The Pleasure of the Rose

by Jane Bonander

“What hasn’t she done? She’s taken to bossing the servants and I won’t have that. Not here, not ever. They answer to me and certainly don’t need a sharp-tongued upstart telling them what to do.”

  Cautious, Geddes asked, “What else?”

  “Kerry is completely dependent on her. The girl doesn’t make a move without her, and she ignores me like I don’t exist. This morning, the woman even placed Kerry’s napkin on her lap, as if she were four years old instead of twelve.”

  “I’ll speak with His Grace—”

  “Please do,” Rosalyn interrupted again. “The way I’m feeling at this moment, I wouldn’t want to approach him on the subject.”

  She marched toward the door.

  “Rosalyn?”

  Turning, she snapped, “What?”

  “Where’s my breakfast?”

  Exasperated, Rosalyn said, “Lucy is bringing it up. And for heaven’s sake, don’t shout at her if your biscuit is cold.”

  “Can I shout at her if my biscuit is too warm?”

  Rosalyn raised one eyebrow. “Sarcasm doesn’t suit you, brother, it never has.”

  • • •

  Later, after she had checked all of the bedchambers to make sure they were in order, she went downstairs and stepped into the library. To her surprise, Gavin sat in the overstuffed chair by the window, reading. He looked up when she entered and gave her a shy smile.

  “I hope you don’t mind if I’m in here,” he began.

  “Certainly not,” Rosalyn said. “This room doesn’t get used enough and I don’t believe half of these books have ever been off the shelves.”

  Changing the subject, she said, “Gavin, I must apologize for my awful behavior—over the roses, I mean.” She shook her head and gave him a wan smile. “I shouldn’t have overreacted. I’m so very sorry. You must have wondered what kind of shrew your brother had married.”

  Gavin gave her another shy smile. He had a crescent-shaped dimple in his left cheek and his eyes were a startling shade of blue, even indoors. Because he was so much more subdued and never seemed to have cause to complain, he hadn’t drawn a lot of attention to himself. But Rosalyn could see now that he would become a very handsome man. “You had every right to be mad. Fletcher was sorry the minute it happened and told us afterwards that he had deserved your anger. He said he knew better, but was so happy to have us here, he didn’t think about anything else.”

  She went to where he sat and perched on the arm of the chair. “Oh, Gavin, I’m happy you’re here, too. Really, I couldn’t be more pleased, and I want you all to feel comfortable here, for this is your home. I insist on that,” she added, smiling slyly.

  “I think we do—at least Duncan and I do. As for Kerry, well…”

  Rosalyn nodded. “I understand. Can you keep a secret?”

  His eyes brightened. “Sure.”

  “I can’t wait for Miss Blessing to board that ship and be on her way back to America.”

  Gavin chuckled, amused. “She has a way of making Kerry believe every word she says. And that surprises me because Kerry usually has a mind of her own.”

  “I think…I hope that once the chaperone is gone, Kerry will begin to warm up to me a little bit,” Rosalyn murmured.

  “She’s kind of headstrong, I guess, but she’s okay. Before Grandfather died, he taught her to cook. She was only nine. After he died, she somehow kept us fed until we moved in with her relatives.”

  “Where did you learn to read?”

  “In school. Fletcher insisted that we go, even if he wasn’t there. That’s what Grandfather told us, anyway. Duncan and I went, but Kerry didn’t go after her third year. She was busy caring for Grandfather. And us. That didn’t keep her from stealing my books from time to time. I’d find them in her bed, under the bed, and once I even found my History of the Roman Empire in a dry dishpan under a shelf with a cloth over it, like she was hiding it from me.”

  “She had a pretty big burden for a little girl,” Rosalyn mused, her feelings for the child softening.

  “But I don’t think she resented it,” Gavin answered. “She would do anything to make Fletcher happy.”

