Until You (32 page)

“Embarrass me!  Overreacting!” Nicholas thundered, once again finding his voice.  “I see my wife, my
expectant
wife, hurtling down the banister like a cannonball and you tell me that I am overreacting,” he practically shouted, his face a mask of anger and indignation.  “For God's sake, do you not realize what could have happened if you had fallen?” he demanded quickly moving toward her, and then gripping her arms and shaking her slightly to emphasize his point.

Ashleigh was oddly relieved to learn that he was concerned for her safety, rather than embarrassed by her behavior.  Although, he really had nothing to be upset about and she didn't appreciate being shouted at as if she were a wayward child.  She would never endanger herself or her baby, and if anything she didn't think being shaken like a rag doll was particularly conducive to good health.  She had been sliding down banisters since she was a child and she’d never fallen, not even once.  Besides, she and Tiffany hadn’t even started from the top, as they usually did.  They’d only been a few steps up from the bottom.  It had been perfectly harmless.

“It wasn’t as if we started from the top,” she said, saying aloud what she’d just been thinking.  “Really Nicholas, I think you are making a much bigger deal of this than it actually was.”  Then realizing she might be able to turn things to her advantage, she continued on.  “You know, since you seem to be so concerned about my wellbeing all of the sudden, perhaps you should be a bit more attentive, perhaps then I wouldn't have to look for things to keep myself entertained.”

He dropped his hands from her arms, his eyes going wide as he stared at her in utter astonishment.
 
Ashleigh had endangered not only herself, but her unborn baby as well,
their
unborn baby, and now she was blaming him for it.  He couldn't believe his ears.  “Are you insinuating that you endangered the life of our child because I haven't been paying enough attention to you?” he demanded in disbelief.

Ashleigh rolled her eyes.  “I wouldn't have fallen off of the bloody banister; I barely slid a few feet for heaven's sake,” she reminded him in annoyance, stubbornly lifting her chin and refusing to answer his question.

Nicholas looked at his defiant young wife and sighed in resignation.  “Madame, I am sorry if you feel as if you are being neglected, but surely you must understand that it takes an incredible amount of time to keep this estate in order, not to mention the dozens of other business matters I must attend to each and every day.  Besides,” he added with a touch of his customary cynicism, “You have accomplished your goal; you are now my duchess, what more could you possibly want?”

“Nicholas, I only…”

“Do not even think about asking me to take you to London, because it is out of the question,” he cut in before she'd even had a chance to finish her sentence.  “I am sure that you are just dying to flaunt your newly acquired title, but I do not have the time to take you right now.  If this marriage isn't what you bargained for, you have only yourself to blame,” he finished harshly.

The callous words stung.  Was he ever going to believe that someone could love him, not because of his money or his title, but because of the kind of man he was, the man he tried so desperately to hide?  The pain she felt was evident in her eyes as she looked up into his harsh visage.  “As difficult as it may be for you to believe, that is not what I want,” she stated with quiet dignity.  “I was merely going to suggest that we take a few of our meals together, perhaps spend an evening or two in each other's company, maybe even take a sleigh ride down to the creek,” she said, struggling to keep her voice from cracking.  “Please forgive me for forgetting how much you despise me.”  She turned to leave before she gave in to the tears that stung the backs of her eyes.  

Seeing Ashleigh’s crestfallen expression, he suddenly regretted his cruel words.  Whatever the circumstances of their marriage, she was his wife and she carried his child.  As he had said once before, the die had been cast, and there was no going back.  Now that they were legally bound to one another, he realized that it would be best for them to at least maintain a civil relationship.  He owed it to his child, if not to her.  He had too often witnessed examples of the vicious hostility that could exist between married couples.  His own parents had been a perfect example of how bad things could get.  He didn’t want to subject his child to that, not ever.

