She shrugged. "It gives no offense. It's just that I seem to have lost my appetite."
"I daresay one as small as our Emma doesn't require great amounts of food," Lady Fiona said.
"She usually eats more than this," Adam snapped. "Are you unwell, my dearest?"
She was touched over his concern. It will probably be the last time—once her shortcomings began to amass like timber on a bonfire. It was only a matter of time before he would loathe her and repent this marriage with every breath he drew.
"Perhaps she has a touch of carriage sickness," Nick offered.
William shook his head. "She was quite well throughout our journey."
"Yes," Lady Sophia agreed. "Her colour was good."
Why was everyone talking about her as if she weren't there?
Adam kept looking at her, concern etched on his handsome face.
She could hardly explain the source of her moroseness. Her own ignorance was ruining everything. The family gathering she had so greatly looked forward to in the inn's intimate setting had suddenly turned into a nightmare. Now all she wanted to do was isolate herself from what was sure to be disapproving glances.
I don't belong. The words ran through her mind like the fragment of a favorite song. As kind as these people were, they must find her an embarrassment.
Her gaze lifted to Adam's. "I think I need to go to . . . our chamber."
He leapt to his feet. "I'll accompany you."
She shook her head. "I am capable of finding it."
"Whether you're capable or not, I'm coming." He snatched her arm.
As he guided her along the narrow, wood-floored corridor, she trembled, and tears gathered in her eyes. She had best confess before he discovered her unforgivable omission. She stopped beneath the wall sconce but did not look up at him. She did not want him to see how moist her eyes were. "I must warn you that I have failed most miserably."
"How, my dear wife, have you failed?"
"I did not know about bringing the linens. I've never stayed at an inn. Until this month, I had never traveled anywhere. I'm am sadly incompetent to be your wife, and I understand if you wish to . . . "
He started laughing.
"Pray, sir, what amuses you so?"
"My very own dear one, you will find our bed dressed in the finest linens that can be procured."
"But . . . "
"Traveling accommodations are not the concern of the mistress of the house. That is why we engage competent servants. My man saw to everything. He's taken your young maid under his wing, too, to explain the ways of a household such as ours."
All the tension in her body uncoiled. She giggled. "You cannot imagine how upset I was when I saw Lady Fiona's maid dressing their bed. I was quite certain my ignorance was a mortifying embarrassment to you."
He lifted her chin and smiled. "Never that."
They continued on to their chamber. It was actually two small, connected chambers like Nick's and Lady Fiona's but smaller. A blazing wood fire was lighted in the hearth, and Therese was placing a candle at the bedside table in the adjoining room. A quick glance there confirmed that fresh linens of high quality had been placed on the canopied bed.
"It's so refreshing to smell wood burning after the nasty coals of London," he said.
"Wood fires are likely the only thing I miss from Upper Barrington."
He yawned. "I'm actually happy you wanted to come to bed before the others. I feel as exhausted as one who's been chopping wood all day."
She started to giggle again. "When, my dear husband, have you ever chopped wood?"
A crooked grin lopped across his face. "I don't suppose I ever have."
"I do understand your meaning. Sitting in a coach all day is very wearying."
"I'll leave to allow your maid to get you ready for bed. Expect me back in ten minutes. Ready for sleep."
Her pulse thundered as she watched him walk away.
Chapter 16
"Which would you wear if you wanted to look ravishing to your husband—if you had a husband?" Emma asked Therese.
Her maid flung aside a soft woolen night shift, walked straight to Emma's smart new valise, and plucked out a night shift of snowy white linen nearly as thin and soft as gossamer. "You will be most beautiful in this, madame, and Mr. Birmingham, he will be captivated by your beauty."
She obviously embellished to please her mistress. Emma drew a deep breath. She was still trembling in anticipation of sharing this chamber with Adam. "Then please help me to dazzle." A pity I will never be as desirable as Maria.