Lady Beneath the Veil(28)

       
           



       

Dominique was sitting at her dressing table while Kitty unpinned her  hair, but she dismissed her maid immediately. She was wearing only her  nightgown and suddenly felt a little shy to be alone with her husband.  To hide her embarrassment she kept her eyes on the mirror as she removed  the last of the pins.

'I think that went off very well,' remarked Gideon, coming closer. 'Father was very complimentary about you.'

She was pleased, but could not resist asking him if all meals were taken in the dining room.

'When Father is alone he dines in his room and his man, Warner, takes  him his breakfast, too. It is the custom here for all guests to break  their fast in their room. Kitty will bring yours to you in the morning.'

The idea of sitting in bed with Gideon while he fed her tiny morsels of  toast was very appealing-in fact, it sent a little shiver of excitement  rippling through her-but that was something lovers might do and she and  Gideon were not lovers. Instead, she knew she would be breaking her  fast in a lonely state.

Dominique dragged the brush through her hair, sitting tense and upright. Gideon walked up behind her and held out his hand.

'May I?' Silently she handed him the hairbrush. He said quietly, 'I  know everything is very new to you here, Nicky, but please be patient.'  He began to brush her hair, one lock at a time, but she had the  impression that his thoughts were elsewhere. He said at last, 'I have  not been to Rotham since my quarrel with Father last December. For me to  turn up now and with a wife whom I married without his knowledge or his  blessing-'

Her tension melted as the rhythmic brushing had its effect.

'It is very hard for you both, I am sure.' She glanced up at his image  in the mirror, but his eyes were fixed upon her hair. 'Does he know the  truth about us?'

'Yes. I told him the whole at the outset-not that any blame attaches to  you,' he said as she put her hands up to her burning cheeks. 'I  explained to him that I was in a raging fury because Martlesham and that  little actress tricked me into marriage. It was all the fault of my  wretched temper, which he understands only too well.' He gave a small,  twisted smile. 'He is more likely to pity you than blame you.'

'Which is as bad,' she exclaimed. 'I would not for the world have him feel sorry for me.'

Gideon looked at the reflection in the mirror, observing the anguish in  those enormous eyes, the flushed cheeks. His skin still tingled from  the feel of her lustrous dark hair between his fingers. Putting down the  brush, he placed his hands on her shoulders.

'Was I wrong to marry you?' he asked suddenly. 'Was I wrong not to have the marriage annulled?'

Her chin went up.

'Yes. If you will not put the past behind you.'

With a jolt he realised he had not been thinking of the past, merely of  the mischief he had done to Nicky by holding her to the marriage. She  put one hand on her stomach as she continued.

'It is a little late to discuss this now.' Her tone was prosaic. 'You must do as I do and look forward.'

She gave a little toss of her head, sending her silky hair flowing over  his hands. A few dark tresses rippled down over her breasts, outlined  beneath the thin linen of her nightgown. Desire stirred again. Whether  by design or accident she was leaning back towards him and he turned  away before she noticed his arousal-more importantly before his need of  her became too great to be denied and he carried her over to the bed and  made love to her. He had to get away from her disturbing presence  before he took advantage of her innocence. Before he put her at even  more risk.

He crossed to the adjoining door and with a curt goodnight he left her.

* * *

For a long time Dominique did not move. She had seen that now-familiar  look in his eyes, reflected in the glass. At times she could almost  think he desired her.

Almost.

When she had sent her hair tumbling down her back it had not been by  accident, she had hoped it might evoke a response. His hands had  tightened on her shoulders even as the desire leaped in his eyes. He was  standing so close behind her that she only had to lean back a little to  press herself against him and she had begun to do just that, only to  have him rapidly move away. She smiled a little sadly. There was surely  an attraction between them. It was not love, but it was a start.                       
       
           



       

Stifling a sigh, she climbed into her lonely bed and pulled the covers  over her. She would be a good wife and mother, she would make him proud  of her and then, perhaps he might love her, just a little bit. Snuggling  her cheek in her hand, she began to make her plans.

* * *

The first weeks at Rotham passed quickly enough. The viscount spent the  greater part of each day locked in his study, reading or playing chess  with Sir Edward Moorhouse, an elderly widower who lived nearby and  called in occasionally. Gideon took his new wife to visit all the local  families and the ladies in turn paid their visits to Rotham. When  Dominique was not driving out or entertaining her visitors, she observed  how the house was run and asked questions of Mrs Ellis, the  housekeeper. At the end of the second week she made her first  suggestion.

They were sitting in the drawing room after dinner, Dominique at her  harp while Gideon and his father played backgammon. When it was time to  retire she rose and walked to the door, but before she opened it she  turned towards them.

'I have asked Colne to set up breakfast in the oak parlour tomorrow  morning.' Gideon's brows rose, but she addressed the viscount, saying  with a smile, 'My lord, on my first night here you told me I might act  as mistress at Rotham, so I hope you do not object?'

'No, if you and Gideon wish to breakfast downstairs you are free to do so.'

Dominique knew Gideon would declare that he was quite happy taking  breakfast in his room. Quelling her nerves, she met his frowning gaze  with a smile.

'Thank you, my lord, that room is east-facing, ideal for the purpose,  and so much easier for the staff than carrying trays up to the  bedchambers. I hope you can be persuaded to join us there one morning.'

She whisked herself away and prepared slowly for bed, half expecting  Gideon to storm in and demand just what she was thinking of, changing  arrangements that had stood at Rotham since time immemorial. However,  she heard his step passing her door, and the sounds of him moving about  in his own bedchamber, so she went to bed. She would discover in the  morning if she was breakfasting alone.

* * *

'I decided I would not trouble Runcorn to bring breakfast up to me when everything is set out down here.'

Colne had just brought the coffee pot into the oak parlour when Gideon  appeared in the doorway. Dominique's welcoming smile was tinged with  relief.

'Good morning, sir. There is everything you like- cold meat, boiled  eggs, hot rolls in the chafing dish and even ale, should you want it.'  She added, as Gideon sat down at the table beside her and took a  generous helping of ham, 'I shall continue to invite your father to come  downstairs to break his fast, too.'

'You will be disappointed,' he said, splitting a hot roll and filling  it with butter. 'My father is too set in his ways. He dislikes company  in the mornings.'

Dominique merely smiled, content to bide her time.

* * *

Soon her efforts were rewarded. She came downstairs one morning to find  her father-in-law already at the table. They greeted each other  politely, and even when Gideon joined them no reference was made to this  change in the viscount's habits.

* * *

Gideon was pleased to see his wife and his father getting on so well.  His conscience pricked him a little at the thought that he would soon be  leaving Nicky alone at Rotham and he was relieved that she was settling  in. He told her so as they strolled in the gardens a little later that  day.

'You have made a great difference here,' he said. 'My father mentioned  it to me last night. The whole place is brighter, somehow.'

'That is because the wainscoting has been polished for the first time  in years,' she retorted. 'It is surprising what a little beeswax can  do.'

'You are much braver than I,' he replied. 'I should have been afraid to  mention it. Mrs Ellis is not one to take criticism kindly.'

She chuckled. 'I won her over with a supply of French barley and Jamaican pepper.'

Gideon stopped and looked down at her, his eyes brimful of laughter.

'So that is why you had to go shopping again before we left Brook Street. You were stocking up with bribes!'

'Not bribes...' she twinkled back at him '...merely a few treats to ease my path-oh!'                       
       
           



       

She stopped.

'What is it? Nicky? Are you well?'

She looked up at him, a soft light shining in her eyes.