With His Ring (Brides of Bath Book 2) (15 page)

The second number of the set was a waltz.
Gregory scooped his diminutive wife to his breast and whispered
into her ear as the music started. "Remember, I'm to convince the
world ours is a love match." Then he proceeded to demonstrate his
devotion. He held her as if she were a treasured object and gazed
devotedly into her face.

"There's a dilemma I should like your advice
on," Glee said.

"What is that, my love?"

"Really, Gregory, you don't have to address
me so. No one can hear you over the music and conversation. What I
want to know is how do I act when I meet Mrs. Ennis in public?
Should I give her the cut direct?"

He began to cough. "You will do as I and cut
her," he finally said sternly.

"Oh, dear, I hope our marriage hasn't
angered your mistress."

"I no longer have a mistress. Remember, I'm
supposed to be in love with my wife."

As the waltz continued, Gregory realized the
time had come for him to warn his young bride about men like
Jefferson. "Now that you're a married woman, I must warn you that
there are certain men who thrive on taking their pleasure with
other men's wives."

"Or widows," Glee interjected.

Carlotta Ennis was proving to be a dead
horse Glee never tired of beating. He wished he had never met the
black-haired vixen. "Never concern yourself with what happened when
I was a bachelor. It's what happens while we are married that
concerns me. And since you're my wife, I grow concerned that other
men will find you. . .well, not only beautiful, but also. .
.available for certain indiscretions."

She gave him a puzzled look.

He did not want her to lose that look of
wide-eyed naivete. Damn it, this marriage was becoming more
complicated than he had bargained for.

"Tell me, Blanks, did you ever have a
married woman for a lover?"

He cursed under his breath. "Confound it,
Glee, we're not talking about me. I've told you what's in my past
is now buried. What I'm trying to do is prepare you for the
onslaught by unscrupulous men. Men like William Jefferson, who is
not received in London."

She smiled up at him, then saw Appleton and
the twins standing on the fringes of the ballroom scowling at
Blanks. "Surely you're not suggesting Appleton or the twins would
want to take advantage of me?"

"Of course not! I trust those three
completely. But there are men in this very room who derive a great
deal of pleasure in the beds of married women."

"Goodness, Blanks, you will put me to the
blush. Surely you don't think I would even contemplate such an
alliance?"

How odd it seemed to be having this
conversation with the virgin Glee. She was but a babe in the woods.
"Of course not. You're a lady. But I felt it my duty—my husbandly
duty—to warn you."

"I'm happy to see you're taking your
husbandly role so seriously."

The set came to an end, and as he walked his
wife to the side of the room, he noticed his friends moving across
the ballroom to them.

What he did not notice was that Jefferson
also advanced from the opposite side. Jefferson drew Glee's hand
into his and settled his lips on it. "I beg the next set with you,
Miss-- Mrs. Blankenship," he said.

The fiend had wasted no time! Gregory's
hands itched to grab the man's stiffly starched cravat, then give
him a facer.

"Very well," Glee said sweetly. "How
colorful your waistcoat is, Mr. Jefferson." Her eyes skimmed the
fuschia that stretched across his slender waist.

Surely Glee could not admire the fop's loud
clothing! Then Gregory glanced at her own bright red dress. Why had
he never before noticed his wife's taste tended to the
extravagant?

From beneath lowered lids, Gregory watched
as Jefferson lingered with Glee's hand in his. "Then I'll collect
you for the next set." He swept into a gallant bow and left.

Gregory had a mind to forbid his wife to
dance with the man, but he could hardly do so in front of his
friends. He turned and greeted them. At least
they
had the
decency to divert their gaze from his wife's practically uncovered
bosom!

Glee greeted each of them with their
Christian name and a promise of a dance before Jefferson claimed
her.

"Knew we'd have to rescue you," Elvin
uttered to Gregory. "Looks like Mrs. Blankenship will not lack for
partners while we try our luck in the card room."

But Gregory could not remove his eyes from
Jefferson and Glee. The man's sensual gaze would not drop from her
for an instant. From this distance, Gregory had to admit she was
devilishly fetching. Any man would. . .Bloody hell! He didn't want
any man to look at
his
wife like that. He finally tore his
eyes away from Glee and looked up at Melvin. "You fellows go on
along. Cards have no allure for me tonight."

