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Ellen padded barefoot to the bed and was about to climb into the side furthest from the fire when Simon stopped her, placing a hand on her arm. “I should prefer to be closest to the door,” he said. Ellen looked at the door just a few feet away and screwed up her nose.
“Any particular reason?” she asked, curious.
He let out a short laugh. “Well, I prefer to be between you and any danger that might present itself.”
Ellen giggled at this.
“We have never had a break-in,” she replied.
“However, I applaud your chivalry. Thank you,” she said, touched by his request. She walked around to the other side of the bed and climbed in, snuggling down. Simon climbed into the other side of the bed and turned away from her. However, he was soon rummaging around, and she turned to see what he was about.
He placed two pillows between them, building a wall as she had done that first night. “For your comfort, my lady,” he said with a mock bow and wave of the hand. She smiled up at him.
It was a strange feeling, but she had been looking forward to the closeness, even if she had been a little nervous. She tried not to let her disappointment show. “Very kind of you,” she said with a laugh.
They both laughed for a moment, and then his look turned serious. His gaze brushed over her face, making her go warm all over. He swallowed, and his Adam’s Apple bobbed up and down. “Good night, Ellen,” he whispered.
She gulped, trying to make room around the lump rising in her throat. “Good night, Simon,” was her breathless reply.
He turned over and settled in. She turned away as well, watching as the fire crackled and made dancing shadows around the room. Soon, she heard Simon’s breaths lengthen and knew he had fallen asleep. She closed her eyes and tried to do the same.
***
Ellen awoke early the next morning before the sun had even risen. She opened her eyes groggily and looked around. Snow was still falling outside her window, and the fire had died down, but she was not cold. It was then she realised that an arm was wrapped snugly around her middle. She dared not move but lifted her head slightly.
Through the course of the night, the pillows that had separated them had been kicked to the end of the bed, but she did not think he had done it on purpose. Simon shifted slightly, letting out a sigh. He pulled her toward his chest, and her heart began to beat as she had never felt it do before. She relaxed against him, relishing the warmth. She was not sure he even realised what he was doing, but she did not want it to end.
She snuggled down, pulling the covers back up over her shoulder. She watched the snowflakes fall, silent and beautiful, as she fell back to sleep.
Chapter 20
A few nights later, Simon stood in the foyer waiting for Ellen to come down from her bedroom. The snows had let up enough for them to return to Sotheby Place the day after their snow-in at her parents’ home, but he would never forget that night.
He felt that it had been a turning point in their relationship, and he would be forever grateful for the storm that had brought them closer together. He had been exceedingly surprised by Ellen’s apology and was glad that she had continued in her efforts to be more welcoming and kind.
He smiled to himself as he remembered waking up beside her the following morning. He had not meant to, but the pillows he had used as a wall between them had been kicked to the end of the bed. While he had not meant to, he awoke with his arm around her middle.
He was even more shocked that she had not tried to wriggle out of his gentle embrace. Perhaps there was a chance that they could actually be happy in their marriage. It was more than he would have dared to hope for just a few short weeks ago.
“You seem to be in a good mood, old chap. What has happened to cause this great change in you?” Everett joined him, giving him a wry smile.
“Yes, what has happened?” Lady Genevieve asked as she followed her cousin, raising a glass of champagne as if to toast him.
“Nothing. I suppose it is the Christmas Season,” he offered. But he could see that Everett did not believe his thin excuse.
Everett shook his head. “No, there is something more. Would I be correct in surmising that your relationship with your wife is on better footing?” he asked.
Simon glanced at Lady Genevieve. A dark cloud had seemed to settle over her visage, and he was at a loss as to why she should be annoyed. “Yes, you might say that,” Simon replied with a smile. “Indeed, she is almost like a different person. Slowly but surely, I can see things becoming more pleasant between us.”
Genevieve lowered her glass and looked away. It took her a moment, but when she looked back at him, she wore what was very clearly a pretentious, blissful mask. “I suppose my advice worked? How did you make her jealous?”
“‘Twas not your advice that did the trick, I am afraid, but Everett’s. She loved the gift I found for her,” he said, turning to his friend. Everett gave an approving nod.
Lady Genevieve huffed and started to walk away. “I see a couple of friends I should go and say hello to. Excuse me,” she said tersely.
Simon and Everett bowed as she walked away, and Everett rolled his eyes heavenward. “Lord, help me. I will be glad when she is married and settled, for she has been very trying over the last few weeks.”
“Why not send her back to London and her parents?”
