Page 35 of Married to the Earl

“Did you ever consider what would happen next?” Betsy asked. “Did you ever think about what would come after the wedding, after you had left your father’s house and moved in here?”

Astrid shook her head. “To be perfectly candid, I tried not to think about that,” she admitted. “It was a frightening thought, and I didn’t like to dwell on it.”

“But now that time has come,” Betsy said. “I know you’ve given up much to be here, My Lady. I know because I did the same thing, in a sense. I too left my father’s house to come to Middleborough Manor.”

Astrid felt a wave of shame. She had never considered that she wasn’t the only one whose life had changed recently. “That must have been very hard for you,” she said.

“My family needed the money, and I could provide it,” Betsy said. “And Lord Middleborough treats me well and pays me fairly. He is not an unkind man. You’re right that he doesn’t often share his thoughts and feelings, but that doesn’t make him cruel.”

Astrid nodded. “You’re right. You’re very wise for someone so young, you know.”

“I know,” the girl agreed with an impish grin. “That’s something my father used to tell me. I keep a part of him with me simply by remembering who I am.”

“My husband made a good choice when he hired you,” Astrid said. “As long as I am the Lady of Middleborough Manor, you have a place here. I hope you know that.”

“Thank you, My Lady.” Betsy inclined her head.

“And I will think on what you’ve said,” Astrid told her. “But if you don’t mind, I’d like a little time to myself now.”

Betsy nodded and retreated from the room.

Astrid lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. It was much higher than the ceiling of her room in her father’s house, which only added to the strangeness of this place.

I can’t believe I’m here. Middleborough Manor.

It seemed like a place a person might go to visit, to attend a party, and then only if she was extremely lucky. Astrid had never thought to find herself here at all, for any reason. The fact that this odd place was nowherplace made it stranger still.

She looked around the room, her gaze falling on her familiar possessions—the hand mirror she had just unpacked, her dresses hanging in the wardrobe, her collection of books on the shelf.

These things didn’t belong here anymore than Astrid herself did.

Why was this room sobig? Surely one person could have no need for such a large room.

She wondered again why Lord Middleborough had given her chambers of her own within his manor. It was a question that seemed to float to the top of her mind, pestering her, clamoring for an answer, and she had no answer to provide.

Does he want us to be husband and wife in name only?That was a possibility. If it was true that his reputation had driven women away from him in the past, he might be more concerned with the appearance of having a wife than with the practice of having one.

But he was still a man, wasn’t he? She knew enough of the world to know that men had needs and wives had duties to fulfill. Could Lord Middleborough really intend that the two of them never lay hands on one another?

Perhaps there was more truth to the rumors about him than she had realized. Perhaps he was involved with other women. She would be his trophy, his escort at social functions, and under cover of darkness he would sneak out—or sneak othersin.

Well, so what if he does? That isn’t my worry. I don’t want to go to his bed, and I certainly don’t plan to waste my time fretting about who else might be going there.

And yet, shedidworry. She didn’t want to be made a fool of, and this was a man whose behavior was already scrutinized. This was a man who people already believed they knew things about.

If he’s caught with another woman, that would spell social disaster for me.

She had to smile to herself. A week ago, she had been sequestered in her father’s house. Now here she was in the manor of an earl worrying about her social prospects. How had life changed so fast?

She steadied her thoughts.Lord Middleborough couldn’t possibly be seeing other women, she reminded herself.Women fear and avoid him. Besides, that would be no reason for him to keep a distance between the two of us. It doesn’t explain anything.

Was it possible he was just being kind to her?

Was it possible he had guessed that coming to a strange place, being wedded to a man she hardly knew, would be a frightening experience? Maybe he had given her this room as a place of sanctuary.

Could that be?

That would be an unbelievable kindness, she thought.It would mean he’s spent time thinking about what I want and how I feel. It would mean that my happiness is actually a priority for him.

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