The Convenient Felstone Marriage (Whitby Weddings 1)

Excitedly, she followed him up the staircase and along a wide corridor, legs trembling with anticipation as he opened a door near the end and then stood aside to let her pass. Tentatively, she peered around the door frame, closing her eyes in disbelief and then opening them wide with a gasp of delight. It was beautiful. Large and airy, bathed in a soft golden glow as rays of sunlight streamed in through an expanse of bright white-net curtains, making the whole room seem to radiate light and warmth.

She wandered inside slowly, hardly daring to breathe in case it broke the spell, twirling around on the spot with a sense of wonderment. This was more, far more than she’d ever expected. Definitely more than she deserved...

She pushed the thought away, refusing to let it spoil the joy of the moment, trailing a hand over the elegant furniture—a large four-poster bed, a chest of drawers, a vanity table with a three-sided mirror and a large mahogany wardrobe, standing open to reveal her dresses already hanging inside. The modest chest of belongings she’d brought with her on the train must have been sent ahead and unpacked, though her sensible grey clothing looked somewhat incongruous in their new environment.

‘It’s wonderful.’ She found her voice at last, looking back over her shoulder to where Robert was still standing in the doorway, one shoulder propped against the frame. ‘I don’t know what to say.’

‘I’m glad you like it.’ His expression was as inscrutable as ever.

‘How could I not?’ Her gaze fell on a door in the corner. ‘What’s through there?’

‘That leads to my room, though they’re quite separate, I assure you. You can lock the door from your side if you wish.’

‘I’m sure there’s no need.’ Her cheeks flushed self-consciously. Whilst that thought was comforting, she didn’t want to offend him by doing so, still less to cause gossip amongst the servants.

‘There isn’t. This is your room, Ianthe, I won’t bother you in here.’

‘Oh.’ She cast her eyes downwards. Bother her? She didn’t know how to respond to that.

‘You did well before—meeting everyone, I mean. They liked you.’

‘Do you think so?’

‘I wouldn’t say it otherwise.’ He pushed himself up off the door frame, prowling slowly towards her. ‘Though I’m afraid there might still be gossip.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘About how quickly we were married.’

She frowned. ‘But I thought you told people we had a long-distance courtship?’

‘I did, but my staff know more about my business than most people. They know my plans altered. Fortunately, they’re also discreet.’

‘Then I don’t understand. What would they talk about?’

Pale eyes flashed with something like amusement. ‘Generally, when couples rush into marriage, it’s because they don’t wish the reason to be too obvious.’

‘What reason?’

He stopped an arm’s length away. ‘There’s usually a baby involved.’

‘You mean your staff think I’m pregnant?’ She drew a shocked intake of breath.

‘It’s a natural assumption, I’m afraid, given the circumstances. You can’t really blame them.’

‘I most certainly can!’

‘Well, we can put that rumour to rest soon enough. Your appearance today might have done it already. You’re too thin, Ianthe. Have you been ill?’

‘No.’ She crossed her arms defensively. Admittedly she’d lost a little weight over the past few months, but she hadn’t thought it was noticeable. Now Robert looked as if he were determined to find out the reason why.

She changed the subject adroitly. ‘Speaking of children, I thought your ward would be at the ceremony?’

His face seemed to shut down at once. ‘I’m afraid ten-year-old boys aren’t particularly interested in weddings. I told him it wasn’t necessary to attend.’

‘Will I see him at dinner, then? I’d like to meet my new pupil. He was the one subject Kitty didn’t seem to know anything about.’

‘Kitty hasn’t met him. What do you want to know?’