by Rebecca King
“I am the liar!” Her eyes were coldly furious.
“There is only one woman in this room whom I find desirable, and that is my wife,” Aidan countered. “I am not prepared to argue with you over it. That is the fact of the matter; take it or leave it, but I caution you about casting aspersions on my wife from now on. If you do, I shall make sure that the full weight of the law is afforded to you for administering medication to me that I strictly forbade you from giving me. I will make certain that the entirety of the ton know it.”
“I am not here to do what you want,” Edwards protested a little weakly.
“I am – was – the patient. What I want should always count for something,” Aidan countered.
“You wanted me once.”
Aidan wondered if she was in control of all of her faculties. She certainly seemed to be living in some sort of fantasy world that was far removed from reality.
“I am not prepared to argue with you a moment longer,” Aidan declared dismissively.
“What am I to do if I am with child?” She asked after a moment’s hesitation.
The triumphant look she threw at those present died rapidly when Aidan snorted.
“Find the father and force him to marry you but it most certainly isn’t me. Not only would I never be stupid enough to saddle myself with such a harridan as a wife, but I wasn’t capable of engaging in sexual relations with you.”
Aidan stopped when he realised just how close he had come to causing a real scandal. He threw a wary look at Petal’s father but knew from the man’s face that he suspected what had happened already, and that was the reason for the rushed marriage. He was at least well-mannered enough not to raise the issue now that Aidan had made an honest woman out of his daughter.
“Well, you certainly seem fine and dandy to me,” Edwards replied sarcastically. “You are only ignoring what we shared this morning because this stupid creature has connived to get you to marry her; if the wedding is even real.”
“We don’t have to explain anything to you,” Jerry informed her. “The wedding is real alright. I witnessed it myself, and so did Mrs Kempton and Rollo. Now, I do believe my brother has made it perfectly clear you are no longer welcome in this house. You have five minutes to collect your belongings. I will escort you over to the dowager’s house where you can remain until your transportation home is arranged. Your services are no longer required here, although I have to question if they were ever needed at all.”
“They weren’t. She was foisted upon me,” Aidan reported with a pointed stare at his mother. “Petal has been more of help to me than the nurse ever has.”
“Yes, and we all know what kind of bedside services she has been giving you.”
“Get out,” Aidan snarled. “Get out of this house this instant.”
“I am afraid that you have, once again, overstepped the boundaries of manners and respect in this house. Your connections, and money, are no excuse for your rudeness or arrogance, especially while you reside in somebody else’s house,” Petal declared coldly but firmly. She had no idea where this was coming from but felt it needed to be said.
Aware that everyone was watching her, she moved to stand beside her husband. Her confidence was bolstered by the supportive hand he rested in her waist. With her husband’s support, she levelled a hard glare on Edwards.
“I find you ill-bred, offensive, with very little respect for honesty, decency, or integrity. This is my home now. While I am lady of the manor, I shall not accept any such abhorrent behaviour from any of our guests. Whatever you believe is of little consequence. What goes on in this house is a private, family matter. I can assure you that my husband never laid a hand on you. If you refuse to accept that then it is your problem. He is, however, a married man now, so I would caution you to consider the consequences to yourself should you wish to make your fabricated alliance known to anybody outside of this house. Seeing as you find so much at Wenland Lodge disagreeable, I think you would be much happier residing in the dowager’s house and suggest you now go and pack your belongings.”
Silence settled over the room for a moment.
“Well said,” Aidan murmured with quiet pride.
Petal glanced at the staff on the opposite side of the room. Rollo looked a little stunned. Mrs Kempton appeared to be lost in thought, and Aggy just completely confused.
Aidan was so incredibly proud of her. He threw a rueful look at his brother, and saw nothing but admiration on Jerry’s face. They were both incredibly pleased she had, most unreservedly, made her mark upon the house. Everyone now could not question her position within the household, and hope to remain.
They all watched Edwards stand up. She stared at Petal, and opened her mouth to speak, but chose not to say anything. Instead, she stalked out of the room without saying a word.
“What an odious creature,” Mrs Kempton murmured once she had gone. “Well, I think a nice cup of tea is in order. Aggy? Come and help me.”
Petal closed her eyes and willed herself to remain calm. She was still undecided whether anything had happened between her husband and the nurse, and it was doubt that unnerved her more than the nurse. Edwards had just seemed so adamant that they had been intimate.
She set her doubts to one side to consider later when her father stepped forward.
“Well, if this is what Petal wants then it is fine with me. I just hope you know what you are letting yourself in for,” he declared teasingly as he shook Aidan’s hand.
“Father,” Petal chided ruefully. She shook her head and walked into her father’s open arms. “You are incorrigible.”
“Well, that is something your husband needs to keep in mind. It will stand him in good stead for the future if he remembers that runs in the family,” he teased and kissed her forehead before he released her. “Well, I must be off. I have a farm to run. Come and see me when you can, Petal. I have a few things of your mothers she wanted me to give you when you married.”
