The Hired Wife

by Cari Hislop

  The blue eyes glinted once again with hope. “I’d give anything…”

  “Give me time to understand my feelings; I don’t know what I feel. If I give into temptation I might ruin everything. And why would you believe me if I said I loved you? How would I know if I loved you? Would I convince myself I loved you out of guilt? How could I ever feel worthy of loving you? The worm is giving into loveless desire. You’d hate me for spoiling your dreams and I’d despise myself. I don’t want you to hate me.”

  “Sweetheart, I could never hate you. I’m sorry I upset you. I’m…”

  “Human? I wish I knew I was in love with you; I’d ask you to continue that kiss behind a locked door.”

  Marshall flushed bright red as he snorted in amused delight. “I believe my wife desires me.” She shrieked with laughter as he swept her off her feet. “I’ll make you a merry deal Wife. Tell me which of my parts you like the best and I won’t throw you in the lake.”

  “That’s bribery!”

  “All’s fair in love and war Sweetheart.”

  “Promise not to throw me in…”

  “You were saying how handsome you think me…?”

  “Promise!”

  “Oh very well, I promise not to throw you in the lake; admit you desire me!”

  “I’ll admit nothing more than I’ve admitted and you’ve promised not to throw me in.”

  She smiled in triumph and tweaked his ear, “All’s fair in love and war!”

  “Impudent Wife, are you going to admit you desire me or not?”

  “No, you’ll have to wait at least…” Mary screamed as air rushed past her cheek whipping her bonnet ribbons in her face and then one side of her was wet and cold as her weight momentarily submerged her husband. He sat up, spat out a mouthful of water and laughed as he surveyed his wet indignant companion. “Marshall Godfrey you promised!”

  Blue eyes gleamed with unholy satisfaction, “I didn’t promise not to fall holding you. So which of my parts do you admire most Mrs Godfrey?” Mary felt wet arms lock around her middle and hold her tight. “I believe I could sit here all day if it wasn’t for that stench of death. I hope you’re not getting hungry, we may be here a while.”

  Mary shivered as she relaxed into the wet embrace. “I fear you have an unhealthy need to be admired my Lord.”

  “Humour me.”

  “It’ll only feed your vanity.”

  “Vanity be damned, I’ve waited all my life to be desired…” As the loud words faded across the water, Mary’s heart melted under the gaze of searing intense longing.

  “…Well?”

  “I like everything…”

  “I knew it!” A deep rumble of laughter warmed her wet ear. “What do you especially like?”

  Mary tipped her head back and watched his face. “When you smile at me…”

  A single masculine eyebrow rose with ecstatic curiosity, “Do you find me particularly handsome when I smile?”

  Mary blushed as Marshall’s hopeful smile hovered closer. “You won’t think me presumptuous?” His answer was a loud snort of derision that echoed over the water. “When you smile at me your eyes shine. I know you don’t love me, but when you smile you look like you love me and it makes me feel…happy.”

  Her husband stared down at her with a stunned expression, “Merry I…” The strange tension in his voice pierced Mary’s heart with inexplicable longing as he leaned over as if to kiss her. “I…” He nervously licked his lips. “…Merry I…I think you’re shivering…” Mary refused to analyse her disappointment. She reluctantly pushed the feeling to the back of her mind onto the growing pile of emotions for the man whose firmly pressed lips suppressed any further revelation.

  Mary watched blue sapphires approach as she anticipated another kiss, but the sound of someone wading into the lake nearby drew her eyes toward the shore line. Mary stared in disbelief as a frail old woman wearing a fashionable empire gown of greyish blue silk waded over to the sitting pair with difficulty and smiled down at them with delight. She muttered something to herself and nodded her head, threatening to dislodge the bone combs securing yards of bluish grey hair coiled like a crown. She clasped her hands to her wrinkled bosom and smiled down at them. “If you two were made of porcelain I’d put you on my mantelpiece. I haven’t seen anything so sweet since…well let me see, how long has it been? Oh it must be ages since I’ve seen such a kiss in the lake…Am I rambling? Bucky says I confuse him when I ramble. Here let me help you up child. Kisses can only warm one so long and then chill sets in. You wouldn’t want to float away like…well you wouldn’t want to catch a chill would you? Red swollen noses have never been romantic, no matter what all the drunken Kings of England might have been told on their wedding nights by frightened brides.

