He raised her hand to his mouth and placed a kiss in the palm, then clasped that hand in his while he told her about her new home. “My home is called Cherry Grove Manor. It is a rather modest dwelling, as I told you already. But I hope you will find it comfortable. I have endeavored to make it a respectable and presentable house, but now that you will be joining me there, I know you will make it into a home.”
“Oh, my dear husband, you have no idea how I have longed to have a place to call home. And that we will be there together, is beyond my wildest imaginings. I am sure I will love it very much indeed.”
“I sincerely hope so. For it is my desire as well. Now, there are several people in my employ. Not nearly so many as I would imagine worked at the home of Lady Tempest, but they are sufficient to take care of the needs of the household.”
“I look forward to meeting them,” Seraphina said. “Please, can you tell me more about them?”
“Well the two most important members of my staff at Cherry Grove Manor are Mr. and Mrs. Boyd. Mr. Boyd is my all-around manservant, he sees to my clothing, as well as other tasks which I require of him around the house. Mr. Boyd is a gentleman whom I hold in high regard. The same is true for his wife, Mrs. Boyd, she is my housekeeper and oversees the operations of the household and spends a great deal of time fussing over me as well.” He smiled at the mention of the married couple and Seraphina could see he was rather fond of them.
“Well,” Seraphina said, “I expect I will be doing a bit of fussing over you myself, as is my privilege as your wife, so I hope Mrs. Boyd will not feel put out if I engage in some of the same activities.”
“Although I am quite fond of Mr. and Mrs. Boyd and think of them almost like family, they both are also very professional and courteous in doing their jobs, and rarely overstep their bounds. I am sure the two of you will get along very well. For I cannot tolerate any type of disruption in my household. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd as well as the few other employees around the house, do not live at Cherry Grove Manor. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd live in a small cottage in Briar Glen. The other employees are mostly young people who live with their families in the surrounding areas. In the evenings, you and I will have the house to ourselves.”
Lucas gave Seraphina a pointed look when he mentioned the two of them alone in the house together. A flutter of delicious anticipation tumbled through her tummy and parts south. However, not wishing to add fuel to the fire which they had been endeavoring to tamp down, she redirected the conversation, or at least her thoughts. “And what can you tell me of your position as a physician? I am sure it is quite fascinating.”
“My job, as a physician, can be very wearing. I am often called out during all hours of the night and day to attend to the people in the village and surrounding areas. It is rarely pleasant.”
“I would imagine it is not,” Seraphina said, resting her hand on his forearm. “But I feel certain you are most adept in your practice, and your patients must feel a great deal of confidence in you.”
“Thank you for your confidence in me. I hope my patients know I care very much about their well-being. Sometimes I wish they cared about their own welfare as much as I do. But Briar Glen is a rather remote area where most people make their living either as farmers or working in the mines, both of which are rather dangerous and hard on the health of a man. I hope you will enjoy life in Briar Glen, our home,” he said with a smile which she happily returned and snuggled close to his side.
“The town has the basic amenities, the butcher, milliner, one or two dress shops, a church and a general store. There is an inn which provides housing as well as a place for travelers to eat. The people of Briar Glen are generally a kindly group. “
“It sounds like a very nice place,” Seraphina said. “I look forward to meeting my new neighbors.”
“Well, it appears your wish will be granted. For here we are.” Lucas pulled back the curtains as far as possible and pointed out the window. “There’s the town square, and the church, and as you can see a number of people are out on this fine day.”
Seraphina gazed upon her new hometown with eager eyes. She thought it was the most beautiful place she had ever seen. And she looked forward to becoming fast friends with many members of the Briar Glen community. “And where is Cherry Grove Manor?” she said swiveling her head from side to side taking in as much of the view was possible.
“We shall be there in just a moment.”
The carriage turned down a tree lined drive and Seraphina had an overwhelming sense that she was finally home. A not insubstantial home sat at the end of the drive, a tidy garden to the left side and a small greenhouse to the right. The centerpiece was a stately brick home. A sign out front read Cherry Grove Manor.
Seraphina took a deep breath. Her new life was about to begin in earnest.
10
Lucas, for all intents and purposes, was a practical man. And until this moment, he had found his home, Cherry Grove Manor, pleasing to himself. It was functional, of a sufficient size for his needs, and as luck would have it, he had managed to hire an appropriate staff with whom he worked well and the house functioned efficiently.
He was not one for the latest in fashion, and in fact would not even really know where he would find out such information were he interested. None of these things had ever crossed his mind before as a need for concern, and yet this day as he and his new bride, Seraphina, rolled up the long driveway to his home, Lucas had to acknowledge a slight case of nerves.
He glanced at his new wife, the impact of their eternal vows striking him with their finality. And he, first of all, hoped Seraphina would find Cherry Grove Manor pleasing.
He had not been one to entertain much, being a bachelor he was mostly invited to other places to make up a hand for cards or to be the partner for a single woman. It was not unheard of for some of the ladies of the neighborhood to try to partner him off, much to his chagrin. And as a result he rarely had guests at his house.
