Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Reuben closed his eyes, and, for the first time since he learned Corin had arrived, he felt at peace. He and Amelia had walked to the lake then set the blanket down so they could rest. She had then encouraged him to lie down and place his head in her lap. Now, as she ran her fingers through his hair and sang to him, he thought it would be best if they never had to return to the manor. He didn't know whether it was ironic or sad that of all the times he used to look forward to Corin's visits, he wished Corin would leave. Then he could return to the perfect world that Amelia had made for him.

Though he had left the manor with a suit jacket, it was so warm out that he had set the thing aside. He had forgotten how pleasant it was to sit outside on a warm day. "I wish we could be in this spot forever," he whispered.

"I take that to mean you're feeling better?"

Noting the hopeful tone in her voice, he nodded. "I am."

In fact, he felt so much better that his stomach was beginning to growl. If he had known this was going to happen, he would have had Cook pack them a picnic. But he had assumed the queasy sensation would go on for the entire day, like it always had in the past. Who knew a simple trip to the lake would solve his stomach problems? All along, he should have come out here instead of staying indoors with a blanket and some peppermint tea to sip on.

Amelia brushed aside the strands of hair the breeze had pushed to his forehead. "I'm glad you're feeling better, Reuben. If it was up to me, you'd never feel bad."

"I know." He opened his eyes, and, noting the tenderness in her expression, he took her hand and kissed it. "You make my life worth living. I couldn't have asked for a better wife."

She smiled. "Next time you have a nightmare, you should wake me up and tell me. Then maybe you won't have to go through a rough morning."

He would have promised to do that, except something stopped him. He couldn't be sure what that something was, and that bothered him. Was there something more to the nightmares than simple night terrors? Could they indicate there was something going on during the day that prompted them?

Before he could give further thought to the possibility, he sat up and put his arm around her shoulders. He would rather focus on the moment. During his childhood, he rarely appreciated the present. He'd been in a hurry to grow up and join Corin in London. Things had been so boring being out here as a child. His mother had tried to keep him entertained, but there was only so much the poor lady could do. It all boiled down to his level of contentment, and it had frustrated him to no end to read about people doing things and listen to Corin tell stories about things happening in London. He'd had to grow up to realize that there was plenty to enjoy in the moment, especially when there was someone special to share that moment with.

He brought his mouth to Amelia's and kissed her. She leaned into him and kissed him in return. Not in any hurry to end the moment, he deepened the kiss. She completed him. Before he met her, he'd only been half a man. He didn't know what he would do without her. He needed to make Corin understand that. He wasn't sure how he was going to do it, but one way or another, he would. Corin should understand it since he had Candace. Corin loved Candace. He would do anything for her. Once Reuben explained this, Corin would realize he was wrong to ask Reuben to live apart from Amelia. With any luck, a good night's sleep would make this clear to Corin as well.

Reuben kissed Amelia's cheeks and then her neck. She smelled wonderful. In some ways, her scent reminded him of the flowers blooming around them. She felt wonderful. Her skin was soft and warm. The rest of the world faded away, and all that existed was the two of them. The moment was perfect. He pulled her onto his lap and began to kiss the top of her breasts.

"Reuben," she said in alarm, "I don't think we can do this out here. What if your brother comes looking for us?"

At the reminder that Corin could very well catch them doing this, he let Amelia climb off of him. It surprised him that he had forgotten all about his brother.

She chuckled as she adjusted her gown so that her legs were covered. "It's nice to know you really do feel better. I am more than happy to share a dalliance with you, but I don't want to risk getting caught." She wrapped her arm around his and squeezed it. "Don't be upset with me."

"I'm not upset. You're right. My brother might come out here looking for us. It's best we don't do anything."

She settled her head on his shoulder, and the two turned their attention to the lake.

***

Corin didn't come downstairs until mid-afternoon. Amelia and Reuben looked up from their card game as he entered the drawing room.

They began to set their cards down, but Corin stopped them. "Don't get up. I thought I'd take a look through the ledger." Corin's gaze went to Reuben. "The steward said you keep that in this room?"

"Yes," Reuben began, "but everything's fine. I looked over it last week."

"Well, I should see it anyway." Corin made his way to the desk and opened a drawer. "I started a new investment, and that will get tied into the estate." He pulled the hardbound book out and opened it. "I'll see you two at dinner."

Amelia frowned as Corin left the room. If Grant had come to visit, he would have sat down at the card table and joined them in the game, or, at the very least, he'd want to sit and talk while they continued to play.

