Page 24

G ood lord, William! Don’t you think ten pounds of candy each is enough for two little girls?” Elizabeth shook her head in amusement.

William turned his severe frown on her, but she caught the glimmer of mischief in his eyes.“We have to stock up. I don’t know when I’ll get back to town.”

She chuckled.He used that excuse in every clothing, book, jewelry, toy, and candy shop they had entered in the last four days.If he really didn’t come to town that often, she figured he couldn’t spend himself into the ground. To her, the extravagance seemed almost obscene.

“Well you better stock up on toothbrushes and baking soda to wash their teeth too.”

“Well, of course, I will.”

“Georgiana’s going to have kittens when she sees all this,” she said to herself.

“What’s your favorite chocolate, Elizabeth?” he called from the glass counter a few feet away.

“Hmm?”

“Your favorite?”

“Oh, I don’t need any.”

“Of course, you don’t need any—what do you like ?”

“Just a variety, I guess.”She had a favorite—caramels—but a variety would suit all her sisters: Jane liked creams; Mary favored mints; Kitty liked pecan nut clusters, and Lydia liked anything fruity.

William had the confectioner assemble a foil box full of various chocolates and joined her near the door.

They exited the shop, walking slowly up Church Street, before ducking into a restaurant for a meat and three buffet lunch.

“Will you be glad to get back to Meryton?” he asked, smiling at her from across the table.

She nodded.

“It will be good to settle in and begin to make Pemberley your home. Now remember, Mrs. Reynolds is efficient, and she’s used to having her own way, but if there’s something you want to change, you have my support.Don’t be afraid to tell her so.”

Elizabeth shrugged and waved him off. “Oh, I’m sure the house is just fine the way it is.”

He frowned, and she worried she had upset him somehow. But then, the shadow of a smile played across his lips.

“How about you? Will you be glad to get home and see the girls? And rot their teeth with candy?”

He gave her a look that said he knew she was teasing, but then his expression grew more tender, the way it often did when he talked about Maggie and Ruth. “Yes, I’ve missed them, and Gigi too.”

Her heart warmed at his obvious affection. It bode well for their own children, whenever they came.A father’s devotion and attention was important for raising them healthy and happy.

Elizabeth wondered, not for the first time, what had happened to the girls’ father.It was as if he vanished into the mist. The easy camaraderie she and her husband had enjoyed since coming to Nashville gave her the nerve to ask.

“William?”

“Hmm?” His voice was muffled through a mouthful of mashed potatoes and fried pork tenderloin.

“What happened to Georgiana’s husband?”

He froze in mid-bite and looked at her with a flash of—was it fear? And what on earth did the powerful man in front of her have to be afraid of?

As suddenly as it had appeared, the look was gone, replaced by a dark, forbidding frown. He sat up straight and slowly swallowed the food he was eating.

“Why would you ask me that?”

She met his gaze.“Georgiana and the girls are my family now. Don’t you think I should know?”

“No, I don’t.”

Startled and confused at the vehemence in his voice, she wondered if perhaps it was a painful memory.

“Did he die?”She reached across the table, hand outstretched to comfort him on his loss, but he just stared at her.

After a long minute, he replied.“No, he did not.”

She withdrew her hand. “Why doesn’t anyone talk about him?”

“He is not to be mentioned in my house. Ever. Do you understand me, Elizabeth?”

She stared at him, open-mouthed.

“I will not subject Georgiana to the pain of remembering what happened, and under no circumstances are you to discuss this with the girls. Even if they ask you, which I doubt, do not say anything, make any speculation, or even have them ask their mother. Send them to me. I will take care of it.”

His eyes focused over her shoulder, obviously seeing something or someone from the past. “Ruth was too young to remember, but Maggie may have some…”

He drifted off for a few minutes before returning to the present and skewering Elizabeth with a look. It felt as if the temperature in the room actually dropped several degrees.

“Do not ever mention it again. I forbid it.” He sat back and pushed his plate from the edge of the table.“When you finish your lunch, we’ll head back to the hotel to pack. We need to leave for Meryton by three o’clock. We’re expected at Pemberley for supper.”

Elizabeth took a bite of her lunch, but it tasted like sawdust in her mouth.“I’m finished,” she replied, her stomach churning with shock and anger.

Why won’t he just tell me what I want to know?What is he afraid I will find out? Why should he suddenly grow a conscience and some feelings, just because we married?

The sting of being berated like a child was almost too much to take.Yet she understood perfectly that she had agreed to this life, and that she was dependent on his good will. She had chosen to marry him, even knowing how he was.

But did I truly know what he was? What he is? I don’t know why I thought he had changed.

She sat back and pushed her plate away as he had, crossing her arms.

William shifted his gaze over to his new wife. She was turned away from him, looking steadfastly out the passenger side window as if the passing trees and fields fascinated her. He groaned inwardly.

Just when he thought they were beginning to understand each other…this.

A rapid deterioration of their newfound marital felicity had ensued since lunch. All the little things that bothered him came to mind, like the unequal affection between them and his unease about her placid acceptance of lovemaking.

It concerned him how little interest Elizabeth seemed to have in her new home, as if she weren’t thinking of it as permanent.

He and Mrs. Reynolds joked about how things would change once he married.

He half-wondered if Elizabeth might be like Caroline Bingley and completely redecorate the house, but she hadn’t even mentioned the house.

So much for the gossips who thought she married me for my money. I can’t even get her to think about changing the kitchen curtains.

He knew he upset her earlier with his harsh words.

She was perfectly polite after they returned to the hotel, but the beautiful smiles, the ones that set his blood ablaze, were gone.

He would have to apologize for his manner of speaking, he supposed, but the substance of what he said was not to be questioned.

Just the mention of that man poisoned everyone within earshot of the conversation.

He simply would not have Georgiana and the girls subjected to those kinds of inquiries.

But how to apologize to Elizabeth, without stirring up more questions?

Perhaps it would be wiser to just not say anything else about it.

Yes, just go on from here. She would forget all about it in a day or two, and he would be more careful how he spoke to her from now on.

He glanced over at her again out of the corner of his eye.

She was leaning against the door with her chin on her hand.

Her hair was swept up and showed off her delicate ear and the ivory curve of her neck.

He shifted uncomfortably and reached for her hand, resting on the seat between them.

He lifted it to his lips and kissed it gently, trying to gauge her reaction.

Surprised, she smiled—a brief quirk of lips that didn’t make her eyes light up.

He let go of her and took hold of the wheel again with both hands.

“We should be home in about an hour. I’m sure you’ll want to rest up before supper.”

She hesitated, but then in resigned voice, she replied, “Yes, thank you, that would be nice.”