Page 30 of A Gentleman's Wife

“How do you know it’s a lie? Isn’t it a husband’s responsibility to tell his wife she looks lovely when she does?”

Only when he means it!Marianne wanted to cry out.Stop being so sweet and giving my heart hope when there is none!

“I suppose I’ll be obliged to tell you how handsome you are in return,” she said instead, hoping to turn the tables.

Thomas ducked his head. “That is very kind of you.”

“Oh, come now. No need for modesty. Surely you’ve had plenty of ladies in your history to tell you how very handsome you are.”

She hadn’t meant to sound so bitter, but he blinked, a bit taken aback, and Marianne regretted her word choice. She couldn’t tell him just what she thought of his appearance, out of fear that all her other emotions would come tumbling out. For he was terribly attractive, even now, with the green trees and blue sky behind him as he rode proudly on his horse, though she worried about his lips set into a frown.

“I did not court many, but there was one lady…” he said, and Marianne held her breath. “She led me to believe I was the only good in the world, almost making it so my opinion of myself hung on her every word. Then she refused me when I offered for her, which made anything she told me or any compliment she gave seem invalidated. And makes it difficult to know what to believe anymore.”

Marianne rested her right hand on her chest, a multitude of emotions storming her heart. An unjust jealousy for a woman her husband had cared for before, an anger for how she had wronged him, a desire to heal all his anguish with the yearning of her own heart, and a surprise at Thomas’s vulnerable admission. He was like no man she’d ever known, not that she’d known many at all, and she felt incapable of knowing how best to help him.

Which, she realized, was probably exactly how he felt about her.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Marianne looked at the path ahead and dug deep for any words that might help. “I did not intend to wound you further, Thomas. I’m sorry for what you’ve experienced. And the woman was undoubtedly a fool, not only to mistreat you so, but also to refuse a man like you. It is inconceivable to me.” Marianne tried to stave off the unbidden words on her tongue, but they were ever persistent. “You should know that I do find you incredibly handsome. Impossibly so, at times. And I’m a lucky woman, indeed, to have a husband so wonderful and kind on the inside, who is also pretty to look at on the outside.”

Her words found their aim, making him smile and drawing up his eyes to meet hers.

“Thank you, dear wife.”

She loved hearing him call her dear, but she had to be careful, or she’d be in the same situation, of having her opinion of herself hang onhisevery word.

The tree line to their side ended, and just as Thomas had promised the view opened up to the hilly countryside that robbed her of breath. Glancing behind herself, she hadn’t realized they’d crossed the whole distance already. And she hadn’t worried the whole of the ride, for all their talking had distracted her. Had that been his intention all along?

“How magnificent this is,” Marianne breathed. The wind blew now that they were further out in the open, and she had to place a hand on her riding cap to keep it from flying away. “And just a short ride from your home.”

“Ourhome,” Thomas corrected. “There’s more beyond this as well, and you’re welcome to it anytime you like.”

“You’re certain it’s all right?”

“Mr. Sanders said the exercise would be good for you, so long as you’re not overexerting yourself. Little escapades like today would be a good start, and you have Eliza with you when I cannot attend.”

Marianne nodded. She could manage that.

“Above all, I don’t want you to feel imprisoned here. I want your life to be full of whatever it lacked before. Whatever difficulty you’ve suffered in your life, I wish to dispel it. I cannot take your physical ailments away, but I hope to provide you with everything else so you shall want for nothing.”

The wind blew around them, playing with the wisps of hair around her face and the skirts around her boots. Her heart pounded as she met his gaze.

“How often are you going to remind me?” she asked.

“Until you believe it.” His brown eyes had gone steely dark with certainty, enough to make her swallow hard at the sight. It wasn’t fair he was so blasted handsome.

“I believe you, Thomas. And I thank you.” Her voice felt small in comparison to the sight before them and the meaning of the words she spoke. “Though I suppose I will need reminders every now and then, when my emotions get the better of me.”

He smiled gently. “That’s precisely why I’m here.”

With a nod, Marianne licked her lips and lifted her hand to turn the horse. “I think I’m ready to return now.”

“How do you feel?”

“It was a good adventure, and I should like to repeat it every few days to grow accustomed to it again. But for now, I think I shall have Eliza draw me a hot bath to avoid any muscle spasms.”

“An excellent plan.”

They rode back together in ease, leaving Marianne excited for the bath and the time alone. Not only would she relish the relaxation, but she wanted to spend time thinking of nothing but his words over and over again, and every possibility of what they could mean.

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