Chapter Thirty-Seven

A lex arrived in the dining room before the females and stood by the table. When they did enter, they were one behind the other. His aunt strode in first, followed by his wife, who was still running a delicate hand over her dark chignon and hurrying her step as if she'd tried to beat Aunt Elizabeth into the room and had barely failed.

Finding himself in a tricky situation, he wanted to pull out the chair for each of them at once. Alex should have asked Berard to be on hand to draw out his aunt's chair, then he could have honored his wife. Making the state of affairs even trickier, at the same instant, both of the ladies went to the empty chair at the end of the table and stood waiting.

Were they going to battle over the seat? It was hardly a good way to begin a meal.

While his aunt's nostrils flared and she continued to look straight ahead, ignoring Clarity, his lovely wife spoke.

"I believe I shall take my place at this end of the table tonight," she said smoothly, "then I can better look at you, dear husband, without constantly craning my neck."

Both of the women in his life were staring at him, one with a determined expression and the other with disbelief. He knew to whom he owed his loyalty.

"Of course," he said. "You ought to have been sitting there from the first night you arrived as Lady Hollidge."

Unfortunately, before he drew out the chair for her, he needed to move his aunt away.

"Allow me, Aunt Elizabeth," he said, pulling out the chair halfway down the long table, opposite where Clarity had been previously seated.

When she hesitated, he wondered if she would say something that would turn this into an embarrassingly awkward moment, even more than it already was.

However, his aunt raised her chin a little higher and strode regally to her new seat, allowing Alex to push it in behind her knees. And then he settled his wife.

Clarity didn't gloat. She said, "Thank you" and gave him a warm smile, which she also bestowed upon his aunt. It was not returned.

At last, he took his own place at the other end, and the meal began. The serving footman, pressed like a sconce against the wall, had witnessed it all, but the server who brought in the next course faltered and stared at the change before continuing service.

They ate in silence, broken only when he remarked on something from his correspondence, which Clarity commented on with interest. Each time, they both looked to his aunt, but she remained silent. Apparently, this was going to be a longer battle than one change of seating.

He couldn't help wondering what would happen at the next meal if Aunt Elizabeth entered first.

At the pudding course, Clarity said something that finally got a reaction out of his aunt.

"I intend to throw a party welcoming Thomas to the family."

"The baby won't know the difference," Aunt Elizabeth quipped.

"That's true, but in my family, we always had a welcoming party. It was for the adults, naturally. It's a lovely way to show everyone how the viscountcy is strong and the Hollidge line continues."

"I like the idea immensely," Alex told her.

His aunt sighed. "I will meet with the staff in the morning to begin preparations. When do you want to have this little party?"

If anyone could offer help in a less enthusiastic way, he would eat his own hat. He hoped Clarity wasn't disappointed by the cool reception.

"Oh, don't be silly, Aunt Elizabeth," Clarity said.

The shock of her calling his aunt by her name was about as great as his wife having called Lady Aston "silly." It simply wasn't done.

Before his aunt could respond, Clarity asked the footman to refill her sherry glass. Then she beamed at the older lady.

"I insist on handling absolutely everything. All you need do is show up on the appointed night. I shall tell you when that is as soon as I've picked the date."

Then she stood, not waiting for him to draw out her chair. "I've sat long enough today. I think I am going to take a few turns around the drawing room."

Alex, who had jumped to his feet when she rose, agreed.

"A good idea. I'll join you and have some port."

He stood behind his aunt's chair, but she waved her hand to dismiss him.

"I'm staying here a little longer. You two go on."

"As you wish," Alex said, following his wife to the door while feeling his aunt's gaze like a dagger between his shoulder blades. She had undoubtedly hoped he would stay with her.

Once in the drawing room, after pouring his port, he said, "Perhaps we can begin a new tradition tomorrow night. If it's not raining, we can take a stroll after dinner around the square."

"What about Thomas?" she asked.

"It's warm enough now. He can come, too."

"I think that's a marvelous idea." She squeezed his arm with her free hand. They took a turn around the room, and then another.

"Thank you," she said softly into the comfortable quietness.

"For what?" he asked.

"For not gainsaying me in front of your aunt."

