33. Chapter 33

Chapter 33

T he next morning when Melior woke, she found herself snuggled up to Nathaniel's side, but instead of quickly moving away as usual, she let herself enjoy the moment. She watched his chest rise and fall, the movements calming in its steadiness.

How could he be so good to her? He'd not once become short with her tears, nor had he refused her request for comfort. The gentleness with which he'd held her while she'd dozed off still warmed her heart. But most of all he'd called her love. Did he truly mean it?

Then a familiar voice in her head declared she did not deserve his love. Odd how that little voice sounded like her mother. In truth, most of her negative thoughts carried the same cadence as she'd been used to hearing from her mother's lips.

The moment ruined, she pulled away and rose to start her day. Most of her hair had come unbound during the night so she set to brushing it out again.

The day stretched out, long and terrifying. Should she tell Nathaniel about her part in the scheme against Lord Caraway? She'd tried to last night before the words were swallowed up in a sob. Perhaps if it came from her lips he'd be less disgusted by her. Maybe even more forgiving.

"I do love the way your hair gleams in the morning light."

She spun on her chair to see Nathaniel laying on his side, his head propped on his hand.

"Did you know," he said, "that when the sun hits it like that, there is a glint of something almost purple in your dark tresses?"

No one had ever mentioned such a thing to her before. The thought made her smile. "Perhaps I should suggest John add it to our painting."

"I like that idea."

She turned back around when he started to rise, averting her eyes from the sight of his slightly bare chest. A moment later she felt his hand on her shoulder.

"Are you feeling better this morning?"

She placed a hand over his, looking at him through the mirror. A mistake as he had still not buttoned his shirt, so she dropped her gaze to their connected hands.

"I am. Daylight and the reminder that I am not completely alone helps."

"Good." He gave her shoulder a squeeze, then walked away.

She focused on finding the jewelry she wished to wear as he rummaged in the wardrobe.

"Besides," he said, his head still bent to peer at something on the floor, "You have a new mother who cares for you dearly and wants you for her daughter."

"It is a comfort to know at least one person wants me," she said flippantly over her shoulder as she pulled out what she hoped were her pearls. They would pair nicely with her yellow day dress. She'd save the sapphires and diamonds for the ball tonight as they would accent her white gown with the blue embroidered flowers to perfection.

Nathaniel startled her when he spoke from right behind her. "She is not the only one who wants you, Melior. I have wanted you since that day we danced at Kendall House."

Her eyes widened and she spun to face him. "But you detested me."

"Not then, if you recall."

"I suppose not, but you acted so annoyed when Eddie forced you to partner me."

"Ten and seven is hardly an age when young men enjoy pandering to their best friend's little sister's whims. But the moment our hands touched, I never wanted them to separate. As a young man, all I saw was your incredible beauty. It captivated me, initiating dreams I knew would never become reality because, as a baronet's son, I would never be allowed to court you."

She shook her head in disbelief of his confession

"It is true," he said. "Eddie recently confirmed it. Apparently you were the reason your parents barred me from visiting as often as Eddie wished. That and the connection between my mother and your father."

He crossed to the mantel, leaning an arm on it as he stared into the blaze. "In order to save my heart I pushed you away, choosing silence or terse remarks as a shield. Over time, I saw you only as a pretty shell of a person, refusing to see your other positive characteristics in order to keep the space between us."

She did not know what to say. To think, all this time he had felt the same fluttering of attraction that had plagued her. Indeed, by his account it was far more than flutter.

"I suppose we should be grateful for Mr. Fairchild's interference then, for it seemed his underhandedness facilitated much good."

His stiff shoulders lowered and a chuckle rumbled in his chest. "I suppose we should. Tell me, should we send him a nosegay and a thank you note?"

She laughed. "Yes, one with stinkweed and beets."

"What kindness, for I know how much you adore beets."

She wrinkled her nose. "About as much as I favor rakes like Mr. Fairchild."

He chuckled again, but this time something snapped in the air between them. She could feel its pull, like a cord had suddenly been attached between their two hearts.

Clasping her hands behind her back, Melior took a hesitant step forward. "I felt the attraction in the ballroom, too. At fifteen I did not understand it and thought maybe I had been on my feet too long. But the night you saved me from having to dance with Mr. Fairchild I felt it again. I tried to push the attraction away, to not notice your handsome face or fine figure—"

"You mean my blurry face."

She smiled. "It is not always blurry, only when you are too close."

He drew near. "Yes, but it might be to my advantage this morning to stay close so you cannot see my tousled hair and unshaven face."

His arm snaked about her waist as he pulled her close. She really could not make out his features, but that did not stop the sensations of pleasure rippling through her as she settled her hands on his chest.

"I suppose there are some advantages to not being able to see," she teased.

Before she could utter another word his lips covered hers. She drank in the feel of him, letting his love drown out the pesky sound of her mother's reproach in her head. As quickly as it had begun, though, it ended.

Nathaniel let go and took a large step back. "I am sorry, Melior. I broke my promise to you."

She tipped her head to the side. "What promise?"

"I said I would not touch you without your consent."

Melior chuckled. "Well, in that case, you have broken it several times, and in this very room." She stepped forward and grasped his hand. "Nathaniel, we may not have started out this marriage in the normal manner, but I want it to be a true marriage. One filled with love… and children."

