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Matilda nodded.
He tweaked her chin. “You were so scared of what our marriage might entail. I hope you see now that your fears were unfounded and you belong with me.”
“Yes, William.” She turned away. “I know what you want from me.”
A shiver raced over William’s skin at the flat quality of her response. He tried to catch her eye, but she kept fiddling with other things. “Maria Chudleigh showed her face again. She asked after you particularly.”
Matilda turned away. “Oh, what did you tell her?”
Something subtle had changed since they’d become intimate, but couldn’t work out why. He had wondered perhaps if his nature was driving a wedge between them. He’d given her everything he was. His name. His time. His attention. His wealth.
“I told her that when I returned to our home I expected the nursery to be ready. She almost fainted at that suggestion. You would have laughed about it later with me.” He placed one hand on Matilda’s shoulder and she jumped. “Are you all right?”
“I am not increasing,” Matilda whispered as she resumed her work, tidying pots and shovels away into the workbench he’d had made especially for her use.
“Good. I confess to being entirely selfish. I want you all to myself for now.”
She said nothing to that. “Did you see your friends too?”
“Yes, Mitchell and Cobb. We had dinner and drinks at the club the first night I was away. Both send their regards.”
She nodded, but then her face fell. “You went to the club?”
“Yes. Grandfather pulled some strings and arranged a membership at White’s.”
Her breath whooshed out of her lungs suddenly. She rubbed her temple. “Are you happy with what I’ve done with the house so far? Do you approve?”
“What I have seen of it, yes.” He pursed his lips, wondering what he’d done. “Now you must come with me. You have a visitor waiting to meet you.”
She glanced down at her gown. “I’m not dressed for guests.”
“You are perfect, as always, for this. Vicar will approve of my urgency and will not care what gown you are wearing.”
She stared at him for a very long time. “I did not know you’d had time to attend services here too.”
“Not that kind of vicar.” He kissed her cheek. “Come and meet him.”
William took her hand and brought her toward the front door. Before they had reached their destination, however, he heard whimpering. “Ah, Vicar has awakened.”
The basket wobbled wildly.
“What is that?”
“Our dog. He was old enough to come home to you.”
Matilda knelt on the ground and unlatched the heavy wicker basket. The dog, who’d thankfully slept most of the journey, burst out and proceeded to jump all over Matilda as if he remembered meeting her before.
All of a sudden, Matilda burst out crying and tried to hide her emotions from him. She hugged the squirming animal tightly to her chest. “He’s just as I remember him, but why call him Vicar?”
“You said his little white spot at his throat reminded you of a catholic priest’s robes. If you don’t care for the name, it can be changed.” William knelt at her side and patted the dog too. “He’s had some training, but a little more would be a good idea.”
“I will. I’ll look after him and you’ll never know he’s here, I promise.”
Her promise startled him. “Why would I not want to know he’s here? That was the point of having a dog again. We’ll both have company.”
“But you like your peace.”