Chapter Twenty-four
The first few days of their trip to Bath were relatively uneventful, for Sarah did not feel the pressure to participate in the never-ending social round the way she had done in the past. She would call on her friends at some point before she left.
But the Baths, the Abbey, and their walks and drives in the countryside, and al fresco meals, put a new color in Alexander's cheeks and a vibrancy to his eyes that she had never seen before, but reveled in. She was glad he was happy, and she marveled at his improvement. He was a far cry from the stick-thin and despondent man who had first arrived on her doorstep so many weeks before.
And as she looked in the pier glass, she realized she too had changed beyond recognition. She was not sure how much of her altered appearance might be as the result of her pregnancy, but she looked loved and happy. She knew she had been attractive before, and some would have said beautiful. Alexander's love filled her with a radiance and confidence she had never known.
She laughed to think what her staid friends would say if she knew half of the fun she and Alexander had when they were alone together. But where two people were in love, there were no boundaries, and Alexander was not a man who could easily accept them.
It could be hard at times to convince him she was happy, that she had no regrets about being with him, that his condition made no difference to her. She was glad he had overcome his obstacles with regard to making love. She would certainly have missed out on a great deal if he had not.
But even just holding hands and kissing was such a delightfully arousing experience for her. Sarah had never known such closeness and warmth could exist. And even though it would be difficult raising a child with a blind husband, she knew there were many things he would be able to do for the child, and take delight in doing. He would be a most devoted spouse and parent.
Also, as she said to him teasingly one day when they had been at Bath nearly a fortnight, "At least I never have to worry about you having a wandering eye."
He stopped tying his stock, and laughed shortly. "And you, dear? Do I need to worry about you?"
She smoothed down her gown and patted her elaborate hairstyle. She had thought to venture to the Lower Rooms for the first time that evening. "I was a quiet little spinster before, with nary a beau. A miss without a match. Now I have you. In a room full of hundreds of people, I only have eyes for you, I promise."
He kissed her, but did not seem reassured.
"Alexander, please, try to trust me. I know you've been hurt in the past, but I have too much respect for you to ever do anything like that behind your back."
He sighed. "I'm sorry. I have to admit that here at Bath one does not even need eyes."
"What?" she asked in surprise.
"A few ladies have made a couple of interesting suggestions to me, slipped notes in my pocket. I suspect they're not shopping lists. I guess blindness isn't the impediment I thought."
"I'm not so sure they've discovered your secret. But who knows? You're so charming to everyone that the less attractive ones here probably took heart."
He covered his mouth to stifle his roar of laughter. "I shall stop being so pleasant, then. I can't rescue every matchless miss in Bath."
"Don't you dare. But I do want to see you happy."
He nodded. "As I do you. But I know the way the world works, even if I can't see it. You would tell me if you met anyone else, would you not?"
She clasped his hand and brought it to her heart, where she pressed it flat. "We are as married as if we had already exchanged vows. There will never be anyone else, not even if you were dead and gone from me. I swear."
He sighed, and cradled his head against her soft bosom. "It's the same for me. I'm sorry. All these people, these men. You are matchless, as the Middle English poem says. 'I sing of a maid who is matchless.' You're unlike any other woman I've ever met. I don't care if there are a hundred women vying for my attention. My heart is yours, Sarah. Now and forever."
"One has to be polite if we meet with anyone we know. But if you don't want to go to the Pump Room any more, we needn't bother."
"No, it's fine. I'm being silly. I trust you. I wouldn't ruin what we have with undue suspicions."
"Good, then. But I'm sincere about this. If you don't want to go out to the Lower Rooms we don't have to."
He began to plant a trail of kisses down her neck. "I thought you had your heart set on the ball tonight?"
"I have my heart set on you taking me to bed, too, darling. I know which is my first choice."
He kissed her soundly, and clapped her on her rump with a hearty laugh. "Bold wench." He straightened and let her go.