His face was not completely clear, but she saw the moment her words buried themselves in his heart.

"Do you mean it?"

The hope in his voice was too much. She closed the distance, and wrapping her arms about his neck, pulled him down for another one of those toe-curling kisses. He obliged rather willingly.

Then someone knocked on their door.

She pulled away, leaning her head against his forehead. The knock came again and he groaned.

A giggle escaped her. "We could ignore whoever it is."

Algenon's voice came through the door. "Wake up Nate, we need to talk."

Nathaniel stepped back a bit to look down at her. "Unfortunately, once Al has his mind set on something, he's not likely to be dissuaded."

She let go of him. "Best see what he wants then."

"Do I have to?" He whined like a petulant little boy.

Melior giggled and batted his hands away when he tried to come close again.

"These walls are not as thick as you think, Nate. Now stop flirting with your wife. You have a lot of explaining to do."

Nathaniel and Melior stared at one another, then burst into embarrassed laughter.

"I will meet you shortly in the study," Nathaniel finally said.

"You better. Or I will send Javenia to hunt you down," Al threatened.

Al was not happy with him and neither was Javenia. It was one of the few times the pair were united and Nathaniel could understand why. In all the chaos surrounding Lady Agatha's arrival and the subsequent information shared between them all concerning Mr. Fairchild and Lady Edith, he'd forgotten to inform them of Mrs. Wayland's passing.

"Your nearest neighbor and your mother's closest friend dies, and you simply forgot?" Javenia's pacing path crossed with Al's in front of Nathaniel's desk. It seemed the space had become a racetrack of sorts for frustrated friends as they each reached the edges of the room, spun and marched back, crossing nearly center again in front of his desk.

Nathaniel tried to be penitent, but the joy of Melior's request shone brighter than anything in his life at the moment. His long-harbored dreams of love and family were coming true and he could not stifle the smile that insisted on taking up residence on his face. So he used his hand to shield his mouth, pretending to rub his upper lip.

Javenia stopped. "This is no laughing matter, Nathaniel. You may hide behind your hand as much as you want, but your eyes are still dancing with mirth."

He burst out laughing. "You two look like you are running a steeplechase. All you need are mounts and you could begin hopping the furniture in your back-and-forth pattern."

Al stared at Javenia and she stared back, then they both chuckled.

"I suppose we do look a might ridiculous," she said.

"But that does not absolve you of guilt, Nate." Al lifted the letter he clutched in his fist. "If my sisters had not written to me, neither Javenia nor I would have known. Henrietta is in dither with all the weeping going on in the house, and two of our nursemaids are sick. I need to return to Kent to be with them. Not to mention how this will affect John. You know how he cares for that family. He's held a special place for Mrs. Wayland since she went out of her way to make sure he had someone to talk to after his own parents' death."

Nathaniel sobered under Al's tirade. "I know, and I am sorry for my negligence. Sadly, I have not even written to my own mother, but I shall do so as soon as we are done here."

Al nodded and took up a seat. Javenia did likewise, her gaze darting to Al in concern. For her to remain silent meant that Al was truly discomfited, otherwise she'd tease and cajole him for his fit of temper.

"Do you truly need to leave today?" Nathaniel asked. "Can it not wait until after the wedding tomorrow?"

The tick of the clock in the room marked the seconds while he waited for Al's answer. He needed his friends to help him stop Lady Edith's assault on the fine women of London. It would take their type of cunning to execute the plan they'd laid out in order to trap the woman into a confession. Without either one of them, it might not work.

"I can stay," Javenia said. "Is there anyone you trust that could take Algenon's place?"

"No one. Eddie would be a dead giveaway and the Duke of Bedford is already promised. It needs to be a single man."

Al sighed. "One day, Nate. I will stay one more day, but then I will be on my way home even if I must go by post."

"I understand."

"Now about the letter John sent. Was there any mention of when the funeral procession will be held?"

"No, but I am certain they have already done so by now. With the weather growing warmer by the day it would be necessary to take care of things quickly."

Javenia's face scrunched up in disgust. "Might you wait to speak of the specifics of decay until there are no ladies present?"

"There are ladies present?" Al crossed his arms. "Could have fooled me. The only people I see here are you and Nate."

"That is flattering and yet largely insulting at the same time. So thank you and curse your wicked sharp tongue." She stood and dipped her head toward Nathaniel in farewell. "I think I will go in search of Melior. At least she will be better company than this bear."

Nathaniel smiled at Al's faux affronted expression, knowing full well he reveled in the insult.

Javenia stopped with her hand on the door. "Oh, and Nathaniel, tell the bear he is in my black books again, and I shall not be speaking to him."

He gave her a salute. "Will do." A chuckle escaped him as she walked away. "Well, you heard the lady; your friendship rights have been revoked for the day."

"Yes, but how are we to carry out this plan if I cannot speak to one of the main participants?" Al grumbled.

Nathaniel shrugged. "Pantomime?"

Al rolled his eyes and slumped back into his chair. "Why did this have to be the time she got her petticoats in a bunch? Could she not wait until tomorrow?"

"I suppose there is only one thing left for you to do."

"And what is that?"

"Grovel."

"Not on your life. I would rather pantomime."