"You said nothing that wasn't perfectly within reason. I am only sorry I didn't force your acceptance as mistress of this household months ago. I see now how it makes a great deal of difference, especially to a new wife."

She offered him a wry smile before setting down her glass and rolling up onto her toes, pressing herself against him.

Flailing, he tried to set his glass of port on the same table and missed before hungrily wrapping his arms around her.

The tinkle of breaking glass did nothing to deter his ardor. But when he was about to claim her mouth, she leaned back in his embrace.

"Remember when we were playing hide-and-seek, and you tried to hide on the bottom shelf in the butler's pantry?"

He was too busy nibbling his way down her exposed neck to answer. Yet he distinctly remembered the glass and crockery shattering when the shelf broke. He also recalled Clarity's large eyes when he grabbed her hand, and they ran to escape punishment. He no longer had to run away.

"I like that," she declared.

He kissed a trail along her collarbone, reveling in the delicate scent of her skin, exuberant when she wrapped her hands behind his back and held on. Drawing her even closer, he crushed her mouth under his and savored its sweet softness. His body hummed with desire.

"How long do we have left?" he murmured against her lips.

"One more week," she answered breathlessly, tilting her hips against his.

"The devil!" he exclaimed, making her laugh.

A tap on the door was followed by Winnie's entrance. They didn't bother to jump apart since his wife's lady's maid had caught them holding one another many times.

"Master Thomas needs you, my lady."

"I knew that," Clarity told him. Stretching up she whispered, "My breasts were tingling already."

"I thought that was because of me," Alex joked.

His wife laughed. And with a wicked wink, she followed the nursemaid out of the room.

Clarity should have known it would not be as simple as claiming her seat at the head of the table and announcing her intention to handle party arrangements. She was thwarted at every turn. When she tried to meet with the housekeeper, suddenly Mrs. Rigley was called away for some unstated duty she alone could handle. Then she avoided Clarity the rest of the day.

When she entered the kitchen to discuss a dinner menu suitable for the large gathering, Cook dashed out as if her apron strings were on fire. The scullery maid merely shrugged when Clarity asked if Mr. Berard would also prefer to run rather than talk to her.

Finally, she marched upstairs to Lady Aston's private sitting room directly across from Alex's study. Obviously, it ought to be Clarity's domain, a quiet room in which the mistress of the house could retire apart from her bedroom.

Without knocking, Clarity entered to find Lady Aston seated and the housekeeper standing before her appearing distraught.

After a moment of shocked silence at Clarity's rudeness, Alex's aunt found her voice.

"That will be all, Mrs. Rigley."

"Yes, my lady." And with her eyes downcast, the housekeeper tried to skirt Clarity.

"Not quite all," Clarity said. "I wish to speak with you. I told you that earlier."

"I have an errand," the woman mumbled, glancing at Lady Aston, then back at the carpet.

Clarity was ready to tear her own hair out. She'd had enough!

"Mrs. Rigley, I shall expect you in —" Clarity paused, again wishing she had her own sitting room or study. "In the downstairs drawing room in twenty minutes."

The woman's glance returned to Alex's aunt before she finally looked at Clarity.

"I am sorry, my lady, but I—"

"It is I who am sorry, Mrs. Rigley, but if you cannot do your job, then I shall have to terminate your employment. You may have until the morning to gather your things and leave. Unfortunately, I shall not be able to give you any references."

Mrs. Rigley went white as a sheet. Moreover, Clarity's heart was pounding hard enough she assumed the other two women could hear it. She'd never given the sack to a member of staff before, and it felt awful. But she would not back down.

Taking a seat that hadn't been offered to her, Clarity waited for something to happen. With her nostrils flaring and her mouth pursed, Lady Aston sent her a harsh stare. She would rather be flayed in the street than argue with the new Lady Hollidge in front of staff. What would she do?

And Mrs. Rigley remained fixed in place, wringing her hands, clearly unsure of her status and who had the power over her job.

Finally, Lady Aston spoke. "I urge you not to let Mrs. Rigley go. She was performing a task for me, but I believe she can meet with you in the drawing room shortly. Isn't that correct, Mrs. Rigley?"