Reuben turned back to her. "He's always worried about the financial condition of the estate. Ever since I can remember, he's gone over the ledger as soon as he arrives here. I think it's because our father nearly bankrupted us."

Oh, she supposed it made sense that Corin would be concerned about the ledger. "I bet that was scary for everyone."

"I was too young to understand how serious the situation was. I remember my mother staying up at night and staring out the window while I slept. She'd say she was in my room to tend to me in case I woke up, but she stopped doing that after Corin brought in some money from one of his investments." He chuckled and shrugged. "It's funny how you remember things like that when you're grown up. At the time, I didn't think anything of it."

"I'd be worried, too, if I had a child, especially one who is young. That child needs a parent to protect him."

He nodded. "Fortunately, we won't have to worry about our children. Corin has amassed enough of a fortune that he has more than we'll need for a lifetime."

"It's good he's running the estate then." She took a look at the cards in her hand and set one down. "Though, I think you would do well if you were to run it, too. You barely spend money on anything."

"I don't need a lot to be happy."

She considered his words and had to agree. He was one of the few people she'd ever met who seemed content with everything they'd already had. So many people in London wanted to buy the latest fashion or have the most elaborate parties to impress others. "Do you ever miss London?" she asked.

"With you here, I have no reason to miss it."

She smiled, touched at his words. "I don't miss being there, either. I used to be in a room full of people but had no one I sincerely cared about to talk to. There's no lonelier feeling than being in a crowded room but knowing you're alone. This is much better."

He returned her smile. "It is. I'm forever grateful you came out here to marry me."

"I'd do it all again if I had the chance."

In contented silence, they continued to play the card game.

***

Dinner turned out to be an awkward affair. She couldn't be sure, but she suspected some tension between the two brothers. Corin spent the meal telling them about the different people in London that they knew, and he even went so far as to tell them about people she'd never heard of before. Only one tidbit caught her interest. That was the fact that Lord Quinton had returned to London after facing a surprisingly dangerous event that resulted in the death of the Duke of Ivandore, a nobleman Amelia had never heard of.

"It turns out Lord Quinton's brother-in-law ruined the Duke of Ivandore's sister by spreading false rumors about her while he was drunk," Corin said. "I only know of Lord Quinton since he's a member of White's. I've never met his brother-in-law. His brother-in-law is going to marry the lady to save her from a life of spinsterhood. All of London is talking about it, and a lot of people can't decide if the brother-in-law can ever make up for what he did."

Since there was a lull in the conversation, Amelia said, "I hope everything will turn out all right."

He turned his gaze to her and swallowed his fish. "I hope so, too. I'm sure the whole incident has devastated what remains of the lady's family."

"I never realized how much happens in London," Reuben spoke up. "It makes me glad to be here. Life is peaceful."

Amelia nodded her agreement. "I lived in London my entire life and never thought about how much happens there. It's nice to be apart from it."

"Being in London does take a toll on a person's health, that's for sure," Corin said before he bit into another piece of fish.

Amelia thought she saw a flicker of irritation cross Reuben's face but realized it could be a stomach pain that was responsible for his reaction. With a glance at his plate, she realized he had barely eaten anything. She sighed in disappointment. Being at the lake had helped, but he probably needed more time before he was back to his usual self. It was a shame she didn't know more about his past and how sensitive his body was to these nightmares that kept plaguing him.

Corin continued talking, but this time, he dove into the topic of investments. From time to time, Grant would talk about investments, too, but he mostly did that if other gentlemen were in the room. She supposed this was a topic Reuben might be interested in, though, no one would know it by looking at him. She'd been certain that he nearly fell asleep a couple of times.

She didn't know what she could have done to make things less awkward. She tried to think of some way to respond that would create a lively conversation, but then Corin would throw in a term or two that she didn't understand in his response to her, and this left her confounded. It was a shame Grant wasn't here.

Finally, mercifully, dinner came to an end. She was afraid Corin might join them for a game of cards or some other activity, but he claimed he had something to deal with in the library and left. Maybe she should feel bad for being relieved that he would be occupied for the rest of the evening. He had come all this way to visit, and he was making an attempt to talk to her and Reuben. But one look at Reuben's plate made her feel all the better that the evening had been cut short. He had barely touched anything on his plate. And worse, he didn't look all that well.

"Reuben, do you need to lie down?" she whispered as they left the dining room. "I notice you didn't eat much at dinner."

He put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close to his side. "Retiring to the bedchamber sounds nice."

She couldn't be sure, but he sounded more tired than sick. And she didn't know what to make of it.