  He decided at that moment that he needed to try to set aside his anger and resentment regarding their marriage.  With a sigh of resignation, he ran his fingers through the thick waves of his hair, watching in frustration as Ashleigh moved toward the door.  “Ashleigh wait,” he said, his words arresting her hand as she reached for the doorknob.  “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” she asked bitterly.  “For hating me?” 

She heard his approach and then suddenly she felt his arms upon her shoulders as he gently turned her around so that they faced each other.

Nicholas looked into her eyes, glistening with unshed tears, and spoke with surprising gentleness.  “I do not hate you Ashleigh.”

“Don't you?” she demanded, knowing how much he resented her for their unwanted marriage.

“No, I do not,” he repeated firmly.  “This situation is as much my fault as it is yours and I think it would be best if we just let the past remain the past.  What's done is done.”  He summoned his resolve.  “I see no reason that the two of us cannot maintain a civil relationship with each other in the future.”

“Are you offering me some sort of truce?” she asked, looking into his deep blue eyes.  She couldn't help wishing that he was offering something else, but at least it was a start.

“I am willing to try, if you are.”

“Well…perhaps we could go for a sleigh ride tomorrow.  The countryside is so beautiful this time of year,” she suggested, keeping her tone somewhat indifferent, testing him to see if he really meant what he said.

“I'm sorry, but tomorrow I am leaving for Thorn Hill.  It's the estate Madeline gave to Brendon.  I’ve been having it renovated as a surprise for him.  I have meetings scheduled with the architects and some of the tradesmen to go over the final details.  I will probably be gone for at least a week

“I could go with you,” she suggested hesitantly.

“I hardly think that an extended carriage ride over rough, weather-beaten roads would be good for you in your condition,” Nicholas replied.  “Besides, Dr.
Ainsley
said you shouldn't exert yourself.”

“Dr.
Ainsley
never said any such thing,” Ashleigh refuted, annoyed that Nicholas was trying to find a way out of taking her with him.  “He merely said that I should get plenty of rest until I recovered my strength, which I have.”

Nicholas looked at the stubborn expression on Ashleigh's face and realized that it would be hypocritical to leave her behind, considering everything he had just said about maintaining a civil relationship.  He sighed.  “Can you be ready by first light?”

“Do you mean it?  Will you really take me with you?”  Ashleigh asked, her spirits lifting at once.

Nicholas looked at the expression upon her face and felt a moment’s hesitation.  She was so dammed beautiful and when she looked at him like that, it threw him emotionally off balance.  “Have your warmest clothes packed, for I won't have you catching a chill and relapsing while we are away,” he ordered somewhat brusquely, reminding himself that he was concerned only for her health.

“I shall start packing at once,” she said with a smile, and then turned and rushed from his study before he could change his mind.

The next morning Ashleigh was awake before dawn and dressed and ready to go in a lovely, forest-green velvet traveling ensemble a short time later.  She’d wanted to look her best however, so she had allowed Annie to spend a few extra minutes styling her hair into an elaborate twist.  She thought it gave her an added look of sophistication, especially when she donned the jaunty velvet hat that matched the gown.

Unfortunately, after making her way downstairs, she quickly discovered that the extra time spent on her toilette had apparently been for naught.  Eager to be underway, Nicholas virtually thrust her into a heavy sable cloak the moment she reached the bottom of the stairs, assuring her that a light breakfast had been packed and awaited them in the coach.  

As soon as she was settled within the vehicle, Nicholas piled so many furs over her that she was completely covered from the tips of her toes to the delicate point of her chin.  “For goodness sake, I am beginning to feel as though I am being buried alive,” she teased, as he added yet another fur to the pile surrounding her.

“My apologies, but I am under strict orders from Madeline to keep you in perfect health,” Nicholas told her.  “She threatened to disown me if you come down with even the slightest chill whilst we are away.”

Ashleigh couldn't help but smile at that, for she could well imagine Madeline ordering Nicholas to keep her in good health.  She’d said virtually the same thing to her the evening before, when she’d told her that Nicholas had agreed to allow her to accompany him to Thorn Hill.

