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Once the hearing was over, they would return to Bath. Addie was anxious to see how her store had fared in her absence. There would be much for her to do with the upcoming Christmas season, when the prior owner, Mr. Evans, had told her she could expect a great many sales.
Even though Mr. Dickens’ book, A Christmas Carol, was published over forty years before, Mr. Evans assured her she would receive many requests for a copy once December arrived.
She was excited to decorate her store for Christmas, too. She could already see the cute little toys and books she would display in the front window.
Excitedly, she turned to Grayson as his rented carriage transporting them from the train to his townhouse pulled away from the station. “I put an order in for my Christmas books over a month ago. I should dash off a note to Lottie and make sure they arrived.”
Grayson waved his hand. “Do not fret over that, sweeting. Let the new owner deal with any problems having to do with book orders.” He looked out the window at the cloudy day. “I hope the rain holds off until we’ve unloaded all of our luggage.” He grinned at her. “You certainly bought enough things on our trip.”
Addie had frozen at his words. She shook her head as if she could loosen the words her new husband had just spoken. “What did you say?”
He reached out and ran his finger down her cheek. “I said, my dear, you purchased enough things in Brighton Beach to fill up the entire newly added suitcase.”
Her hands fisted in her lap, and her heart thudding like a racehorse, she took a deep breath. “No. That’s not what I meant. I’m asking, what you said about my bookstore?”
He regarded her with raised brows. “I said it was not necessary for you to fret about the bookstore since the new owner will deal with any issues that arose while you were gone. I have two potential buyers interested in purchasing the shop.”
Addie felt closer to swooning than she had when she had worn the tightened stays that had landed her in this position. Married to a man who now assumed he would run her life.
She raised her chin. “I am sorry you have gone through such trouble, my lord, because I have no intention of selling my bookstore.”
Grayson took one final look out the window and dropped the curtain. “It will be much easier on you to have a new owner than to try to hire someone competent to run the place.”
“Wait.” She put her shaking hand up to stop him. “I believe we are at a crossroads here, my lord. I have no intention of selling my store, nor having someone run it for me. It is my store. I own it. I shall run it.”
The man actually looked surprised. No. He looked aghast. “You will not be working in a bookstore.”
“Not a bookstore, my lord. My bookstore.”
All humor and teasing left his voice and demeanor. “I will not have my countess working in a store like a common laborer. You have a proper place to assume in Society, the management of my households, looking out for the welfare of my tenants, and the care of my son.
She gritted her teeth. “My household. My tenants. My son. Do you not see anything wrong with that?”
The blasted dimwit actually looked confused. “No. What is wrong with what I said?”
Addie wanted to punch someone in the face. Not just someone, but her new husband. However, since the carriage was drawing up to the front of the townhouse, she managed to get herself under control. Barely. “We will discuss this later.”
She would not show up at her new home screaming like a shew for all the servants and neighbors to witness. She would be dignified and graceful. She would enter the townhouse as the lady she was. She would meet the staff and then suggest they send for tea. She would drink it and eat lovely biscuits and offer charming chatter.
Then she would invite her cretin husband to their bedchamber. Not for a rousing session in bed, but for a sword-less battle. Maybe not sword-less if she could find one in his house.
The door to the carriage promptly opened and a footman stood there. “Good afternoon, my lord, my lady.” He gave a deep bow.
“Good afternoon, Jason.” Grayson jumped from the carriage and turned to assist Addie out. Drawing on all her years of training she smiled at the footman. “Good afternoon.” Then she accepted her husband’s hand and promptly exited the carriage landing with all her weight on his foot.
Grayson winced, but said nothing.
The childish action making her feel a bit better, Addie walked up the steps, her hand resting on her husband’s arm. Because of the chilly weather, the staff was lined up in the corridor, rather than outside, to meet the new lady of the house. Since Grayson was rarely in London, the servants were few.
As she stepped into the entrance hall, Addie cringed at the reminder of the garish decor that she would be more than happy to replace.
The servants smiled, curtsied and bowed. She put aside her angst at her husband and greeted each staff member warmly, using each one’s name as they were introduced to her to help her remember.
That requisite formality out of the way, Addie did as she planned and asked for tea. She made a point of sending for Cook so she could rave about the biscuits, scones, and tarts. The woman was blushing with happiness when she left them.
Addie and her new husband conducted a stilted conversation over tea, exclaiming over the array of treats Cook had sent, the weather, Parliament, the poor conditions of the roads in London, and the plans already in the making for the queen’s golden jubilee celebration.
Once Addie was sure they covered all the required subjects, she wiped her mouth, placed the napkin carefully next to her plate and placed her hands demurely in her lap. “I would request you join me in our bedchamber, my lord.”
