Page 113 of Foolish Bride
Each looked back and nodded. Their silent communication had always come in handy. Now they let him know that they understood he was leaving the party.
At the far end of the table, Preston Knowles sat talking to Daniel’s younger sister. He broke from his conversation with the lovely Cecilia Fallon and looked over.
To Michael’s surprise, he also nodded his understanding.
In all the years since Michael, Daniel, Markus, and Thomas had met, no one else had shared their special communication. It would seem now there were five of them. Elinor had described Preston as their friend. Perhaps she was correct.
Michael nodded back.
He leaned down toward his new bride. “I think it’s time to go, love.”
She looked up smiling. Without a word, she took his hand, and the two of them quietly left the reception.
Much to her maid’s distress, Elinor did not even change into traveling clothes. The luggage was already loaded, so the couple put coats over their wedding clothes and climbed into the carriage waiting outside.
* * * *
When Elinor and Michael arrived at Kerburghe, repairs on the castle were already underway. It would take a while, and the colder weather was already slowing the progress, but soon enough the ancient structure would be whole again.
It was late and they had been on the road for two days, only stopping once to rest.
Michael woke for the first time in the master’s chamber. It was stark, with no rug and stone walls, but it was his. He breathed deeply the scent of fresh linens. The night before permeated his mind and his arousal returned as well. He rolled over to pull his sumptuous wife to him and found only more linen.
His heart beat tripled in an instant, and he leaped naked from the bed. The room was empty.
“Elinor.” She might have gone to use the privy. He held back the panic building in his gut.
No reply.
Throwing on his trousers and blouse in an instant, he was still pulling on his boots as he rushed through the door and crashed headlong into his valet, Peters.
“Your grace?” Peters called from the hallway floor.
“Sorry. Have you seen her grace?” Michael helped him from the floor. He was thin and tall and dressed as a valet should be, with every piece of clothing starched and clean. Even after the collision and fall, he remained impeccable.
“No, sir, should I look for her?”
He heard laughter from the window at the end of the hall.
“What is that?”
“The church children are playing in the courtyard. Do you want me to send them away?” The valet looked almost eager to shoo the children from the premises.
The bubble of bliss filled him, and he slapped Peters on the shoulder. “No. I think I can guess where my wife is.”
Michael followed the sound of the children’s laughter until he arrived in the front courtyard. Half a dozen children, ranging from two to about eight, played with a small dog and a stick.
Wrapped in an ermine fur-lined cape, Elinor sat on the steps watching them. The sweetest smile tugged at her lips. She shivered on the cold stone steps. Winter fast approached, even in the lowlands.
Kneeling behind her, he pulled her from the stone and slid his body beneath hers, so she was in his lap protected from the chill.
“Michael.” She relaxed into his lap.
“I woke to an empty bed and thought you had been whisked away from me yet again.”
“Never.” She kissed his chin.
The children tossed a stick to a small dog that yapped and dragged the thing around the courtyard. Laughter filled the air as they chased the dog to get the stick back.