It was nearly noon when they stopped at a roadside inn to rest and water the horses, for they were travelling at a leisurely pace, assuredly due to her presence.  The Spotted Goose was a small, but well-run establishment that offered food and shelter for any traveler who could afford the luxury of a hot meal and a soft bed.  Although Ashleigh and Nicholas wouldn't be staying overnight at the inn, they eagerly sought out the dining hall, in search of a light repast to carry them through the remainder of their journey. 

When Ashleigh ordered enough food to feed three people, Nicholas quirked an eyebrow in surprise, but wisely remained silent.  She had already polished off the majority of the food that had been in their breakfast basket. 

However, once their food had come and she had eaten nearly every morsel that had been placed in front of her, he could no longer withhold his astonishment.  “Are you sure you are not expecting twins?” he asked.

Ashleigh looked up from the spoonful of plum pudding she’d been about to lift to her mouth and met Nicholas’ astonished gaze.  She couldn’t help the blush that stained her cheeks at his incredulous expression.  Instantly mortified, she set down the spoon.  “Madeline says a healthy appetite makes for a healthy baby,” she told him with an embarrassed smile.

“Well then, I think it is safe to say that our child should prove to be the epitome of good health,” Nicholas teased.  “Now go on and eat the rest of your pudding.”

Despite her embarrassment, she was delighted by Nicholas’ teasing attitude.  Perhaps he really was going to make an effort to better their relationship.

As the second leg of their journey began, Ashleigh engaged Nicholas in a discussion regarding the historical significance of the fall of the Roman Empire, a topic that interested him, or so Madeline had told her.  She could tell that Nicholas was a bit skeptical of her knowledge of world history, yet after a few minutes he seemed to realize that she was a far cry from the vapid, brainless women he was apparently accustomed to speaking with, and their conversation became quite stimulating. 

When they finally lapsed into a tranquil silence, Ashleigh gazed absently out of the coach window, watching as the frost-covered countryside slowly passed by.  As the gentle swaying of the vehicle lulled her into a state of drowsiness, she tried to envision the home that Nicholas had created for his brother.  It wasn't long however, before Nicholas informed her that they were nearing the entrance to the estate, and her eyes eagerly scanned the landscape ahead.

When Ashleigh caught her first glimpse of Thorn Hill through the trees that lined the sweeping, snow-covered drive, she drew in her breath in delight.  “Oh Nicholas, it's beautiful,” she exclaimed, leaning toward the window to get a better look.  She had known that it would be an impressive estate, but she had never dreamed that it would be quite so lovely.  Even though she felt that nothing could compare to the beauty and splendor of
Sethe
Manor, she knew that Thorn Hill would surely come in a very, very close second.  Clearly Nicholas had seen to it that the timeworn building had been restored to all of its former elegance and grandeur.

When the house was momentarily lost from view, hidden by several towering oaks, Ashleigh regained her seat and looked at the man sitting across from her.  It never ceased to amaze her that Nicholas was so adept at disguising his true nature.  What he was doing for Brendon only reaffirmed her initial belief that Nicholas was a warm, caring man, who not only loved his family, but did whatever he could to make them happy.  She could only hope that someday she would be among those few, truly fortunate individuals, who had achieved his love, his trust and his respect.  “Brendon is very fortunate to have a brother like you,” she stated softly, and with complete sincerity.

After all that had recently transpired, Nicholas wasn’t so sure about that, but he loved his brother dearly and would do his best to make amends for his past behavior.

As Nicholas assisted Ashleigh from the coach a few minutes later, the toe of her boot caught on the top step and she abruptly pitched forward, falling full length against Nicholas' muscular frame.  His arms had gone around her instinctively, however once he’d steadied her, they remained locked around her waist long after the danger had passed.  As he slowly lowered her to the ground, he couldn't seem to take his eyes off of her slightly parted lips, drawing in a deep, ragged breath as he watched her teeth bite gently into her full lower lip, nibbling the delicate rose-colored surface.