"Not when your wife is so deuced lovely!"
Appleton said, his glance sweeping to the dance floor.

* * *

Glee was utterly vexed with Mr. Jefferson,
but she wouldn't give her husband the pleasure of admitting the
man's scandalous behavior. Besides, she rather liked it when Blanks
acted jealous. She also liked to dress like a doxie for Blanks, but
dressing so skimpily for another man was something altogether
different. Mr. Jefferson would not remove his gaze from her body.
Really! She could not have felt more naked had he removed her gown.
Which was something no man—save Blanks—would ever do. She fought
the urge to jerk up her bodice, contenting herself with wrapping
her shawl around her. She had a mind to stomp on Mr. Jefferson's
toes.

"Marriage agrees with you," Jefferson said
hungrily. "But I must warn you, no matter how thoroughly you give
yourself to your husband, he will need other women—if you
understand what I mean."

"You no doubt refer to a mistress," she said
in an icy voice.

"Just so."

"And in such an event, you no doubt would
welcome me to your arms."

"You are a fast learner. To think, a week
ago you were the prudish Miss Pembroke. And now you are the sated
Mrs. Blankenship."

"Sated by a man who offered me his name as
well as his bed."

Jefferson looked solemn. "I would have
offered my name if Blankenship hadn't rushed to Warwickshire and
claimed you."

The waltz came to an end, and she was happy
to get away from William Jefferson.

She was happier still that her husband did
not once go to the card room that night, nor did he allow her out
of his line of vision.

Chapter
13

When Blanks joined her in the morning room
for breakfast the following morning, Glee's heartbeat accelerated,
and her fingers flew to her hair to fluff it. Would his presence
always send her heart fluttering while at the same time sinking her
own self-worth? Her husband was freshly shaven with carefully
pressed clothes, his shirt points white against his bronzed cheeks.
When he grinned at her as he strolled into the room, she could have
swooned at his booted feet.

"I can see that marriage must agree with
you," she said, trying to sound casual, "for George tells me you
never rose before noon when you were a bachelor."

He looked up at the clock upon the mantel.
"I must meet with my solicitor this morning."

So he hadn't risen for her, she thought
dejectedly. She poured him tea and sweetened it for him. "Three
spoons of sugar, if I remember correctly."

He sat beside her, a look of admiration on
his face. "You have a facility for remembering unimportant
things."

Not meeting his gaze, she stirred the tea
and handed it to him. "What one's husband desires is nothing
trivial. I mean to make you a good wife."

She could see that her response had made him
uncomfortable. "What would you like Cook to prepare for dinner
tonight?"

He slathered additional butter on his toast.
"Whatever suits you."

"You thwart me," she said with a pout. "How
can I be a good wife if you will not tell me what it is that suits
you? I know you do not like tongue and are partial to lobster.
Should you like buttered lobster tonight?"

He grinned at her. "I should like it very
much."

"With plum pudding?"

"How did you know of my partiality for plum
pudding?" he asked wondrously.

"It's my business, as your wife, to learn
what it is that pleases you, dear Blanks." How she loved referring
to herself as his wife!

He seemed uncomfortable again when he said,
"You mustn't take your role so seriously, for I don't mean to."

Why must he remind her of how acutely he did
not
want a wife? "It pleases me. I told you I very much
desired to be a married lady."

"And I have obliged you," he said
ruefully.

Over the edge of her cup, she watched his
face and the hopelessness that shone in his eyes. Like a trapped
animal. And it was all her fault. Would she have to carry this
guilt throughout her life? Would he never be content with his
fate?

Her husband ate quickly, then excused
himself. Her first pangs of disappointment gave way to relief that
she would be on her own today. For she planned a frivolous purchase
of which he would no doubt disapprove.

Moments after Blanks' departure, she heard
Appleton speaking with the butler, and she raced to meet him before
Hampton closed the door upon him.

"Please come in, Timothy," she said
breathlessly as she swept into the foyer. "There's a matter upon
which I need your advice."