  She left the boy to his reading and stepped out into the hall. She checked the noon and evening menus with the kitchen staff and then felt the need to lie down. The pregnancy was wearing her out and she had months to go. She thought she might see her husband around somewhere, but everything was quiet and his rooms were empty. Not that she expected him to be lolling about inside, but they had never been as far apart as they were now, with the children here. She had certainly been relegated to fourth on his list of priorities. Not that she blamed him for that. She knew what they had together wasn’t what fairy tales were made of.

  She stepped into her chamber and closed the door behind her. So, then, why was she even thinking about it? It was probably because of her mood swings. One minute she wanted to throw herself into his arms, and the next she wanted to throw something at him. Or throw up. One day all she thought about was the way he had seduced her and made her feel wanted, and the next day she knew it was all probably just because he was a man and had needs and he was legally allowed to bed her.

  She crossed the room and drew the heavy curtains against the afternoon sun. Yawning, she slipped off her shoes and lay down on the bed, drawing a warm comforter over her. Within moments, she was asleep.

  • • •

  Fletcher stepped into the dimly lit room and saw his wife curled up on the bed. He went to the bedside and stared down, studying her. She had smudges of color beneath her eyes, as if she hadn’t been getting enough sleep. Her sweet mouth was open slightly as she breathed, and one hand was curled into a fist, under her chin.

  This was not like her at all. She never slept during the day; she was always busy with one chore or another. And he believed he knew why this had changed. He put the gift box he was carrying on the table and then sank into one of the chairs near the bed.

  After discovering the bunting, he had begun to watch her carefully. At one point, Rosalyn was talking with one of the housemaids. Her hands automatically went to the small of her back as she spoke, as if there were discomfort there. He continued to study her, and saw how little she ate, only picking at her food. He had noticed her paleness, too, and the tiredness in her eyes.

  Since he’d come here, she’d done everything for him. Married him to keep the fortune in the family. Kept his household together. Welcomed his family into her heart as if it were her own. And lastly, carried his heir. Was there anything in this for her, except a child to love?

  Maybe that was enough, considering her tragic history. He wanted it to be more, but how could he do that if all she felt for him was gratitude? And there were days when he felt she didn’t even have much of that for him.

  She stirred and sighed, rolling onto her back, exposing the soft white flesh at her neck.

  He felt his own stirrings and wished he could crawl in beside her and draw her to him, make her want him. But he was so conflicted. Now that Duncan, Gavin, and Kerry were here, were he and Rosalyn to have a companionable relationship and nothing else?

  He couldn’t force her to care for him, much less love him. But he knew there was something in her that made him want to protect her. And maybe he already loved her, he didn’t know. Anything other than familial love wasn’t something he’d had much experience with.

  Geddes had told him about Rosalyn’s need to get the chaperone off the island, so Fletcher had made the arrangements immediately. He, too, had noticed how the woman guarded Kerry, keeping her from getting too close to Rosalyn. Or so it appeared. As much as he loved his sister, he knew she needed a firm yet loving and honest hand. That person was his wife, not some paid-for chaperone.

  Like it or not, Dorcas Blessing would be out of Kerry’s life by the end of the week.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Rosalyn found Dorcas Blessing in the dining room, having a cup of tea. “May I join you?” she asked.

  Dorcas smiled.
“Please do.”

  Rosalyn fixed herself some tea and took a seat across from the chaperone. “I feel that sometimes we haven’t gotten on well together, and I want to apologize for that.”

  Dorcas blinked and studied her cup. “No, it’s not entirely your fault. I’ve become overly protective of Kerry even though I know there is no reason to now. And I do understand that I must leave here for her to begin to grow.” She gave Rosalyn a wan smile. “I’ve been her protector for a long time. It’s hard to let go.”

  “And Kerry would prefer that you stay here indefinitely, I imagine.”

  Dorcas nodded. “I warn you that once she learns I’m leaving, there will be hell to pay, so to speak. I’ll talk to her, though; she’s just at a difficult age. I’ve been in the employ of other families who had daughters Kerry’s age, and somehow, as awful as they seem at the time, they eventually become wonderful young women.”