He nodded politely at the dowager, but made no attempt to speak to the woman. Not only did the look on her face warn against it, but he had nothing to say to the woman. As far as he was concerned, he had seen enough to know that Aidan’s husband adored his new wife, and that was alright in his book. The old bat on the chair could think what she liked. Having seen for himself how effectively Petal had dealt with the other woman, he suspected she was capable of holding her own amongst them.
Petal nodded and walked with him into the hallway. Once there, though, he turned toward the back of the house rather than the front.
“You need to start to come in through the front door,” Aidan assured him from the doorway. “You are family now.”
“Aye, but my horse is around the back,” the farmer replied with an unrepentant grin. “Besides, Mrs Kempton has made a lovely apple cake. I am hoping she will take pity on me and let me take a slice home for my tea.”
Aidan grinned at him. “She didn’t tell me about that. Ask her to send some to us, will you? Apple cake is my favourite.”
Jerry smothered his laughter. He also felt that it was the time to take his leave and allow the married couple to adjust to their new arrangement. He glanced at his mother, who was staring blankly at a spot on the carpet, deep in thought.
“Mother?” he prompted when she didn’t appear to notice him next to her.
She jumped in alarm and looked up at him blankly.
“I will escort you and Edwards home. I think Aidan needs to rest now. Let’s go.”
When she didn’t immediately move, he grasped her elbow and guided her reluctant form toward the door. Thankfully, she remained silent as she left but, at the doorway, she paused to look back. Everyone waited with bated breath to hear what she had to say. Rather than speak, she quietly left the house.
Aidan looked cautiously at Jerry, who shrugged and followed her.
“Do you think she is angry?” Petal asked once the door was shut.
“I have no idea but, do you know something? I don�
��t really care,” Aidan declared firmly. “Not after all the scheming she has done. I am sure that once the shock has worn off she will be back. Until then, there is something we need to do.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him what happened next. Were they to sit at home and wait for the Dowager to re-appear? It was all a little odd. Petal wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do. A part of her felt as though she should be going to the scullery to help Aggy fold some sheets or something, but that wasn’t her world anymore. Her world belonged beside Aidan.
“I didn’t touch her, Petal,” Aidan warned. Now that they were alone they could discuss what was really troubling them.
Petal looked at him in a silent plea. “I just don’t know what to think.”
“She was fully dressed, darling. I was in my night-rail. How could you think I could do that to you after what we shared? How could you think it meant so little to me?” He tugged her unprotestingly into his arms. “We made love three times, Petal, you and me; three times. Believe me, when I tell you that it takes time for a man to recover. In my physical state, it takes me longer because I still haven’t regained my full strength. I couldn’t possibly have been able to show her the same attention that I showed you. My body is just not capable of it. I couldn’t possibly have touched her. Not only because I seriously don’t like the woman, but there are no drugs available that would make that creature appealing to me. Besides, after what you and I shared, you have completely ruined me for any other woman. I am afraid that is partly why I had to secure you as my wife. Nobody else will do I am afraid. It has to be you, and only you.”
She blushed prettily but inwardly heaved a huge sigh of relief.
“I am sorry for not believing you,” she whispered.
“Just trust me, that’s all I ask,” he pleaded, and kissed the back of her hand when she nodded and smiled at him.
She did trust him; she had to. Aidan was her husband now.
“You will get used to it in time,” Aidan assured his new bride.
“How do you do that?” she demanded in surprise.
“How do I do what?”
“How do you always seem to know what I am thinking?”
This wasn’t the first time it had happened either. It was a little perplexing.
“It is easy,” Aidan grinned. “Try to see if you can guess what I am thinking.”
She studied his smile and felt her own lips curve in response to the teasing look on his face.
“I dread to think,” she murmured ruefully. “Mrs Kempton’s apple cake, probably.”
“Wrong,” he replied huskily. “Guess again.”
Petal shook her head and sighed. It was going to be a very long day indeed if they were going to go on like this. She hadn’t got a clue what that twinkle in his eye was all about – or did she?
She peered at him a little more closely. Her eyes widened, and she watched his smile widen.
“Aidan, it is the middle of the afternoon,” she protested, glancing around the hallway in case any of the staff were nearby.
“It was the middle of the afternoon earlier and that didn’t stop us. It is early evening now,” he pointed out with a nod to the grandfather clock beside them. “Besides, there is one critical thing we need to do to make sure that the marriage is legitimate, and cannot ever be questioned.”
“What’s that?”
“Consummation,” he whispered leaving forward for a very thorough kiss.
“It will be dinner time soon. Mrs Kempton won’t like us being late.”
Aidan laughed. “I am sure Mrs Kempton will understand. This is our wedding night. She had a wedding night of her own once, you know. Besides, you don’t have to report to her now. She has to report to you.”
