Vicar's Daughter to Viscount's Lady (Transformation of the Shelley Sisters 2)

He is avoiding it now. He only spoke of it before because he lost control of his temper. Now he is going to try and make me think he can forget. But there was no point in angering him again, not after that perfect lovemaking. She made her voice light. ‘Liar. You told me I was not.’

‘I was wrong. You are graceful and charming and pretty always, but when you are on fire in my arms you are beyond beautiful, every inch of you.’

And he has explored every inch, there cannot be anywhere his mouth and hands have not been.

‘I will be fat soon,’ she lamented. ‘My waist is thickening already. And look.’ She rolled on to her back and ran her hand over the curve of her belly. Oh Lord, of all the stupid things to say.

‘You are blooming,’ he contradicted her, pleasantly enough, but the intimacy that had briefly blossomed was gone again.

Bella wriggled up against the pillows and pulled the crumpled bedspread around her. There seemed to be nothing to do but change the subject. ‘Tell me about the bishop.’

‘He was very understanding. Tutted a bit over the baby, but gave me no lectures. And he was not surprised when I told him about your father’s mental state; he had thought his letter intemperate considering your age. He will say nothing to your father’s diocese and will write back to him to say the marriage is legal and has his approval.’

Bella let out a long breath. Thank goodness. The thought of the scandal and the embarrassment to Elliott if the bishop had not been sympathetic had been keeping her awake at night. If only her father would come round and accept this marriage. She did not hope for his for-giveness, just his indifference.

‘Then I did your shopping,’ Elliott continued, playing with her hair.

‘I asked for fabric swatches, not underwear and hats,’ she said, letting her fingertips trail down his ribs. ‘But they are very lovely. Thank you.’

‘My pleasure. And what have you been doing?’ There was that constraint again; he was avoiding telling her something.

‘Exploring, getting to know the staff and my way around. I visited the gardens. Elliott, did you know Rafe dismissed the assistant gardeners who used to help with the ornamental work? Old Johnson says they have only been able to get labouring jobs and he has had to grass over most of the flowerbeds. Can we afford to employ them again?’

‘If you want.’ He was still sprawled against the pillows, looking up at her. ‘And what else did you do?’

‘I visited the Dower House and I went to church on Sunday—Matins. That was when Daniel arrived. He said he saw you in Worcester so he came to escort me in your stead.’ There it was again, that shuttered look. ‘Elliott, what is it you are not telling me?’

?

??You can read me like a book, it seems. I went to the castle and I looked at the Army List. Arabella, there is no gentle way to say this—your brother-in-law, Lieutenant James Halgate, is dead, killed at Vittoria in August 1812.’

‘James? Oh, no.’ James had been so alive, so vivid, so dashing, it was hard to believe. ‘But that is almost two years ago. Where is Meg now?’ Bella stared at him as though he could conjure the answer out of thin air.

‘I am sorry, I have no idea. I asked the militia commander who we should contact in London to find out about the widow’s pension, so we can do that. We will find her. And your other sister.’ Elliott pulled her to him in a hard hug. ‘I promise.’

‘Thank you. You are so kind to me,’ she murmured against his shoulder, grieving for James, aching for Meg.

‘You are my wife, Arabella,’ Elliott said. ‘Of course I will help. Your sisters are family now.’

Not, I love you Arabella, I will do anything for you. Oh, Elliott. So kind, so supportive to his unasked-for, inconvenient, wife and the child he does not want.

‘I am so happy that Elliott has come back here to live,’ Anne Baynton said, as they braced themselves against the jolting of the carriage. The two women had decided upon a day in Worcester shopping while their husbands looked at woodland and then, Bella suspected, spent the rest of the time enjoying a holiday from domestic life. Goodness only knew, Elliott deserved one, she thought.

Bella smiled back. It was good to have a friend, one that she would be able to confide in and to share the joy of her baby with. Nothing and nobody could replace Meg and Lina, but she had liked and trusted Anne from the start. ‘I thought that Elliott did not come here often since he left to go to university,’ she ventured.

‘He did not.’ Anne pursed her lips. ‘He and John knew each other as boys, but when Rafe inherited we only saw Elliott in London during the Season or when we visited Fosse Warren.’

‘You knew Rafe, of course.’

‘As much as we cared to.’ Now Anne’s expression was positively disapproving. ‘As neighbours, merely. I must confess to not liking his way of life.’

Anne had already confided that she was with child again. Bella plucked up her courage. ‘May I tell you a secret?’

‘How secret?’ Anne asked, her smile reappearing.

‘You may tell Mr Baynton, but that is all.’

‘Very well, my lips are sealed, but tell me at once, I cannot wait.’ Anne leaned forwards, eyes sparkling.