He entered the house and followed her to the
library where they sat on facing brocade sofas before the fire.

"Really, Mrs. Blankenship, you shouldn't
address me by my Christian name in front of others."

"Pooh! Hampton's merely the butler."

"But if the practice becomes too familiar, I
fear your reputation will be tarnished, and Blanks wouldn't like
that above half."

"Fiddle! You, of all people, must know that
my husband is enamored of fast women."

Appleton coughed. "Not for a wife, I
daresay."

"I fear you are judging Blanks by your own
standards, Timothy. And. . ." she added, "I much prefer that you
address me as Glee."

"But. . ." he faltered, his lips a grim line
across his face. "Can't do it. Too personal."

"Then perhaps you could give me a
nickname."

He studied her for a moment. "Like
Pixie?"

"If you think that suits me," she said
primly.

"Pixie," he said as if he were thinking
aloud. "Yes, that's much better than. . .that Christian name of
yours. Daresay others won't have a clue when I speak of Pixie."

She tucked her feet together and crossed
them at the ankles. "You are probably wondering why I wanted to
speak to you."

Not removing his gaze from hers, he
nodded.

"Since my husband will be tied up with his
solicitor for most of the day, there is a matter I must consult you
on."

"Can't it wait 'till Blanks returns?"

"No, it can't. I wish to . . .to surprise
him." She leaned toward him and spoke with enthusiasm. "Blanks
wishes for me to cut a dashing figure in Bath, and I have decided I
will need a high-perch phaeton of my own."

"But you're a.. ."

"I know very well that I'm a woman, and
women don't usually possess phaetons, but I think it will suit my
new station. And I can purchase it with my own money." Money she
had received from her husband, that is.

"Are you certain Blanks won't mind?"

"Quite."

At the coachmaker's Appleton, with his
discerning eye, was quickly able to dismiss several inferior
vehicles until one was offered that closely resembled Blanks's own
phaeton. Appleton nodded his approval, and a price was settled
upon.

Glee had not realized a simple little
phaeton would cost so much. Two-hundred-and-seventy-five pounds!
Which would give her but twenty-five more to last the next three
months. She would have to economize enormously.

Glee gazed from the shiny black phaeton back
to Appleton. "You've done an excellent job, Timothy. It's exactly
what I should like." She turned to the lean coachmaker. "I'll take
it today. Send the bill to Mrs. Blankenship at Queen Square. My
groom will return soon with a horse."

As she and Appleton walked back up toward
Queen Square, her arm tucked into his, he asked, "Do you know how
to drive a phaeton?"

"Oh, yes. I've driven my brother's around
Hornsby for years."

"And he didn't object?"

"Not at all." Which wasn't exactly the
truth. George had made it clear she could drive his phaeton at
Hornsby Manor and its environs, but
not
in a city like Bath.
So she had not precisely lied.

She slid an undetected glance at her
companion. Timothy Appleton, though he possessed an enormous
capacity for levity, was not a man who appealed to women. In
company of the fairer sex he was far more reserved than he was with
bloods. To make matters even worse, he was quite plain looking with
his fair coloring and slim build. Because he was a man of means, he
dressed with quiet good taste, but his lack of height—and lack of a
full head of hair—rendered him as unnoticeable as the wallpaper in
her bedchamber. No wonder his amusements centered around other
bloods!

"Will we see you at the Assembly Room on
Thursday?" she asked.

"Deadly dull affairs, if you ask me."

"That's why your presence—and that of the
twins—is so sought after by Blanks. I'm sure the three of you can
think of something to liven things up a bit."

"Are you now?" he asked with a chuckle.

He dropped her off at the door to
Blankenship House. "I shall see you Thursday night, Pixie," he said
with a broad smile.

"We'll have great fun," she answered.

* * *

As Glee read through the day's post, her
brows lowered. The bills for her dresses far exceeded the
twenty-five pounds that remained from the generous allowance Blanks
had given her. And she absolutely would
not
ask her husband
for more money. Demanding more than her husband had generously
offered was not the right way to begin their marriage. Would the
dressmakers be content to wait until the next quarter for payment?
Oh, dear, what was she to do?