The atmosphere shifted; and lifted the hairs on the back of her neck. All of their worries suddenly faded into insignificance.
Petal felt a wild flurry of anticipation sweep through her at the look in her husband’s eye, and couldn’t think of a single objection. She knew immediately what he wanted and turned toward the stairs.
“Consummation, you say?” she murmured seductively.
Her entire being melted at the intent look on his face.
“Where are you going?” he asked when she turned around and began to walk up the stairs.
She looked at him over her shoulder.
“To bed,” she replied with a smile, and waited for him to catch up.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
For the next several days, while Aidan and Petal were blissfully happy, their joy was slightly dampened by the looming spectre of the dowager, who had yet to return.
Aidan had continued to regain his strength at a rapid pace; to the point that he was now accompanying his wife on walks around the garden. With each day that passed the distance they covered had increased until he had now decided to venture out on his first horse ride for three months.
“Are you sure you should be doing this?” Petal asked doubtfully when she saw the size of the mount the groom brought round from the stables.
She eyed the horse’s huge feet; they were the size of the dinner plates Mrs Kempton put out at meal times.
“I will be fine. I am not going to go far,” Aidan assured her, delighted by her concern for him.
He didn’t think he would ever lose the joy he felt at being married to her. It brought far more freedoms than he had ever anticipated and, in particular, one very special friend whom he adored having by his side.
“I will make sure he doesn’t start jumping hedges and the like,” Jerry added with a rueful look at his brother.
Aidan studied the distance between the stirrup and his booted foot. This was the first time he had put his legs under such pressure. It would be interesting to see if he could even manage to climb up. With the help of the mounting step, it turned out to be considerably easier than he had thought. His legs protested a bit at being bent at an angle for the stirrups, but it was manageable, and he beamed with delight when he settled into the saddle. It was fabulous just to be outside for a while.
To be able to accomplish a horse ride today was a mammoth task that just emphasised how invaluable Petal’s tender loving care had been to his recovery.
Aidan sighed with relief and picked up the reins, eager to get going. While he adored his wife, he had missed being able to ride and was determined to see as much of the estate as he could.
“I will see you later,” Petal murmured, unable to keep her worry off her face.
“Get some rest, I will be back soon.”
Together, he and Jerry turned their horses down the driveway. He hadn’t mentioned it to Petal for fear of upsetting her, but he intended to use some time alone with his brother to discuss why the dowager had been so quiet.
Over the past several days, he had been half expecting the aged harridan to turn up at his door to belittle his wife and denounce the wedding. It was unnerving that so far, nothing untoward had happened.
“You have a frown on your face. Do you want to go back?” Jerry asked in concern.
“No, I am alright. I am just mulling over whether I should pay the dowager a visit, or leave well alone.”
“I would leave well alone if I were you,” Jerry advised him.
“Is she at home?” Aidan looked at his brother and sensed there was something she wasn’t telling him.
“Yes, she is, but is accommodating Edwards. If you go there, Edwards is most likely to see it as some sort of yen to see her. It is best you stay away.”
“How did the dowager take the news?” Aidan knew from the way Jerry looked at him that she was less than pleased.
“Let’s just say that she is stunned. Having said that, not once did she raise any issue with Petal being a servant. She is angry that her plans for you to marry her choice of bride have been thwarted.” Jerry advised him ruefully. “Strangely, she was also angry that she wasn’t invited to the wedding.”
Aidan shook his head. “There is no comparison between my wif
e and Edwards. God, I shudder to think what my existence would have been like if I had been lumbered with Edwards.”
“Like mine was,” Jerry drawled knowingly.
Aidan snorted and had to agree with him.
Instinctively, his thoughts turned toward his wife, Petal, as they usually did whenever they were briefly apart.
The past several days had reinforced his belief that she was indeed the woman for him. Although she was still unsure of her position in the household and still uncomfortable at times when they were alone, their relationship just grew stronger and stronger. She had proven to be lively, enthusiastic, charming to talk to, and had a rapier wit that frequently had him in gales of laughter. It was a bit of wrench to have to leave her, even to go on a horse ride.
It was only when they were turning out of the driveway that he realised he hadn’t asked her what she was going to do while he was away.
“You are thinking about her again,” Jerry accused gently.
Aidan looked at him and grinned, but made no attempt to deny it.
“God, you really love her, don’t you?”
“I wouldn’t have married her if I didn’t.”
“She will make you a good wife,” Jerry said frankly.
“I know. There are a few things to iron out but, all in all, I think things will turn out rather nicely.”
“Good, then how about we go for a little trot to see how your legs will hold up.”
Aidan grinned as he spotted the old oak tree on the horizon they used to race to as children and nudged his horse into a slow trot.
Petal watched them go and shook her head in disgust. They had gone no further than a few hundred yards before the need to race had taken over them both.
