Rules of a Ruse (Regency Christmas Brides #2)

Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

Alden couldn’t quite believe what had just happened. He had a wife now. And it was Elinor. He had gotten precisely what he had wanted. Now he would inherit the horse farm. But by the look on Elinor’s face, it was evident that she was far from pleased. Not that he blamed her. She had been adamant about only marrying for love, and now she found herself bound to him in a marriage of necessity. He hoped she would eventually see it as the better option compared to an asylum.

Mrs. Hardy’s voice broke through the silence. “Well, that was rather exciting,” she said, turning to Alden. “Thank you for what you did for Elinor. You saved her from Lord Inglewood.”

Elinor nodded, albeit reluctantly. “Yes, thank you.”

Glancing between them, Mrs. Hardy said, “I do believe that much needs to be said between you two. Why don’t I give you a moment?”

“I think that would be for the best,” Alden responded, his eyes lingering on Elinor. He would give anything to know what she was thinking at this precise moment.

Mrs. Hardy offered her niece an encouraging smile before she left the room, closing the door softly behind her .

Alden wanted to reach out to touch Elinor, to comfort her, but he didn’t think she was ready for that. He just needed to be patient with her. He decided to settle on a safe question. “How are you faring?”

Elinor sighed. “I don’t know,” she replied. “I don’t feel any different now that I am married, but everything has changed.”

“That it has,” he agreed.

In a hesitant voice, Elinor asked, “Why did you do it?”

He took a step closer to her, unable to resist the urge to be near her. “I couldn’t stand by and let your uncle take you to an asylum.”

“I can’t believe he would do something so underhanded,” Elinor said, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Neither could I.”

Elinor lowered her gaze to the lapels of his jacket. “Well, you got precisely what you wanted. You will inherit the horse farm.”

“This is not how I wanted to go about it,” Alden said, his tone earnest. “You must know that.”

“I do,” she murmured.

Alden placed his finger under her chin and lifted her head until their eyes met. “I promise that I will be a good husband to you.”

Elinor’s eyes searched his, and he hoped she could see the sincerity in his promise. “I believe you.”

“Will you not promise to be a good wife to me?” he teased.

“I will, assuming you do not expect me to obey you,” Elinor said. “I do not respond well to being ordered about.”

His lips quirked into a small smile. “I do know that about you.”

She bit her lower lip, drawing his attention to her perfectly formed lips. “What of marital relations?”

“What of them?” he asked, his voice gentle.

In a hesitant voice, she inquired, “Am I expected to perform them? ”

Alden knew there was a time and place to joke with his wife and this was not the time to do so. “Not if you are not willing,” he replied. “If you would prefer, this could be a marriage of convenience.”

“Do you not require an heir?” Elinor asked.

“I would like one, but not until you are comfortable in doing so,” Alden responded. “I won’t force you to do anything.”

The tension in Elinor’s shoulders eased just a fraction. “That is most kind of you.”

“Nothing has changed between us,” Alden said, dropping his finger from her chin. “We are still friends.”

Elinor’s eyes grew wide. “Everything has changed. We are married, and you are going to sell the horse farm.”

“About that,” Alden started, “I was thinking about keeping the horse farm, at least since it is profitable.”

A bright smile spread across Elinor’s face, her eyes sparkling with joy. “Are you in earnest?”

“I am,” Alden confirmed with a nod.

Elinor threw her arms around Alden, pulling him into a tight embrace. He could feel the warmth of gratitude and it filled him with a deep sense of satisfaction. “Thank you. That means more to me than you will ever know.”

Alden wrapped his arms around her, savoring the closeness. “I do hope you don’t mind continuing to run the horse farm.”

“I would prefer it, actually,” Elinor declared.

After a moment, Elinor dropped her arms and took a step back. Alden immediately missed the lack of contact.

“With my dowry, you could buy land in England,” Elinor suggested.

Alden had completely forgotten about her dowry in the chaos of the moment. “May I ask how much your dowry is?”

“Twenty thousand pounds,” she replied .

He stared at Elinor, stunned. “Twenty thousand pounds?” he repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Elinor eyed him with amusement. “I do hope that is sufficient.”

“Sufficient?” he asked, shaking his head in amazement. “You are an heiress. How did I not know this?”

“You never asked,” Elinor retorted with a shrug.

Alden cocked his head. “What other secrets are you keeping from me?” he asked, half-joking, but with a hint of genuine curiosity.

Elinor stiffened slightly, her playful demeanor fading. “Nothing,” she said, her tone more guarded.

He found himself curious by her response, but he didn’t want to press her now. He hoped that, in time, she would trust him enough to confide in him.

Bringing a hand to her stomach, Elinor asked, “Would you mind if we returned to the dining room for the feast. I am rather famished.”

“I could always eat,” Alden responded, offering his arm. “Would you be opposed if I collected my things and moved into the manor now that we are married?”

Elinor placed her hand on his arm as she said, “I shall have the guest bedchamber readied for you.”

“Unless you wish to share a bedchamber?” he asked with a flirtatious wink, unable to resist teasing her.

She withdrew her hand and took a step back, her cheeks flushing. “I… uh…” she stammered.

