Simply Love

respectable-the grandson or granddaughter of the Earl of Redfield no less. And then there will be David Jewell, still illegitimate, still a bastard.”

She had never seen him angry before. The left side of his face looked pale and chiseled and more handsome than ever. The right side of his face looked more immobile in contrast, the black eye patch almost sinister.

“That is an ugly word,” he said, “and unworthy of you, Anne. David is my stepson. I intend to take measures to adopt him fully. I will even give him my name if he can be persuaded to take it.”

“David is my son.” She glared back at him, her hands balled into fists at her sides. “He is not yours or anyone else’s. He is David Jewell. And he does not need anyone but me.”

They stared tensely at each other for several moments until he looked away and pushed his empty wineglass farther to the center of the table.

“I am sorry,” he said. “I wanted to avoid being the autocrat, the domineering partner in our marriage, the sort of husband who either demands obedience of his wife or expects it as his right. I thought to inform you of my wish to take you to Alvesley to introduce you to my family and then give you the equal chance to take me to your own family. But I have only succeeded in hurting and angering you. I am sorry.”

The anger drained out of her, leaving her shaken. She was not often given to anger. And she had liked Sydnam-she still did, she hoped. But here they were on their wedding day, quarreling quite bitterly. He had all but called her a coward. He had called her unhappy, implying that she was not whole, that she was incapable of wholeness and healing unless she turned back to people who had turned from her and from her son, who was guilty of nothing except being born of the ugliness of rape. He had scolded her for calling David by a name she knew some people used to describe him.

And he had claimed not to wish to be an autocrat, yet he had spoken of adopting David and giving him his name just as if all the care she had given her son in almost ten years and the Jewell name were nothing. Just as if both she and David needed to be saved from something, lifted up to respectability.

She knew she was being unfair to him-and that fact did not help restore her mood to tranquillity.

“I am sorry too,” she said. “I did not mean to quarrel with you today of all days-or any day for that matter. I suppose I am just tired. The last few weeks have been rather stressful.”

“Perhaps,” he suggested, “you would like to sleep in the other bed in David’s room tonight.”

The suggestion was so unexpected that all she could do was stare at him, trying not to show the dismay she felt. It was not what she would like at all-she had wanted to take a determined step toward normality tonight. And she did not believe it was what he wanted either-she could not be the only one who had felt the sexual tension all afternoon and evening. But something had been ruined and she found herself answering in kind when she wanted- and perhaps he wanted it too-to deny his suggestion.

“Yes,” she said. “Thank you. Perhaps that would be a good idea. And if David wakes up in a strange place, he will be reassured to find me close by.”

Oh, stupid, stupid, she thought.

“Yes, of course.” He got to his feet and came toward her, reaching out a hand formally for hers and carrying it to his lips. It was her left hand. She could see her new wedding ring gleaming in the candlelight and willed him to lift his head and kiss her on the lips and end this madness so that the night could proceed as they must both have expected it to.

Instead he smiled kindly at her.

“Good night, Anne. I hope you both sleep well. Shall we plan to make an early start in the morning?”

“Yes,” she said, sliding her hand from his and smiling back. “Good night, Sydnam.”

Ten minutes later she was lying in the narrow bed close to David, staring up at the canopy over her head and ignoring the hot tears that were trickling diagonally across her cheeks and dripping onto the pillow on either side of her head.

It did not help at all that she recognized the absurdity of the situation-and of both their behavior.

It was her wedding night and a whole private sitting and dining room separated her bedchamber from that of her new husband.

And all because they had quarreled-though they had apologized to each other.

She had desperately hoped that their wedding night would set them on the path to a happy future, even if not a happily-ever-after.

Now she was afraid all might be ruined.

She thought of getting up and going to him after all. But she was the one who had initiated their lovemaking at Ty Gwyn-and then she had let him down. She did not have the courage to do it again, knowing that it was quite possible the same thing would happen.

The carriage turned to pass between two great wrought-iron gates and made its way along a wide graveled driveway, woods on each side, a sure signal that it was traveling through the outer limits of a private park surrounding a great house. Although the scenery was different, Anne was powerfully reminded of her first approach to Glandwr-where all this had started.

She was feeling much as she had felt then.

She was sitting with David on the forward-facing seat while Sydnam sat with his back to the horses. It was impossible to tell if he was excited at the prospect of seeing his family soon or apprehensive at the nature of his return. He sat quietly looking out through the window.

None of them had talked a great deal since leaving Bath, and when they had spoken, it had been about inconsequentials.

What would happen between them tonight? she wondered.

But it struck her as she spotted water and lawns ahead that there was a great deal to be faced between now and tonight.

“Soon you will be able to see the inner park,” Sydnam said. “It always takes my breath away even though I am familiar with it.”

Even as he spoke the carriage drew clear of the trees, and the interior was flooded with light. Anne could see that the water was a river. Beyond it were wide lawns dotted with ancient trees sloping up to a mansion, still some distance away. Off to the left-hand side there was a lake, partially surrounded by trees.

Her first sight of Alvesley and the inner park made Anne realize more fully the extent of what she had done. She had married a son of this grand and stately home. She was the daughter-in-law of an earl.

Her stomach performed an uncomfortable flip-flop that reminded her of the morning nausea that had worn off hours ago.

With every turn of the carriage wheels she felt a growing dread. David, apparently feeling a similar apprehension, moved closer to her side and pressed his arm against hers. She smiled reassuringly down at him as the wheels of the carriage rumbled onto a roofed stone Palladian bridge across the river, and then onto the driveway through the park.

“It is all quite magnificent,” she said. “Is it not, David?”

There were people out on the lawn close to the house, she could see as they drew closer-two ladies, one young, the other older, and two children, a boy about four years old and a girl somewhat younger. Both ladies were looking toward the carriage, the older one shading her eyes with her hand.

“My mother,” Sydnam said, leaning closer to the window, “and Lauren. And Andrew. The little girl must be Sophie. She was a baby when I last saw her, but there is another baby in the nursery now. I have not even seen him yet.”

His manner, Anne saw, was animated. He was happy to be home. She felt a surging of tenderness for him-and a stabbing of loneliness for herself.

And then, as the carriage made a great swing onto the terrace before the marble steps and pillared portico that sheltered the double front doors of the house, Anne could see two gentlemen in riding clothes stepping out of the stable block.

“My father,” Sydnam said, “and Kit. It seems that we are arriving at a provident moment. Everyone is here- except the baby.”

Anne leaned back in her seat as if by doing so she could hide forever from the ordeal to come. Sydnam turned