  Rosalyn smiled at the thought. “I hope you’re right.”

  • • •

  Kerry stormed into the stable, her face pinched with fury. “She made you do it, didn’t she?”

  Fletcher continued grooming one of the horses. Unflappable, he asked, “What are you talking about?”

  Kerry stamped her foot. “You know what I mean. Your wife talked you into getting rid of my friend, my only friend on this stupid island.” Her voice cracked with the threat of tears.

  Fletcher stopped and narrowed his gaze at his baby sister. “It’s time for Miss Blessing to return to America.”

  “Then I want to go with her.” Kerry stood before him, her arms crossed over her chest, her gaze threatening.

  Fletcher had had enough. Setting the grooming brush on a stool, he turned to give her his full attention. “You are going to stay here with your family.”

  “I don’t want to!”

  His own temper rising, he said, “That’s enough, Kerry. That’s quite enough. I don’t know what’s going on here, but we’re all quite tired of the way you’re treating anyone who doesn’t do what you want them to. Miss Blessing is going back to America, and you’re staying here and becoming a part of this family.”

  Tears sprang into Kerry’s eyes. “She doesn’t like me.”

  “Who doesn’t?”

  “You know very well who.”

  “If you mean Rosalyn, you’re wrong. She wants very much to be your friend. You just have to give her a chance, and that will happen once your chaperone is gone. And,” he added, “you’re going to start helping the nurse with her patients once she’s settled into her new office. It will give you something worthwhile to do, along with your studies.”

  Kerry was breathing hard. She appeared to want to say something more, but instead she turned on her heels and stomped out of the stables.

  Fletcher watched her go, wondering how that final decision had entered his mind. Mrs. Begley had taken Geddes’s offer eagerly, so that wasn’t the problem. The problem was that no one had even suggested that Kerry work for her. But the more he thought about it, the better he liked the idea.

  He shook his head. She was only twelve; what kind of trouble would she cause him when she turned sixteen? He shuddered to think.

  • • •

  Rosalyn was returning from one of the neighboring women who had picked some herbs for her, now beside her in the one-horse buggy. She was still thinking about the wonderful news regarding the new clinic. Last week, Fen had been struck speechless when Geddes had made her the offer, which was surprising enough since Fen rarely was found without something to say on a subject.

  Immersed in her thoughts, Rosalyn didn’t see Kerry until the girl jumped out from the scrub bushes along the side of the road, causing the horse to skitter and rear up on its hind legs. Rosalyn had trouble settling him down—in fact, she was thrust sideways and her temple smacked the wooden brace. She briefly saw stars.

  “You did this! You’re to blame!” Kerry screamed.

  Rosalyn shifted upright, drawing on the reins to settle the horse. Fortunately, she knew how to handle this particular animal. “What is it, Kerry? What’s wrong?”

  “Don’t pretend you don’t know. Why don’t you want me to be happy? And don’t think my brother really cares about you. He doesn’t. And I’m not going to work for that witch in her hospital, either. I’m not. I’m not!”

  Kerry stumbled away, bawling and wailing into the wind.

  It wasn’t until Rosalyn was at the castle door and Evan took the rig that she understood the full meaning of Kerry’s rage. Obviously she’d been told that Miss Blessing was leaving, and in Kerry’s mind, it was Rosalyn’s fault. Which was true enough.

  Fletcher met her at the door. “What happened?”

  “Why? What’s wrong?”

  “Your temple is bleeding.”

  She touched it and came away with some blood on her fingertips. “Oh, it’s nothing.” Now was not the time to start blaming Kerry for the near accident, even though it was the girl’s fault.

  He gripped her wrist. “It’s something, dear wife, and I want you to tell me what it is. If you’re going to be traipsing around the countryside carrying my heir, I want you safe.”

  Rosalyn’s heart skipped a beat and she automatically placed a protective hand over her stomach. “How did you know?”

  He gave her a wry glance. “It would have been nice if you had told me, but I figured it out without your help, Rosalyn.”

  “How?”

