Page 22 of Until I’m Safe in Your Arms

“Thank you.” With a little toss of her head, she gave him a teasing smile and left the breakfast room. It might do her husband a great deal of good for them to be away from one another for a few days. Absence made the heart grow fonder, or so they said. And she wanted Alex to be fonder of her.

Emma started up the staircase, her thoughts whirling. She and Alex had been completely amicable, at least until this morning. Something in his demeanor, however, gave her the feeling that now that they were settled into married life, he was content for them to simply remain friends. Intimate friends, of that there was no doubt, but merely friends nonetheless. That seemed to be enough for him, and at one point, it would have been for her as well.

Living with Alex during the past two weeks, however, Emma had come to desire more from her marriage. Her feelings toward her husband had changed from simply wanting security. Now she wanted his feelings to deepen toward her, just as hers had toward him. Unfortunately, she didn’t know how to make that happen. Perhaps talking with Aunt Lucinda might help in that regard. Her marriage to Uncle Jack seemed idyllic in the extreme. Emma would get her alone and beg her for that secret. Now that her safety had been secured, Emma found, to her surprise, she wished to settle for no less than a love match. No matter what it took. She would work hard toward that goal. And make sure Alex did too.

*

“I’d quite forgotten how bad field rations were, Bancroft. It’s surprising how discerning one becomes when one marries.” Captain Macauley leaned back in his chair, tipping up a glass of reasonably good burgundy. “The beef was too salty, the potatoes mealy, and the bread hard as ship’s biscuits. I swear I never noticed such things before I married Jane. The cook she engaged is a culinary artist of the first water.”

“I think I must agree with you, Mac.” Alex picked at the tasteless potatoes, remembering his excellent meal last evening with a much more attractive dinner partner. “Our cook, Mrs. Parker, has outdone herself with each succeeding meal since my bride and I took up residence. We will be quite bereft when we have to move houses.” Taking up the wine bottle, Alex refilled his glass. “For once, I don’t look forward to the regiment’s next assignment if it takes us out of England.”

“Because you’ll have to leave your cook behind?” Mac chuckled and finished his glass.

“That is one consideration, certainly.” Laughing, Alex took up his glass. “A more important one is my wife. She was beside herself today when I told her the regiment was going into the field. Didn’t want me to leave her.” He shook his head. He’d no idea Emma would take his absence so hard. “I had to send her off to stay with my aunt and uncle.”

“She’s that skittish? But of course you’re still newlyweds. New brides can be rather clingy in my experience.” Producing a cigar, Mac leaned back and struck a match. “I wouldn’t worry about it. We’re not due to ship out until after Christmas. Mrs. Bancroft will be a regular trooper by then.”

Alex shook his head. “I don’t know about that. Not after this morning. Have you heard anything about where we’ll be going?” If they were sent to some easy posting, to France, say, or Belgium, then the move would be easy enough for Emma.

“Canada is the place I’ve heard most often bandied about, although someone mentioned India as well.” Striking a match on the bottom of his boot, Mac lit his cigar. A haze of sweet smoke soon hovered around his head.

Alex’s pulse quickened. Stories he’d heard of that exotic country had made him long all the more to be stationed there. “Ah, now India would be a bit of luck. I’ve been longing to be sent there ever since we came back from the Crimea.” Would his wife share his enthusiasm, however? She’d just come from the Orient and might not fancy a return trip so soon. “What will your wife think of such a move?”

“Jane’s used to following the drum. She’ll take it in her stride.” Mac took a puff and exhaled, sending the bluish smoke swirling into the peak of their tent. “The woman is so unwavering in her devotion to me, she would have followed us to the Crimea if I’d have let her. I insisted she stay with her mother, of course, and it’s a good thing too.”

“Damn right about that.” Alex shuddered at the thought of Emma anywhere near a battlefield. “After our row this morning, I may not have to worry about her agreeing to come with us wherever we go.”

“Nonsense, Bancroft. This little tiff will blow over once you get back to your snug little house.” Mac gave him a knowing look.

“She claims I’ve been neglecting her…outside the bedchamber,” he hastened to add when Mac’s eyebrows shot upward. “And I confess, once we married and I took up my duties again, I backslid into my bachelor days.” He spun the wineglass in his fingers. “Out drinking after hours, playing cards until late at night. Perhaps I do need to change my ways a bit. Pay her more attention.”

“Once we’re off maneuvers, why not take her to the Albion for dinner?” Mac tapped his ash into his plate. “I took Jane there for a special treat one evening. I’ll tell you, she enjoyed it immensely.” He leaned back and blew a smoke ring toward the roof. “Very appreciative she was, if you know what I mean.”

Alex could imagine. “That sounds like a splendid idea, Mac. I’ll contact them directly when we return.”

“I will warn you, you may not get in very quickly. It’s very popular with the East India Company nabobs as well as the upper echelon of the military. But you should be able to manage it by the first of the year.”

“That won’t do then.” Alex needed a plan he could implement by this Saturday when Emma returned. “I’ll call ’round there and see if I can get us seated, but if not, I’m still stuck for an idea how to make it up to Emma.”

“If it’s short notice, but you really wish to apologize, have your cook prepare a special meal.” His friend took another long drag on his whiff and sent three smoke rings wafting. “Have her fix all her favorite dishes, or something extra special and fancy. A dinner of nothing but French dishes, perhaps.” He kissed his fingertips. “Ooh-la-la!”

“That’s not a bad idea, old chap.” Leaning back in his chair, the scene began to take place in Alex’s imagination. He’d make all the arrangements with Mrs. Parker in advance. Buckleigh would have the table set as for the grandest dinner party, only for two. Alex would make sure he made every effort to wait on her himself, initiate the conversation, keep her apprised of everything that had gone on during these few days they’d been apart and give her ample time to describe her visit with Aunt Lucinda. “I think this may prove the very thing to get me back into my wife’s good graces—and her bed.”

“She likes French food that much, does she?” Leering, Mac twirled the stub of his cigar in his fingers.

“Oh no. Not French. But you have put me in mind of something I’m certain she’s going to love.” Brilliant thought, genius in fact. He had the plan almost complete in his mind. Now all he need do was make arrangements with the cook and let nature take its course. Alex smiled broadly, sipping his wine as he plotted how to woo his wife with food she would certainly love.

*

“The carriage has just arrived, Captain Bancroft.” The butler made the announcement from the door of the dining room.

“Excellent, thank you, Buckleigh.” Alex cast a final look over the lavish table setting, silverware gleaming proudly in the candlelight. The air was filled with unusual but delicious aromas that made Alex’s mouth water. He tugged at his uniform, wanting everything to be exactly right, then swiftly headed through the doorway toward the front of the house. He wanted to personally escort his wife in to their special dinner.

Emma had just been helped down to the pavement when he arrived at the carriage. The sight of her luscious figure, in a very seductive lowcut green and gold gown, almost took his breath away. His cock stirred immediately, bumping against his trousers with an urgency difficult to deny. Perhaps he should have put dinner off until later, until he and his wife had had the opportunity to reacquaint themselves in the bedroom. He hadn’t thought this short time apart would affect him so badly. But dinner was almost ready, so he must carry forward and hope to quell his ardor for the present.

“My dear, you look absolutely ravishing.” He leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I trust you had a good visit with Aunt Lucinda?”

“We did.” She smiled up at him, her big blue eyes melting his heart. “It was good to be able to talk to other women for a change. I quite enjoyed myself.”