  Personally I find a cold nose against warm skin quite…well never mind, I’m far too old for kisses; pity. Now let me help you up.” A frail ancient hand took hold of Mary’s arm and easily drew her to her feet as if the water could not resist the old woman’s will. “There’s a storm coming.” Mary glanced at the bright blue sky and then at the smiling woman who was clearly mad. “It’s always best to be out of the water in a storm.” The old woman leaned closer to Mary and whispered, “Come stand on the shore my dear and face the steps…no don’t look back!”

  “Why?”

  The watery bluish-grey eyes seemed to shimmer with amusement. “It’ll give your husband an eyeful of your wet curves!” The old woman winked and then pulled her charge clear the waves. “Your sodden dress will give him pleasant dreams. It’s always best to encourage one’s husband. If his mind is full of you he’ll never have the mind to stray, not that your lover would ever do anything so disgraceful the way he feels about you. Stand here a minute…no don’t look back. He’s getting up and ringing out his clothes and… Oh that is so sweet; he’s upset that he couldn’t bring himself to tell you that he loves you. His heart is aching…I can feel it pulsing, the poor man’s in agony… No don’t look back. Men feel weak when overpowered by their finer feelings. It’s a flaw one has to ignore.”

  Mary felt her face catch fire as she ogled the old woman in horror. “Madam, I did not hear my husband say a word! I find it impossible to believe that an old woman could hear what I could not!”

  “Everyone has different hearing dear. Your husband can hear things you can’t, but they’re generally just unpleasant deep noises. Likewise he’d never believe you could hear the sound of a moth’s wings against a window at twilight. Isn’t life odd?”

  “I’m sure you mean well, but…”

  “I can hear anything being said on the lake Mary Godfrey. You shed a tear. You wished for his heart. I’m afraid you can not be given what you already possess; make another wish. Think carefully…”

  “Madam I’m sure you mean well…”

  “But you think me mad? Sometimes I feel…well never mind. Quick! What will you wish for? Only a wish can disperse the grief.”

  “Madam…”

  “He’s coming…what is your heart’s desire?”

  Mary could only think of one thing. “I wish that Marshall was safe from Morley.”

  “You can not have something you already possess. I haven’t reached a third wish in ages…well?”

  “How can Marshal be safe from Morley?”

  The old woman sniffed the breeze blowing off the lake. “What do you think? A wish…you must make a wish. Quick! I don’t have much more time.”

  “I wish…I wish I loved my husband with all my heart.”

  “A fourth wish? I haven’t reached a fourth wish in ages of ages! Try again only this time wish for something you don’t already have. Please!”

  “How can you know if I love my husband with all my heart? I don’t even know if I love him, but I want to love him. He’s good and he makes me laugh. I want to be…”

  “Your heart is in your eyes Mary Godfrey. One doesn’t need magic to see whose name is carved into your heart. Now quick! He’s coming…what do yo
u wish for?”

  “I wish…I wish Marshall could hear perfectly.”

  The old woman sighed as she shook her head. “That is not mine to give Child and if you knew how he’d suffer you wouldn’t ask it. I’ve never had a fifth wish. Isn’t there anything you could wish for yourself that you don’t already have? There must be something!”

  “I can’t think of anything.”

  The old woman shook her head in despair. “Doesn’t anyone wish for a chest of treasure or a pair of invisibility shoes? Doesn’t anyone want a magical feather pen that can write plays that will never be forgotten or a ring that can’t be lost? What’s happened to the world? No one wants to be enchanted anymore. How do I find the will to go on? Since you’re incapable of making a proper wish I shall make one for you.” The old woman spit in her hand and then pressed it to Mary’s forehead. “I wish your heart to hear the call of its beloved mate from near or far and know when he needs you.” The old woman removed her hand and curtseying to Marshall. “My Lord…” She winked at Mary and then turned and rushed back towards the water, her naked feet digging into the shore before skipping away down the shore line like a five year old. Mary was still watching the old woman when Marshall scooped her into his arms and started to carry her up the hill.

  He sniffed in irritation. “She must be related to Buckingham. My sister’s children will all end up chained in the attic.”

  “At least Bucky has a large attic.” His stern expression made her think of a painted papier-mâché mask. She watched his face as she lightly caressed his wet chest. The mask slipped revealing tormented sapphires. Did he did love her? She could feel his heart beat faster under her hand as if it couldn’t keep its secret. Was she in love with her husband? Her heart purred a reply to the one covered by masculine skin. “Stop tickling me. If I drop you we’ll both be done for! What’s so funny? Why did that old hag touch your face?”

  “She was wishing me good fortune.”

  Marshall snorted in contempt. “If you need anyone to wish you good fortune all you have to do is ask and I’ll wax lyrical.”