  “Little things, like you napping during the day, for one thing. And you’ve grown pale; you aren’t eating. Before this, nothing has slowed you down.”

  She flushed and glanced away. “I would have told you, but the children came and things got hectic and, well, I guess there just didn’t seem to be time.” When she looked back at him, she saw a rare tenderness in his gaze.

  “And now you’ve gone and hurt yourself,” he said softly. “What happened?” he asked again.

  She hung her cape on the coatrack. “Really, it was nothing.”

  “Rosalyn, answer me.”

  It sounded like an order.

  “Well, if you must know, Kerry inadvertently startled the horse—”

  “Damn it!” He strode off.

  Rosalyn went after him and grabbed his sleeve to stop him. “Fletcher, please. She resents me enough as it is; she’ll really hate me if she thinks I ran to you and tattled on her.”

  “But she can’t go around scaring horses and almost maiming people.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “I impetuously told her she was going to work for Mrs. Begley. She needs to understand that she’s not so terribly put upon. That there are many others in this world who are far worse off than she is.”

  “You told her she would work for Fen? Does Fen know?” Rosalyn asked, curious.

  Fletcher heaved a sigh. “I hadn’t gotten that far yet. I’ll ask Geddes to do that for me.”

  Rosalyn smiled at him. “I think it’s a brilliant plan. Fen can use the help and she doesn’t put up with children who have tantrums. I think it will do Kerry a world of good.”

  Fletcher returned her smile. “Evan said he heard Kerry call Mrs. Begley a witch.”

  “If she is, she’s a good witch. And maybe she can cast some sort of spell over Kerry and bring back the wonderful little girl I know is in there somewhere.”

  “I hope you’re right, and I haven’t just loosed a twelve-year-old plague upon the island.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Fen stood in the middle of the largest room and studied her surroundings. As much as she wanted to complain about some little thing, she couldn’t. It was the perfect place for her to treat her patients. The doc had left all of his larger items behind, including a wood-burning stove, a treatment table, and a cupboard full of paraphernalia she would go through and sterilize as soon as she had the time.

  Geddes came in with an armload of wood and dumped it into the woodbox by the stove. “So,” he said, “is this going to suit your purposes?”

  She breath
ed in a deep, contented sigh. “Aye, it’s going to be perfect.” She turned and gazed at him. “Was this your idea?”

  Geddes colored. “His Grace and I came to the same conclusion.”

  Fen crossed her arms over her chest and continued to study him. “You’ve never really cared for how close Rosalyn and I are, have you?”

  Geddes frowned. “To be honest, no.”

  “And why not?”

  “I always felt the doctor was the one who should do the healing,” Geddes admitted.

  “Even though he used more outdated and obscure methods of healing that often didn’t work anyway, plus the fact he was in his cups most of the time?”

  Geddes nodded. “I will admit to being a bit stubborn where you were concerned, Mrs. Begley.”

  “Oh, please. My name is Fen, and if you can’t get that personal, call me Fenella.” They watched each other for a moment and then she said, “I’ve always thought you were a very handsome man.”

  He colored again, but said nothing.

  “And what of me, Geddes? What do you think about me?” She was pushing him, but she couldn’t stand it any longer.

  Geddes pulled himself up to his full height and straightened his waistcoat. “I was going to say I hadn’t given it any thought, but that would be a lie.”

  Fen’s heart bumped her ribs.

  “Actually, ever since I found you arguing with MacNab outside his bar a while back, I’ve thought of you quite differently than I had in the past. You aren’t a delicate beauty; you are quite a classic, and I find that I’m drawn to you, short hair, trousers and all.”

  Fen was so pleased she was rendered speechless.

  “I believe you are blushing, Fenella,” Geddes observed.

  She placed her palm against her cheek. “I believe you’re right.”

  The sound of the door opening and the bell tinkling over it broke the spell.

  “Fen? Are you here?”

  Fen rushed toward the entryway. “Rosalyn! How good of you to come.” When His Grace followed her in, Fen was once again mute.