His Perfect Bride(54)

Later that night after dinner, he and Brianna enjoyed a quiet evening in  the drawing room. Balancing a glass of brandy with the tips of his  fingers and the arm of the chair, he began to study his wife. She was  engaged in some type of embroidery, but from the expression on her face,  she was not enjoying the task.

Although he knew he was doing what was best for her, he did agree she  needed more freedom. She also needed someone she could talk to and  confide in besides him. That was the reason he chose Mrs. Thornton to be  a companion for her. Brianna would have a confidant, freedom, and  protection at the same time.

"I was able to reconnect with an old acquaintance today," Richard said, breaking the silence.

"Oh." She didn't lift her eyes from her fabric.

"Her name is Maude Thornton," he continued, hoping to gain her  attention. To his surprise, not only did her interest pique, but her  eyes flashed to his, her sewing forgotten.

"Who is she?" Brianna demanded, an odd note in her voice.

"The wife of one of my tenants, Reginald Thornton. After repairing the  footbridge, I had the honor of enjoying their hospitality."

"How nice for you." Her clenched teeth and narrowed eyes proved the sentiments she expressed were false.

Richard could not understand her unusual reaction. It was impossible  that she could dislike Mrs. Thornton, considering the two of them had  never met. Brianna would have to give the woman a chance, for he would  not allow his wife to be unkind to her.



"Yes, she is rather nice," he replied, pretending to be unaware of her  reaction. "Regardless, she will be coming by tomorrow, and I expect you  to treat her with the utmost respect."

Brianna gasped and jumped up from her chair. "I most certainly will not!  This goes beyond the actions of the most heinous crimes, and I will not  have it. You will not bring your lady friend here, tomorrow or ever!"

Richard stared at her beautiful face, red with fury, and could not  suppress his laughter. The thought of Mrs. Thornton as his lover was  comical, and the way Brianna translated his words only added to his  amusement. Sobering up, he glanced over at his wife, his chest swelling  at the idea of her jealousy.

"You misunderstand, my dear. Mrs. Thornton is married to Reginald, who  is the most loyal of men. The two of them have been married more years  than I have seen, and they have six grown children now. I have no  interest in her, at least not in the way you are thinking."         

     



 

"Oh. I apologize for my rash behavior."

Her face was still red, but he assumed it was from embarrassment rather  than anger. He watched as she collected her embroidery from the floor  and reclaimed her seat. Richard could not help but shake his head,  strangely pleased by her reaction.

"Don't worry. I must admit, given my lack of explanation your assumption  was understandable." He offered her an encouraging smile. "As I was  saying, I have invited Mrs. Thornton here tomorrow morning. I think she  would make a pleasant female companion for you."

"What makes you believe I'm in need of an attendant?"

"You have expressed on numerous occasions how you missed spending time  with Miss Ashley and Lady Grace. I simply hoped with Mrs. Thornton here,  you would miss your family a little less."



"I appreciate your thoughtfulness. I'll be delighted to meet her."

With that, Brianna lifted her sewing and continued pushing the needle in  and out of the fabric. This time her face held a glimmer of something  more than irritation.

"I know what he said, Maude, but I don't see the harm," Brianna said for  what seemed like the hundredth time this week. Several of the guests  already arrived for the festivities, but the one carriage she waited for  had been spotted in the distance.

"I'm sorry, my lady, but I can't allow you to wait outside."

"Why not? The carriage will be arriving within minutes."

"It's raining, and that is reason enough."

"The rain does not bother me. However, to appease you, I promise to stay  close by the house. Be assured that not a drop of water will land on my  clothing," Brianna promised.

She felt like a child again, futilely begging her mother to accede her  point. As the lady of the house, she didn't need Maude's approval, but  she respected the woman too much to completely ignore her wishes.

"I can't allow it."

Sagging her shoulders, Brianna nodded and then made her way to the  drawing room to wait for her guests. She learned quickly that Richard's  kind offer of a companion really meant a personal guard who only  followed his orders. Unfortunately, when she realized his intent, it had  been too late to dismiss Maude.

Brianna spoke to Richard about it, but he simply pointed out all the  small concessions she was allowed now. The only stipulation being that  Maude stay by her side. Although the freedom to walk through the garden  or outside around the manor was a blessing, she felt more smothered now  than ever before.



Remembering Lord Jonathan's words, she tried to fight back and not allow  Richard to extinguish her spark, but the struggle proved wearisome.  Arguing when confident there was a chance of victory was one thing, but  knowing you would lose made it a different experience.

When Richard joined her in the drawing room to welcome their guests, she  could not find it within her to return his smile. She noticed his  concerned gaze slide to Maude, then back to her, but she didn't care.

"Brianna, are you feeling all right?" Richard watched her intently as he took the seat directly across from her.

"I'm fine, my lord."

Richard opened his mouth, but after another look at Maude, he closed it.  Brianna decided to ignore the pair of them. They could have their  private communications without her interruption.

Trying to concentrate on reclaiming her excitement for her family's  arrival, she turned her attention back to the door. Regrettably, she  felt her husband's eyes on her and thought of nothing else.

"My lord." Harris appeared in the doorway. "Lord and Lady Ransley, Lady Grace, and Lady Elizabeth are here."

"Please send them in," Richard instructed.

Brianna jumped to her feet feeling rejuvenated, but restrained herself  from running to them. The sight of her family's smiling faces made her  want to cry with joy. She focused on staying calm and willed the tears  to refrain from streaking down her face. Richard would expect his  marchioness to act properly, and she was determined to show him she was  capable.

Rubbing a hand across the front of her dress, she wondered if her family  would be pleased to discover her pregnancy. Considering how slight the  evidence was, she and Richard decided it best to not inform anyone as of  yet. However, that didn't stop her burning curiosity or desire to tell  them the news.



"Welcome to Stonemede," her husband greeted them as the group filed into  the drawing room. "I'm pleased you were able to arrive safely in this  dismal weather."

"Yes. We are very pleased you have made the trip," Brianna added.

"It's an honor to be invited," her father said as he clapped Richard's shoulder.         

     



 

"We were not expecting to be welcomed so soon after the wedding," her  mother informed them, then her eyes turned to meet Brianna's. "However,  I'm overjoyed, for I have missed you greatly." Her mother walked forward  and enveloped her in a tight hug.

"I have missed you all as well." Brianna could not manage to increase  her voice to an acceptable volume for fear her tears would spill over.  However, when Grace approached her, she no longer could keep her  emotions in check, and she held her sister tighter and longer than  normal.

After the welcomes were made, she forced herself to remember her duties  as hostess. She wanted to stay with her family longer and hear of  everything she missed this past month, but she knew there would be time  later.

"I'm sure you all are weary from your journey. If you would come this  way, Mrs. Evans can show you to your rooms," Brianna announced, earning a  proud smile from her husband. Although she was not happy with him, it  still made her feel good to please him.

Once her family had an opportunity to settle in and change out of their  traveling costumes, they integrated in with the other guests. Her father  joined the men in Richard's study while her mother, Grace, and  Elizabeth visited in the drawing room with the ladies.

After spending almost two hours reuniting with her mother and sister, as  well as conversing with the other guests, Brianna felt she sufficiently  fulfilled her duty as hostess for now. Excusing herself, she decided to  seek out Ashley. Besides Richard, Ashley was the only person who knew  her secret, and Brianna looked forward to being in her friend's company.  Luckily Ashley was in her assigned bedchamber unpacking.



"I'm so glad you came up to see me," Ashley exclaimed, hugging Brianna.