“I appreciate you saying that after I’ve just spanked you.” He sighed. “Now we will go to London and live in the greater world again.”
“I’ll miss Somerton.”
“It will always be here, as our escape. This is where we’ve grown to know one another.”
But not fallen in love.
He didn’t say that. He never said anything about love, and she knew he didn’t love her because of those sighs, and the wistfulness that often crept into his expressions. She adored him so much, even after he spanked her, but he still seemed to wonder if they were a good match. Perhaps it was because she owned a snake…
She didn’t want to cry. Oh, her emotions were all over the place. She was probably just worried about the move to London. She rested her head on his shoulder and tried to enjoy this moment of closeness, however imperfect. It was the worst feeling, trying to figure out when you might win your husband’s heart. Perhaps in London, if she was perfect and elegant enough, he would grow to love her. Hopefully it was just a matter of time.
Chapter Twelve
Business to Address
For Townsend, the trip to London was far easier to manage than the journey to Somerton after their wedding. Now, his wife was no longer a stranger, and his anxiety over his marriage had mellowed to a comfortable resignation.
No, it wasn’t kind to think of it as resignation. He enjoyed Jane very much. He no longer thought of her as plain or unrefined, as he had at their initial introduction, and this time, fortunately, their arrival wasn’t marred by the escape of Mr. Cuddles.
Progress, if not perfection.
Jane seemed very happy with the house in town, as it was a light, airy domicile just a short walk to Hyde Park. The servants had done an excellent job setting up the house for marriage as opposed to bachelorhood. All lingering traces of ladies’ stockings and accessories left behind at various parties had been expunged, likely donated to the poor. In this house, Jane’s rooms adjoined his rather than being situated across a corridor. And, as he had bought it already furnished, the footboards were not ideal for punishment like the ones at Somerton, but he had no doubt he’d manage if the need for a spanking arose.
As they settled into their city routines, he could see Jane was doing all she could to be right and proper in society. She’d ordered new stationary and even practiced refining her handwriting so she could send flawless invitations and calling cards. She studied fashion circulars and read the newspapers to know what was happening around town. Every other day or so, she paid a call to June, or received her sister in the parlor, so she might learn from June’s extensive knowledge of London’s social circles.
Despite these occupations, she still made time for her pets, and the London kitchen staff grew used to them and made sure to give Bouncer his allowance of ear pats. The only deficiency he could see in his wife’s day-to-day happiness was that she missed Somerton’s wild places, its forests and streams, mightily. His town house boasted designer gardens, but they were heavily landscaped and more lawn than forest.
So he took her to the park, which had trees and grass and hundreds of animals; unfortunately, the animals were mostly of the human variety, but Jane made do. As the scions of society strolled about exchanging gossip and catching up on family happenings, his wife studied the most popular ladies’ mannerisms, trying to make herself into one of them. She did not wade into the ponds to study spring’s new duckling broods, nor crash into clusters of trees in search of rabbits and squirrels. Lord knew the effort of self-control. He rewarded her with smiles, with his full attention.
Even when Ophelia was in the park.
Sometimes she came with Wescott, other times with ladies of her acquaintance. Jane watched them along with all the others as Townsend tried very hard not to. For almost two weeks, they were able to avoid the Wescotts through timing and circuitous routes along the busy walkways, until Marlow and Augustine materialized one day and steered them together before Townsend could draw Jane in another direction.
“Look at us all, together again,” said August, too loudly. “It’s been so long.”
“I saw you both yesterday,” Townsend muttered.
“But not Wes.” Marlow’s light words had a note of steel beneath them. “You’ve not seen one another in so long.”
He and Wescott exchanged quick, uncomfortable glares. This man had been his closest friend once, a defender and confidant, a keeper of secrets and a fellow rake in their bachelor conquests. But the last time he’d seen him they’d argued to the point of blows, until they had to be dragged apart from each other. He’d wanted to kill him for stealing Ophelia, not to mention disrespecting and dishonoring her. Even if he’d married her to repair the damage, even if they were in love now…