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“Yes, please.” Edwina sat there in silence following Camilla’s exit. A shudder ran through her and she wrapped her arms about her. Puppy nudged her legs and she scooped him into her arms, holding him tight. He was so warm and that gave her some comfort.
He whined and licked her shoulder. “You are so nice to me, Puppy. I am glad you are here. I am also glad I have Kitty and Camilla,” she said. He whined again and rested his head on her chest.
Danny came to help her out of her dress and undo her hair. That night, sleep deserted her and all that played in her mind was her conversation with Albert.
He had made her realize that he did not truly want her. He had wished to kiss her to assert his claim, soothe his challenged ego. She wished to be desired by him but not because he felt his territory threatened. She was not his territory or his property.
She was a free-willed woman and she would tell him that the next time she saw him.
* * *
Albert squeezed the bridge of his nose and grimaced. Where was Chessman with his tea? He did not think he could take the pounding in his head any longer without remedy.
There was no telling the precise cause of his headache. It could have been the loud music at the event, overthinking, or his encounter with Edwina.There is the culprit!Edwina.
He had been thinking of making her his in earnest since she fled from the room. He had not intended to marry her and had been unbothered because he had been certain he would not commit to her. Then she had snaked her way into his being, so much so that he did not wish to see her with another man.
Did he still feel the sting of her betrayal? Certainly. It had grown roots within him and he did not think he could ever trust her. He did not wish to continue fighting his conflicting thoughts and was greatly relieved when Chessman entered with his tea.
“Is it willow bark?” he asked because he had especially requested it. It relieved his headaches faster than any other remedy. He did not take laudanum unless it was absolutely necessary.
“No, Your Grace, it is meadowsweet. There is no willow bark in the Mansion.”
“How good is it? Have you ever had it to relieve headaches?” He had never taken meadowsweet tea before.
“Yes, Your Grace. I find it more effective than willow bark for headaches.”
“Good. I shall drink it.”
“Very good, Your Grace.” Chessman bowed. “Is there anything else you require?”
“That will be all. Good night.” Albert took a tentative sip and was surprised at the taste; flowery and earthly. It was excellent. He closed his eyes and inhaled the aroma, feeling himself relax. Why had he waited so long to use this remedy? It was a good thing that willow bark was not available. He might not have discovered this otherwise.
His cup was almost empty when he heard slight scratching at his door before it was pushed open. He scowled. Chessman must have left the door ajar. A tiny bark came and in toddled Edwina’s puppy. He had not seen the creature since the day of their rescue.
“Well,” he said, “you do clean up rather nicely.” The dog stared at him for several beats then began to growl. Albert rolled his eyes. “I remember. We are not friends.”
He ignored the dog and focused on finishing his tea. It began to explore the room, sniffing everything it found and responding with some sound that Albert was not interested in interpreting. He had a head to nurse, not a dog to understand.
The puppy whined, drawing his attention back to it and he shot to his feet, bolting across the room in time to save a Chinese vase from crashing to the floor. The vase was a gift from Lannie.
“Lord!” he breathed after catching it. “Do not make me send you out.”
The puppy growled and waddled to a chair. Albert thought he was going to hop atop it and sleep but it instead lifted its tail by the leg of the chair and relieved itself. Then it walked past Albert out of the study as though it had done nothing out of sort.
Albert was left gaping.
* * *
Edwina took her time dressing that morning, waiting for the breakfast room to empty out so she could have it to herself. Upon entering the room, though, she found Steven reclining in one of the chairs, casually sipping some coffee and scanning the news sheet.
Desiring no company but her own, she was fleetingly tempted to turn on her heels but she pushed down the urge, holding herself as proudly as she could when he rose to his feet, a smile on his face.
“Good morning, Edwina,” he greeted very informally. She curtsied and returned his greeting but formally. Then she helped herself to some coffee first before moving on to the food.
"What a pleasant morning," he remarked, retaking his seat after she had taken hers.
"It is indeed," Edwina agreed, relaxing after several sips of the warm liquid. "I cannot imagine a more pleasant feeling than the taste of coffee first thing in the morning." She eyed the toast in front of her and contemplated on whether to eat it plain, buttered, or with jam.
