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Chapter12
That night, following dinner, I waited near the adjoining door in my bedroom for James to come bid me goodnight. I wanted to ask about Miss Whitstone and what had given her reason to pale in my presence. My only thought was that she was the young woman who had set her cap at James and been dismissed because, in his words, they had not suited. From my extremely short acquaintance with the woman, I could only discern that she was as shy as I was in new company.
The fact that we were altogether similar thus far had not done my spirits well. It would be a blessed relief to hear that she had no such connection to my husband.
A brief knock rapped on the main door, and I crossed to open it. A footman stood in the corridor with a tray. “For you, Mrs. Bradwell.”
I took the book from the silver tray and thanked him before closing the door. Turning the brown, leather encased book in my hands, I read the gold embossed title on the spine. The Mysteries of Udolpho.
A folded sheet of paper fell onto the floor from the book’s pages, and I bent to retrieve it.
Felicity—
The book, as requested. Do not fear, for we have the next three volumes in the library when you find yourself in need of them. Though, I recommend you do not read this book at night.
H.
As a fellow reader and avid supporter of literature, Henry could not truly believe I would have the control to put off opening this book until the light of the morning arrived. I did not possess such great restraint. I commended the man if he did.
A knock sounded on James’s door, and I slid Henry’s note back into the book and set it on my dressing table.
I opened the adjoining door, and James appeared in much the same state as he had the evening before. His cravat had been discarded along with his coat, and his shirt was open at the neck. This time his boots were missing as well, and he stood before me in his stockings, a casual sight I was not yet used to.
“I am sorry we were unable to go for our ride today,” James said. “But perhaps we can do so tomorrow morning following breakfast.”
The very idea made my muscles tense. “I was not being modest, James. I am not a talented horsewoman.”
“That is a skill that can be taught,” he said, raising a shoulder, clearly unconcerned.
But I did not possess a desire to develop that skill. I wasn’t fond of horses in general, and they seemed to sense it. “Horses do not care for me, James, nor I for them. I wonder if it would be more pleasant to walk, perhaps? Or take a curricle?”
“We cannot take a curricle to the location I want to take you, and we certainly cannot walk so far. Not on a warm day, which I believe tomorrow will be if today’s weather is any indication.” His green-brown eyes narrowed slightly. “I do sense that you would prefer not to ride. Is it truly so distasteful to you?”
My heart sped, and I drew in a slow breath, hoping to calm my nerves. I did not wish to displease James, but I truly did despise riding so. Could I learn to love it as he did? I believed it unlikely, but I could not bear to lower myself in his esteem even further than I likely already had. I had spent so many years in my mother’s house not living up to her hopes and dreams for the type of daughter she would have—I could not live my marriage in the same way.
“I can be taught to appreciate it,” I said slowly, gauging his reaction.
A smile spread over his lips that made my heart leap, and I decided that it was worth my discomfort to make this effort.
“I promise that you will love it,” he said. “Now, tonight I think you should begin with your fact.”
“Very well.” I had given the prompt some thought at dinner this evening, so I was not unprepared. “I think the most beautiful animal in the world is a tiger, which I was able to see at the royal menagerie a few years ago.”
He smiled. “I agree. I saw the animals two years ago, and I was awed by the tiger’s beauty.”
Two years ago? I’d visited then, as well. “Would it not have been diverting if we had been in the menagerie on the same day?”
“Perhaps, but I know we were not,” James said with easy conviction.
I laughed. “However can you possibly know that?”
“Because I would have remembered you.”
The dimness in the room and the glowing fire beside me softened James’s features, and I looked away, warmth rising to my cheeks.
He must have sensed my discomfort, for he continued. “I have two horses to my name, and they are called Luna and Solis.”
“Moon and Sun,” I said.