The unpredictable nature of his profession also made hosting a social engagement a risky proposition. For it seemed no matter how much advance preparation he might do, inevitably if he had plans to entertain at Cherry Grove Manor, an unexpected labor would begin and an early birth would require his attention, or someone would fall and injure themselves. He began to believe it was in the best interest of the entire community if he made no such plans.
He watched Seraphina as she gazed out the window and caught her first glimpse of the home they would share as husband and wife. His heartbeat, which had been erratic all afternoon as a result of various activities, struck a rapid staccato in his chest. He realized he was holding his breath. But when his bride’s large brown eyes opened even wider and a soft smile turned up her lips and she opened her mouth and gasped, turning to him and saying, “Oh, it is simply beautiful.” His heart sung with joy.
When the carriage came to a stop, the door opened and the driver made as if to assist Seraphina from the carriage. However, Lucas waved him off and did the honors himself. He went down the stairs ahead of her, and then stood at the base holding his hand up to assist her as she alighted from the carriage and set foot for the first time on the grounds of their home.
As they approached the front door, it opened, and Mr. Boyd stood in the entryway waiting to greet them. He bowed and took Lucas’ coat, and then stepped aside for the two of them to enter.
“Seraphina, I would like to introduce you to Mr. Boyd, he is the gentleman I told you about.”
“I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Boyd. My husband,” Lucas felt a particular thrill at hearing his wife address him as husband to another person, “has told me many kind things about you.”
“May I offer you my sincerest congratulations on your marriage, and wish you much happiness,” Mr. Boyd said with great conviction.
“Thank you,” Seraphina and Lucas both said at the same time and then looked at each other and smiled at their faux pas.
“Please forgive me,” Seraphina
said. “I ought to have allowed you to answer. I did not mean to interrupt.”
“There’s nothing to forgive,” Lucas said, tucking her hand into the crook of his elbow. “I believe Mr. Boyd was speaking to both of us, and so it was only polite for both of us to reply. Now, I shall give you a tour of your new home.”
“Sounds lovely,” Seraphina said. “Thank you.”
Mr. Boyd, as any proper servant would, sensed his presence was no longer necessary and vanished in order to see to other tasks and obligations.
For the first time ever, Lucas wished his house was larger, grander, more opulent for he wanted to see Seraphina’s eyes light up with delight over the home he had brought her to. To his surprise, however, she did exactly that, despite Cherry Grove Manor’s lack of distinction.
In the front parlor she gazed at the small portraits of his mother and father, asking who they were. “They are quite a handsome couple,” she said. “I hope you will tell me all about them.”
And before he could answer, she had let loose his hold on her and gone to the window. “Oh, what a glorious view. I am sure this room is simply filled with sunshine in the mornings. I am sure this will be my favorite room.” She turned to him with a joyful smile on her face.
“Seraphina,” he said with an indulgent look, “this is the first room you have seen. Perhaps you ought to allow me a few minutes to complete the tour before you declare a room your favorite.”
“Yes, I suppose you are correct, at least in a very technical and practical sense. However, when you are an orphan girl like me who has never really had a home, you notice every little detail and treasure it in a way maybe others do not. I was outrageous enough to dare to hope to someday have a home of my own and now I do. Can you understand, maybe just a tiny bit, how much it means to me?”
Lucas gazed down at his new wife, this sprite of a girl with the expressive eyes and loving heart. This was not the first time she had made reference to her early life and it pained him to see the cloud that passed over her face, if fleetingly, whenever she referred to those experiences. What sort of horrid person could be unkind to such a sweet and guileless girl?
It made his own determination to love and cherish her that much stronger.
They continued their tour of the first floor of Cherry Grove Manor. And Seraphina delighted in each of the rooms, exclaiming over the views, the coziness, and the tasteful decorations.
In anyone else he would have considered it faux flattery, intended to somehow persuade him or play to his ego, but with Seraphina, he knew she was so pure of heart and spirit the thought of engaging in any type of subterfuge would never even cross her mind.
Eventually they arrived in the dining room, where Mr. Boyd waited at the ready. “Mrs. Boyd has prepared a meal for you, Doctor, if you would like I will let her know you are ready. She was concerned you might need some nourishment after your busy day.”
“Thank you, Mr. Boyd, we are ready.” As Mr. Boyd exited, Lucas assisted Seraphina to her seat.
As with the rest of his home, the dining room was more than adequate for his needs, while not being extravagant. The table easily accommodated eight, but with Seraphina seated directly to his right while he was at the head of the table, all seemed quite cozy indeed.
Seraphina placed her napkin in her lap and glanced up at him. “It was very kind of Mrs. Boyd to prepare a meal for us, as it turns out I am slightly hungry.”
Lucas was heartened by her admission, for he had feared nerves might have gotten the best of her and subdued her appetite. He did not wish to have her fading out on him as the evening wore on. For as they had moved through the house and the realization became more and more dramatic for him, that he was indeed a married man and this little slip of a young lady was his bride, the longing in his body had built stronger and stronger with each passing moment.
Mr. Boyd returned to the room from a separate doorway, not the one through which they had entered, moving quietly he approached Seraphina while holding a tureen of soup. When he endeavored to set the tureen on the table, he must have startled her for she jolted sharply, causing him to jostle the tureen, though being the consummate professional, he did not spill a drop and set the large container of his wife’s delicious steak and vegetable soup on the table.