  “Ah, but you’d never claim to be the lady of the lake!”

  “Did that lunatic say she was the lady in the lake? This place is Bedlam! I don’t know why Emily wants to marry a lunatic and move into an asylum, but as you say it is big.”

  “She gave me a wish.”

  He paused on the steps and glanced down. “What sort of wish? Did you wish me to fall in love with you?”

  “She said it was an invalid wish because you’re already in love with me.”

  The arms holding her appeared to momentarily quiver. “Did she?”

  “Yes so I had to choose another wish, but it was invalid as well. Then another…she gave up and wished me to always know when you need me. Wasn’t that sweet?”

  “I wouldn’t pay much attention to wandering lunatics.”

  “Perhaps not…but what if I start appearing every time you need me?”

  “I’ll think you highly intuitive. Put your arm around my neck.”

  Her hand briefly rested on warm wet skin. She silently obeyed, hoping the old lady was right. “I’m hungry. Are we late for lunch?”

  “We will be if you keep squirming and we tumble down the hill.”

  “Do I get another kiss before lunch?”

  “No.”

  “Not even a quick peck?”

  “No.”

  “Not even on the cheek?”

  “No.”

  “Have I done something to upset you?”

  “No.” After reaching the top of the hill, they were half way to the front door when a piercing scream echoed over the water making Mary shiver with fright. “What’s the matter?”

  “I heard a scream; I think it was a woman.”

  “This place gets stranger by the hour. I can’t wait to take you home where you’ll be safe. Don’t leave my sight! I couldn’t bear…just don’t. I don’t trust the resident lunatics any more than Morley or his mother. Don’t drink or eat anything that old hag touches. That look on her face…she looked capable of anything.”

  Chapter 22

  Lord Buckingham rested his arm on the back of the secluded garden bench where it brushed against the most perfect female shoulders ever created. Crossing his stretched out legs he smiled at the woman shielding her blushes from the sun with a red parasol. He’d looked into her eyes and his heart had been changed as if by magic. Emily Godfrey made his chest ache in the most pleasurable manner. He couldn’t imagine sharing his life with any other woman. He’d found his own version of perfection and was quite pleased with his good fortune.

  They hadn’t spoken a word for nearly an hour. They’d merely sat there smiling at each other; conversing without words. She’d look away. She’d meet his eyes and smile. She’d glance at his person and blush then look away. It was a pleasant routine he hoped would last forever. He could see by the position of the sun that it was noon and luncheon would soon be served, but he didn’t care. He wasn’t hungry, but if his stomach could gain his attention they still had the remains of their early morning picnic. He’d snuck into the kitchen made a basket and then fetched his willing companion. He’d meant to take her to the Chinese folly to view the lake at noon, but who needed a pastoral scene when beauty sat smiling at him, making his insides hum with pleasure? Her eyes returned to his face giving him a reason to smile. “You should wear more red. Seeing the colour near your lovely face does pleasant things to my blood.”

  His companion blushed with pleasure as she glanced into his eyes. “Marshall thinks red is unseemly.”

  “If God clothed the roses in red, how could it be unseemly on you?”

  “He means well, but I’d love to have a red dress.”

  “Will you marry me and let me buy you a hundred red dresses? I promise they’ll all be different. I’ll order ten special linen presses to house them and one hundred pairs of red slippers…one hundred pairs of white silk stockings with red clocks…two hundred garter ribbons…”

  “Oh Bucky…” His unspoken wish that she’d scoot closer came true as her parasol suddenly enveloped both their heads partitioning them off from the world. “…you’re not asking me to marry you because you’re the kindest man ever born and you know I really, really want to marry you and you wouldn’t want to hurt my feelings; are you?”

  “I’m being totally selfish I assure you! I want to marry you because the thought of having to put you in another man’s carriage and watch you drive away is causing the most unpleasant agony. Without you my table is a pointless piece of wood. Without you my clocks chime eternally unpleasant hours. I find it hard to believe there would be any magic in my life without you. I adore you…will you be my Lady?”

  She leaned into his arms as she clutched her parasol with both hands. “You’re the kindest, funniest most charming man in the world and I love you!”

  “I’m spellbound…” He gently took her in his arms and kissed her forehead. “…at the thought of calling you my Lady. I’ll have to get your brother’s permission…”

  “Oh Bucky, you know he’s so in love he’d probably be relieved if we eloped…will we?”

  “That’s a tempting idea. We’re closer to Scotland than London and I wouldn’t have to suffer endless weeks without you. We could pretend we’re going for a drive with a large picnic basket full of necessaries.”