Page 51 of The Viscount and the Vixen
“Not at all. Lady Locksley, allow me to introduce Mr.Moore, our intrepid newspaper owner and reporter.”
His fingers were ink-stained, the lenses of his spectacles thick, and she imagined him working late into the night striving to determine the best words to herald whatever news he needed to announce. “It’s a pleasure, Mr.Moore,” she said.
He bestowed upon her a sweeping bow. “The pleasure is mine, m’lady. Reverend Browning claimed you were a beaut. Good to know a man of the cloth doesn’t lie.”
She was aware of the heat fanning her cheeks, and Locksley giving his throat a harsh clearing as though warning the man he’d been entirely inappropriate with his praise. Moore jumped, stepped back, and darted his gaze between her and the viscount.
“How may I be of service?” he asked.
“Theviscountessis in need of some servants,” Locksley said, emphasizing her title. “We wish to place an advertisement in theCryer.”
Moore perked up even more, and she wondered if it was the idea of a lord making use of his beloved newspaper or the notion of coins in his pockets. “Very good, m’lord.”
“We are also in need of someone to tune a piano.” Her husband’s words startled her, as she’d thought the notion of tuning the piano forbidden and the discussion closed. “Is there anyone local or must we send to London?”
“Mr.Holt would be your man, there. He keeps the organ going at the church.”
“Send word to him, then, that he’s needed at Havisham.”
“Yes, m’lord. How would you like your advert to read?”
“I shall leave that to Lady Locksley.” He walked over to the window and gazed out, while she followed Moore back to his cluttered desk. She thought perhaps her husband was disgusted with himself for inquiring about the tuner, for indicating that she had his permission to play the piano. Or perhaps it was simply that he wasn’t comfortable with the changes she wanted to make.
And yet the joy spiraling through her was sharp and unmistakable. He might grumble, but he wasn’t going to deny her what she wanted. She didn’t want him to be extraordinarily kind, didn’t want to like him, because it only added weight to her guilt. She would do all she could to make his home a pleasant place in which to dwell.
How odd that when she’d run away from home, she’d believed she was gaining freedom, and now in marriage, she was finding more than she’d ever known.
When the advert was written to her satisfaction, she strolled over to join her husband at the window. “We’re finished.”
“Very good.” He offered his arm and she took it. “Thank you, Mr.Moore,” he said before escorting her out.
Once they were on the boardwalk, she said, “The advert will be in tomorrow’s paper, so I suppose I shall begin interviewing then.”
“I suspect you’ll begin interviewing today. The newsprint is merely a formality. Moore is the biggest gossip in the village.”
She laughed lightly. “Truly?”
He gave her a laconic smile. “He is rather good at not spreading false tales but he is more the ‘crier’ than his paper.”
“You didn’t like that he finds me beautiful.”
“I didn’t like that his words were inappropriate. You’re a lady, not a doxy, but as it’s been a little over thirty years since there was a lady about, I suppose the villagers may have become lax in their manners. It’s the only reason I didn’t plow my fist into his nose.”
She blinked, stared, taken aback by his words. “You would have struck him?”
“You are my wife, Portia. You will be given the respect you deserve as such or I shall know the reason why.”
And if she didn’t deserve the respect? She wouldn’t think about that, would put the past behind her, would become a woman who did deserve his respect, who was worthy of being his wife. “Doyourespect me?” she asked.
“How I perceive you is not the point. Now I have another matter to see to. Shall we walk?”
“I would enjoy getting a sense of the village. I suppose I shall spend some time here.”
“Divesting yourself of your monthly allowance?” he asked as they began strolling north.
She wasn’t going to spend a penny. She was going to hoard it all away in case a time came when she found herself again on her own. “I thought you were going to purchase everything I require.”
“Nothing frivolous.”