Unfortunately, Seraphina was not so composed.
“Bloody hell!” The words were out of Seraphina’s mouth before she realized what had happened. The happy mood which had permeated her tour of Cherry Grove Manor vanished and, in its stead, an ominous silence hung over the dining room.
Instinctively she moved her hands to cover her mouth. Her eyes went wide, and her gaze went directly to her husband to gauge his reaction.
And just that quickly her new husband, who had been engaging and affectionate, suddenly turned stone faced.
Seraphina made a quick glance toward Mr. Boyd, though his countenance gave nothing away.
“Boyd, I believe I should like a moment with my wife. Perhaps it would be a good time for you to go and get the rest of our meal.”
Although he was polite, the undercurrent in his tone when Lucas said he would like a moment with his wife sent a flutter through her body. The flutter of dread, not the flutter of excited anticipation which she had experience already several times that day.
As soon as Mr. Boyd had exited the room, Seraphina’s nerves got the better of her. “Oh, my dear husband, I am so very sorry. Please, accept my apology. I do not know what came over me. I was anxious, and am not used to being served so closely, and the room was so quiet, I don’t know what I was thinking. But please, please forgive me. It was a horrible thing for me to say. And I am utterly ashamed.”
Seraphina’s hands shook as she clutched them in her lap, worrying the fingers back and forth as she held her breath and waited for her husband to respond. Shame and misery washing over her.
“There will be consequences, rest assured, for your unladylike behavior. However, it is important for both of us to eat a decent meal. We have had a long day, and I have plenty of intentions for the rest of our evening.” His eyes lowered on her meaningfully and sent a variety of thoughts and emotions careening through her body. Mostly, she was filled with relief, because she felt certain he still intended to claim her in the way a husband claims his wife. Though she still remained uncertain about what that meant.
“Yes, I understand.”
A slight smirk turned up the corner of his mouth. “I wonder if you will believe me to be understanding when I have you splayed across my lap, as I swat your naughty bottom, for that should be the punishment you have coming.”
“Yes, sir.”
Boyd, who was either eavesdropping, or had an uncanny sense of timing, returned. This time he carried a platter of meat and vegetables, and stood next to Lucas making sure Seraphina was well aware of his presence. Seraphina did not know whether to be pleased he was trying to keep her out of trouble or offended that he found her to be so foolish he had to be cautious around her. She had so hoped to make a good impression upon the members of the household staff.
Lucas took the serving utensils from the platter and placed a substantial helping of food upon Seraphina’s plate. He then served himself, and Mr. Boyd took the dish away.
“We shall not be needing any further assistance with dinner, Boyd.”
“As you wish, sir.” The door closed ominously behind him as he exited the room.
The food smelled and looked delicious. Unfortunately, nerves had gotten the better of Seraphina and vanquished her appetite. She pushed the food around on her plate, and attempted a few small bites, but there was simply no help for it.
“Is the food not to your liking?” Lucas asked, giving her a stern look.
“Oh, no, it is quite tasty, I do not appear to have much of an appetite this evening,” she said.
“And what seems to be the cause of your lack of appetite?”
“It is my nerves, sir, for I know I have disappointed you. And... and, I am worried abou
t the spanking which you intend to give me.”
“Why are you worried, Seraphina? I hope you are not frightened, for we spoke of it in the carriage, did we not? You will never have reason to fear me. A spanking will hurt, that is its purpose, but you must trust me to know when you have been sufficiently punished.”
“Ye-yes, I d-do trust you, it is simply that I am too anxious to eat. Must we postpone my punishment until after our meal?”
“Mrs. Boyd has gone to the trouble of preparing a meal for us. I realize it is her job, but she is deserving of our courtesy to not ignore her efforts.”
“That is true, sir, and I promise from now on I will eat all her meals with great gusto.”
Lucas paused and took a deep breath, apparently contemplating their current dilemma. He had decreed they would eat before her punishment and she had asked him to alter his plan. Would he be dogmatic about his pronouncement, as was his right, or would he take her thoughts into consideration?
Seraphina was accustomed to having her wishes and desires ignored, so much so she rarely bothered to even express them. But tonight, she had courageously made a request of her new husband. She held her breath awaiting his reply.
Lucas wiped the corners of his full lips with his napkin, then laid the piece of linen next to his plate. “You are correct, Seraphina. I am sure you are too anxious over a promised punishment to be able to eat a proper meal. Therefore, I shall amend my plans.” He got up from his chair and assisted her to rise from hers as well.
He led her to a corner of the room and positioned her a few inches from the juncture of the two walls. “I believe some corner time is in order.” He reached beneath her skirts and untied the ribbons holding her drawers in place allowing them to pool around her feet.
Although her husband had taken significant liberties with her person in the carriage, that was not sufficient for Seraphina to become comfortable with having his hands on her or feeling most deliciously scandalous standing in the corner without her drawers. Her heart continued to flutter in her chest as she stared at the wall.
Lessons for His Bride (Regency Matchmaker Book 3) Page 9
