Page 60 of Secrets of the Marriage Bed
‘Of course,’ she said, hoping her smile did not look as false as it felt.
They rode at a swift trot that was not conducive to chatter, but at the fork in the lane that led to the orchard, she could not resist a glance at Alistair, wondering if he, too, was recalling the intimacy of their time in the apple tree.
He lifted a brow and there was that little quirk to his lips again. He was remembering all right. Heat rushed to her face as she smiled back.
She decided. She was going to tell him about the laudanum the moment they returned home. She had to bite her tongue to stop herself from saying something about it right then. She had no wish to be in the middle of such a discussion when they arrived at Beauworth.
The road to Beauworth required them to once more pass through the hamlet of Boxted.
Alistair straightened in the saddle and turned to look back as they passed by the village green.
She followed the direction of his gaze. ‘Someone you know?’
He frowned. ‘I’m not sure. A woman. She had her back to me, but there was something familiar about her and the fellow she was with.’ He grimaced. ‘Never mind. It is not important.’
‘How much further is it?’
‘A few minutes. Boxted is on the edge of the Beauworth estate.’ He glanced at her. ‘Are you tiring?’
Quite the contrary, having made her decision she felt a great deal lighter, freer, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. ‘Not in the least, but it is kind of you to ask.’
He nodded his acceptance of her compliment. ‘You will like Beauworth House and the grounds are extraordinary. There have been Le Cleres in this part of Hampshire for centuries. Their ancestors go back further than mine. Vikings or some such.’
‘He does not appear very Viking-like. I thought they were all blond giants, though he is large enough to be sure.’
‘Takes after his mother, I gather. She was French.’
‘Did you know each other as boys?’
‘Not really. I was away at school. He remained here with his tutors. He and Luke are closer in age.’
His face had hardened at the mention of his brother.
Another person in his family with whom he was at odds.
‘Have you met the Marchioness?’
‘I have met her, although she rarely comes up to town. You will like her, I think. Beauworth was at our wedding ball only because he had Parliamentary business requiring his attention.’
‘He is a devoted husband, then.’
‘Apparently so. He spent years fighting the French.’ He hesitated. ‘There were rumours that he was a traitor at one time, but now the war is over it seems it has all been forgotten in the interests of peace.’
A gatehouse appeared beside a gap in the hedge and a sweep of drive up to a lovely Palladian house of golden weathered sandstone. When they arrived at the columned portico over the front door, grooms came at the run to take their horses.
By the time they had dismounted, Beauworth and his lady were walking down the steps to greet them. Clearly a duke and duchess merited a proper formal welcome, but their smiles were warm. Lady Beauworth’s gold hair glinted guinea bright in the sunshine. Though small of stature, her presence was commanding and her dove-grey eyes gleamed when they rested on her large handsome husband.
‘Welcome to Beauworth,’ the Marquess said, escorting Julia indoors and leaving Alistair to accompany the Marchioness. He did have a tinge of French in his accent. It was very slight and perhaps only noticeable if you were looking for it.
The drawing room was beautifully appointed, painted in a pretty blue with white moulding and cornices. The tea tray arrived in short order. It wasn’t long before Julia felt an immediate liking for the vivacious Lady Beauworth.
‘Call me Ellie, please,’ she said, ‘for I am hoping we will be good friends since we live so close.’
‘I am Julia and would like that very much.’ It would be wonderful to have a friend. Though there was much in her past she could never discuss with a lady as fine as the Marchioness of Beauworth, they must surely have some things in common. ‘Your house is lovely.’
‘Hah. You would not say so had you seen it when we were first married. Garrick’s uncle had turned the place into a haven for bachelors.’ She shuddered. ‘Fortunately, my husband was only too glad to give me a free hand in making it livable.’ She poured tea for them all and the two men wandered off with the cups to look out of the window while they chatted in low voices.
Julia could not quite imagine Alistair giving her a free hand in anything. ‘Did you hire an architect?’
