Page 82 of Snowbound Surrender
“Me either.” Eleanor bit her bottom lip. “Do you think anyone noticed I was missing all night? Could we pretend I was here with you the whole time?”
“Instead of alone with Callum all night?” One eyebrow arched over the rim of her spectacles.
“I came here to escape the whispers and being given the cut. I couldn’t bear for it to happen in Warlock.”
“Warlock is not London.” Charlotte heaved a sigh. “But it’s not Sodom and Gomorrah either. Let’s tell everyone you returned from exploring the folly late and stayed with me. It was chaos last night. No one will question your story.”
“Thank you.”
Charlotte cocked her head, her lips quirked. “Are you going to tell me what actually happened?”
“Nothing happened.” Eleanor lied glibly. Except heat burst from her chest and spread into her cheeks. She was as red and hot as an ember.
“Really?” The question dripped with disbelief.
“No, not really.” Eleanor bit her lip. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what?” Charlotte looked taken aback by the accusatory tone.
“Tell me what the marriage bed should be like.”
“Ah.” Charlotte cleared her throat and glanced around as if they could be overheard. “Am I to assume you did not enjoy your marital duties with James?”
“The fact wives refer to them as duties should be telling. But to answer your question, I did not. It was… uncomfortable.” It was so much worse than uncomfortable, but she was too embarrassed to elaborate.
Charlotte took Eleanor’s hand in hers. “I’m so sorry, dear heart. I don’t know why I assumed Grace would give you enough information to muddle through. She was of no help to me either. I should have considered… I didn’t know what to expect when I wed.”
“Was Daniel a good husband? In that way, I mean?”
Charlotte thought for a moment. “Not at first. Not because he was insensitive, but he was inexperienced. We both were. It took some time to discover what each of us liked and took pleasure in.” Even through a blush, she wore a secretive sad smile.
Eleanor’s night with Callum had parted a curtain on the depth of intimacy that could exist between a man and woman. She might not fully understand how much her sister missed her late husband, but she now had an inkling.
“How much you must miss him,” Eleanor said softly.
“I do miss him. I do.” The vehemence in Charlotte’s voice was jarring. “But it’s been two years. I’m still young.”
Was that guilt giving her sister’s words such an edge? Eleanor blinked and said in amazement, “Someone has caught your eye.”
Charlotte shushed her even though there was no one remotely in earshot. “It’s silly. Nothing has happened. Nothing of consequence anyway.”
Which meantsomethinghad happened. “Who is it?”
“It’s no one.” Charlotte’s cheeks were apple red. She cleared her throat. “Anyway, it’s you and Callum we are discussing. Which is far more interesting. Is he going to feel obliged to make an offer today?”
“An offer of marriage? I certainly hope not.” At Charlotte’s questioning gaze, Eleanor added, “I’m not even out of mourning in society’s eyes.”
“Were you careful?”
Not sure what Charlotte was asking, Eleanor said tentatively, “He was gentle with me.”
A wry smile curled Charlotte’s lips. “You might find you enjoy a bit of roughness, but that’s not what I meant. Could you be with child?”
“Oh! I… That is to say… I don’t think so?”
Charlotte gave her a sharp look. “You know how one gets with child, don’t you?”
Even as Eleanor was humiliated at her ignorance, anger simmered. “I should know how. Why are young ladies sent to marriage like lambs to the slaughter?”