"Oh, yes, my lady," the housekeeper said. "Thank you."

"How fortunate it all worked out," Clarity said evenly. "I look forward to speaking with you. You may go," she added.

Relieved, Mrs. Rigley escaped the room where the air seemed decidedly thick.

Clarity stared at Lady Aston again, refusing to blink. When her own eyes were watering, at last the older woman glanced away, and Clarity issued a small sigh.

"I intend to throw this party, Aunt Elizabeth. If I have to give each member of the Hollidge household his or her notice and hire new staff, then I will." She let that sit in the woman's craw for a moment.

"I see," Lady Aston said coolly. "I am sure the staff will cooperate."

"If you tell them to, yes, I am sure they will." Clarity hadn't meant to accuse Alex's aunt of holding the staff hostage nor even insinuate it, but she'd gone and done exactly that.

"I hope you understand I was only trying to help with the party," Lady Aston insisted. "And after the last debacle, the staff is trying to look out for everyone's best interests, including yours. They don't wish you or my nephew to suffer further embarrassment. Believe it or not, nor do I."

"I see." Clarity decided to be frank. "You have advised the staff not to obey me so I would have to turn to you for all decisions. However, that will not be how things are handled any longer."

His aunt gave her a sad smile. "I understand you feel empowered since giving birth to the heir, and I could not be more pleased for Alex. Nevertheless, I think you are in over your head."

"It was not the birth that gave me power," Clarity reminded her. "Marrying Lord Hollidge did. Like it or not. And I am honestly sorry you do not like it because it would be much easier if we could be amicable. Regardless, I am the lady of this household. If I make a misstep, it is mine to make."

Alex's aunt rolled her eyes. "I can help prevent that. I can ensure the party is a success."

How could the woman speak of success without blushing?

"You changed my plans for the last dinner party, and it was a disaster," Clarity said.

"Your plans were not well-conceived," Alex's aunt insisted. "I had to step in at the last minute. If I had been in charge from the conception, all would have gone smoothly."

"I disagree. In any case, it would have been your party, and it was supposed to be mine."

They stared hard at one another again, but Clarity would not lose upon this battlefield, or she would lose the entire war. And then she might as well go to her room like a naughty child and stay there.

"For some reason, you have belittled me since I arrived."

"Untrue," Lady Aston protested.

"What would you call it?" Clarity didn't wait for an answer. "If not outright belittling, then you undermined me. You controlled the staff, you second-guessed or stopped everything I did in its tracks. Why, you made Alex think I am barely capable of lacing my own boots, let alone running his household."

Lady Aston crossed her arms over her bosom. "I love my nephew beyond anyone, except maybe my new grandnephew."

"I know," Clarity agreed. "And I believe you did what you did out of love for Alex. You want him to be happy. I want the same thing."

The older lady's expression softened. "You do. I can see that." Then she frowned. "But I fear you are a flighty, frothy thing," she asserted without rancor, as if stating a fact to someone who was too dim to know it. "I don't want you hurting him due to your cavalier, harum-scarum nature. Thus, I've been waiting for you to fill some rather perfect shoes."

"Yours?" Clarity snapped.

"His mother's," Lady Aston returned gravely.

She took that, considering his aunt's words. "You didn't help but hindered."

"I never said I wanted to make it easy," Lady Aston said. "Your sister Purity would have been a better choice to manage a household."

Exasperated, Clarity wondered at this woman's gall and her innate ability to make her wish to scream.

"You base your assumption on the child you knew!"

"I base it on the woman I see. Smiling, laughing, never serious."

Clarity shook her head. "I am happy by nature. That's true. But I have been raised an earl's daughter. Maybe more importantly, I am a countess's eldest. I have watched and learned from my mother since I was old enough to know what was going on around me. Of course I can run a household."

She rose to her feet. "But I will not do so with constant interference, nor with someone going along behind me altering my orders and choices. I am willing to take advice from you, but I am Lady Hollidge. I have a husband and a son to look after, and I am in charge of running this house."

She turned at the sound of a cough. Alex was standing by the open door, having witnessed her tirade.

Thinking he would give her a tongue-lashing for her outspokenness, she lifted her chin and waited.