’m bound to say or do the wrong thing on occasion.” He caressed the delicate line of her jaw. “If that happens, if I ever upset you or do something to make you unhappy, you must tell me at once. I can’t stand not knowing what you feel. And when you fall silent, when you won’t look at me or smile at me, by my very nature, I’m disposed to think the worst.”

“If ever you’re in doubt of my feelings, you need only ask me, but…” She hesitated. “Well, I must say the next thirty or more years will go very hard on you if you think me unhappy every time I fall silent.”

Arthur’s hand stilled on her face. “What did you say?”

“Only that I’ve been shy and quiet all my life, and I don’t think it likely I’ll change much during the course of our marriage.”

He stared at her. “The course of our marriage being thirty or more years.”

“Yes. At least, that’s how long my grandparents were married. Five and thirty years, to be precise. It would have been longer if my grandmother hadn’t succumbed to an inflammation of the lungs. Still, five and thirty years is a good long time to be married, I think.”

“It’s a lifetime.” Hadn’t he just promised her as much? And yet he’d never fully comprehended the reality of such a span of time until Philly said the words aloud.

Thirty or more years.

“Exactly. So you see, you mustn’t worry over every prolonged silence, else you’ll drive yourself to distraction.” She paused, adding brusquely, “It doesn’t matter in any case.”

Arthur raised his brows. “Doesn’t it?”

“No, for I don’t believe you capable of upsetting me or making me unhappy. In truth, even if you were only half as amiable as you are now, I think I’d still find you as perfect as you find me.”

Arthur drew her back into his arms, a faint smile curling the corner of his mouth. “I wasn’t aware I was so very amiable to begin with.”

She managed a fleeting smile of her own. “You scowl a good deal, but I’ve never considered it any reflection on your character.”

“I can well believe it. You have a particular fondness for disagreeable brutes.” He held her gaze for a moment, the wry humor in his tone a stark contrast to the extraordinarily tender manner in which he stroked her cheek. “You imagine Basil to be gentle as a lamb. And only today I find out that the very mare which you told me was well-suited for a young child is, in fact, a dangerous fiend.”

Philly’s mouth fell open. “Who told you that about Persy? Those two men who brought her from Fox Cross? I’ll have you know that she’s perfectly agreeable if you handle her in the right way.”