Page 18 of Unmasking the Silver Heiress
One never appreciated how wonderful being dry and warm was without a harsh reminder of the alternative.
"Nathaniel?" Nell murmured in a groggy voice from the bed.
He turned to find her, still clutching the book to her chest, staring at him across the room. "I didn't mean to wake you," he said softly. "My apologies."
She shook her head, rubbing at the sleep in her eyes and pushing herself up to sitting. The book fell away from her night-rail, revealing a tantalizing amount of bare flesh along her shoulders and decolletage. It was not the delicately inviting negligee one might see on a new bride, but rather a serviceable and well-loved item that belonged to a maiden. Why was that somehow even more provocative?
Her dark hair was braided down her back, a few wayward curls escaping around her face, and the modest swell of cleavage hinted at a bosom more ample than he had anticipated on such a petite frame. Looking at her like this made him wish he had invested more time in learning how to be a rake.
"They took my bed," she said, stifling a yawn behind her hand, "to Kent."
"Ah. Yes, I saw them loading it up for transport," Nathaniel answered thinly. "Do you need anything? I was just about to turn in myself. We have an early morning ahead of us."
"Mm, no," she said, eyelids already drooping again. "Just come to bed. Please."
Those words somehow made him wish to do anything other than sleep. However, fleeing into the house proper in his bare feet and pyjamas, on the run from a wife who likely weighed less than some of the books she read, was such an absurd proposition that he forced himself forward, putting to use his years of experience at donning a calm facade.
She had turned to her side, adjusting her pillows to a reasonable height. When he pulled back the blanket to climb in next to her, he was gifted a view of her slender, pale legs peeking out from the rumpled hem of her night-rail, which had ridden up past her knees.
He swallowed, deciding that turning away from her was indeed the safest way to sleep, and did his best to ignore the scent of lavender and mint that drifted up from the sheets as he settled into place.
The lanterns were already extinguished, the only light in the room coming from the fireplace. It was plenty enough light to expose him as the lecher he was if he happened to roll onto his back. He gritted his teeth, attempting to summon calming thoughts as she settled in behind him.
"Good night, Nathaniel," she whispered, her hand briefly touching his back.
"Good night, Eleanor," he replied, knowing he wouldn't sleep at all.
Chapter 10
Might I give you a kiss goodnight?
The question played itself over and over in Nell's mind, pushing itself forward onto her tongue, curling into almost-words, her heart beating hard, urging her to just say it. She lay there, frozen in place, her mind screaming at her to be brave. It should not have been soothing, and yet somehow she was asleep before she could even get out a single syllable, her tongue left in knots throughout the night.
When she awoke, Nathaniel was gone. The spot where his body had been in what seemed like just moments ago was empty and cold, and it was too late to say anything at all. She had gone to all the trouble of cooking up a plan, of having her bed dismantled and taken away, only to fall asleep before executing it.Twice!
Oh, she could just scream.
Nell wasn't accustomed to failure. Getting good marks, seeing ideas through to fruition, that was who she was! This was no different than a subject at school, was it? It was a challenge, a task, and she had faltered at the finish line.
Up until now, she had never set a goal for herself that she was not certain was in her reach.
"Good morning, ma'am," Sarah said brightly from the windows, oblivious to her mistress's clamoring internal crisis.
It was the light she was letting in that had pulled Nell from her tormented slumber. Glancing up at it now made her blink rapidly, a thousand pink orbs exploding in front of her. It was a bright morning.
"The rain has cleared right up, so the roads should be good once we're out of London," Sarah commented, smiling out at the fine weather as though she'd summoned it herself and was pleased with her work.
"Where is Nathaniel?" Nell asked, her voice croaky and dry as she fumbled out of her blankets, into the land of the living. "Where is my husband?"
"Oh, he took off before daybreak," Sarah answered, turning on her heel to bustle over and retrieve a tray of breakfast food for Nell. "He said he wanted to ride ahead to Kent and make sure the basic necessities were sorted before his bride arrived. Very thoughtful of him, to be honest. Lots of the girls belowstairs have been swooning over such a gesture. You are a lucky woman, if I may say so, ma'am."
"Of course, thank you," Nell replied, for lack of anything else to say. She allowed the maid to put the tray in her lap and without much considering the offerings, chose and bit down on a plank of dry toast. She forced herself to chew, grateful that the task would prevent her the freedom to make any facial expressions, lest she give away her discontent with his sudden departure.
He had run away from her! She should be horrified and embarrassed, but instead, just now, she rather wanted to strangle him. Or perhaps she wanted to strangle herself. It was hard to know how she felt anymore.
"I can ride with you in the coach if you like, ma'am," Sarah continued, already at work setting out a dress for the day. "But if you're not wishing for any company, I will make myself scarce. There are plenty of places to sit within the carriage train. Some of us are staying behind for the next days to continue packing up and closing the house, but I feel it best I be on hand for you as we go."
Nell paused, reaching for a glass of water to wash down the harsh remains of the bread, which were sitting heavily in her slender throat. Once she could speak again, she turned toward Sarah with what she hoped was a confident visage. "Surely you don't mean to pack upallof the furniture to send to Kent? It would be quite the expense of both time and resources to pack up the entirety of the house. We only agreed to basics, didn't we?"