“I am teasing you, Elinor,” he rushed out, taking pity on her discomfort. “I’m sorry. It was too soon to do such a thing.”

“No, it is all right,” Elinor assured him.

Alden grinned, feeling a sense of relief. “This is new to both of us. I have never had a wife before.”

Elinor stepped forward and took his arm again, her touch sending a shiver down his spine. “I never thought I would have an irregular marriage in Scotland. ”

“It will be a good story to share with our children when they are older,” Alden said.

“Children?” Elinor asked. “You want more than one?”

Alden started leading Elinor out of the drawing room. “I know we haven’t discussed it, but I would like a big family, assuming that is something you would like.”

Elinor grew quiet, and Alden feared that he had upset her. He glanced at her, searching for any sign of distress. Finally, after a long moment, she said, “I always wanted a large family. It was quite lonely being an only child.”

“Well, look at that, we agreed on something,” Alden joked, trying to lighten the mood. “Although, I could have done without my brother.”

“You don’t mean that,” Elinor said softly, her eyes filled with empathy.

Alden opened the door of the drawing room as he responded, “Alexander is the bane of my existence. He criticizes everything I do and say.”

“That sounds awful,” Elinor murmured.

“It is,” Alden agreed, his voice heavy from the weight of past grievances. “But that’s a story for another time. For now, let us enjoy the feast and our new beginning.”

As Alden led Elinor to the dining room, he could sense her apprehension. Her steps were hesitant, her grip on his arm slightly tense. Truth be told, he was scared, too. This marriage, though hastily arranged, was something he had wanted. But Elinor had not wanted this. She had been adamant about marrying for love, not out of necessity. Which meant he had a challenging task ahead of him- he would need to woo his wife.

Dressed in a white wrapper, Elinor sat on the settee in her bedchamber, her eyes fixed on the crackling fire. She was a wife now. Everything had changed, yet she felt exactly the same. How was that even possible?

She didn’t regret marrying Alden, but she wished it had been under different circumstances. She cared for him, more than she dared admit, but she was scared. Alden was a perfect gentleman, but she wanted more than just a marriage of convenience- she wanted love. The thought of spending her life pining after a husband who might never love her back filled her with dread.

A soft knock came at the door, interrupting her thoughts. The door creaked open, revealing her aunt with a knowing smile. “I see that I was correct in my assumption that you would still be awake.”

“Of course I am awake,” Elinor responded, her voice tinged with frustration. “I can’t get my mind to stop racing.”

Her aunt closed the door and approached her, concern etched on her face. “Anything you wish to share?”

Elinor sighed deeply. “I am married now.”

Her aunt’s smile grew. “I know,” she replied, settling beside her. “I was there when Alden saved you from your uncle.”

“He did save me, for which I am most grateful, but I find that I am angry at my uncle for forcing my hand,” Elinor shared.

“There is nothing wrong with that, especially since Lord Inglewood is a blackguard,” her aunt said firmly.

Elinor clasped her hands in her lap, searching for the right words. But what could she say that would express her internal turmoil? Finally, after a long moment, she settled on, “I am scared.”

“You, scared?” her aunt teased lightly. “That doesn’t sound like you.”

“I don’t know how to be a wife,” Elinor said, her voice trembling .

The humor left her aunt’s expression, replaced with compassion. “When I married John, I felt the same way. I was thrust into a home that I was unfamiliar with, and I was expected to run the household. But I buckled down and I got the job done.”

“Surely it couldn’t have been that simple,” Elinor remarked in disbelief.

Her aunt laughed. “No, it wasn’t,” she replied. “I made mistakes- loads of them. But there is no shame in asking for help, especially from your husband.”

Elinor’s gaze turned downcast. “I do not like to ask for help.”

Her aunt placed a gentle hand over Elinor’s clasped hands. “Trust your husband. You may have started off your marriage differently than you expected, but you decide how the story goes from here.”

“But he won’t ever love me,” Elinor said, her voice barely above a whisper. “He has told me as much.”

Her aunt lifted a brow. “Do you love him?”

Elinor brought her gaze up to meet her aunt’s. “No, but I could,” she admitted softly.

“Give it time, my dear,” her aunt counseled. “You never know what your future will hold around Christmastime.”

“And if he doesn’t come to love me?” Elinor asked.

Her aunt removed her hand and leaned back. “Then I shall play my bagpipes for him until he changes his mind.”

“I am serious.”

“So am I,” her aunt said with a twinkle in her eyes.

Elinor felt her stomach rumble, drawing another laugh from her aunt. “I am famished,” she admitted.

Her aunt grinned. “I assumed that would be the case since you didn’t eat very much during dinner.”

“How could I?” Elinor asked.

“It is quite a simple process,” her aunt joked. “You dip your fork into food and bring that said fork up to your lips. ”

Elinor rose and walked over to the window, staring out into the expansive darkness. “How can you make light of everything right now?”

“You are married, not dead,” her aunt said. “And I believe Mr. Dandridge to be an honorable man.”

“I cannot believe that Alden has won you over,” Elinor remarked.

Rising, her aunt asked, “And why wouldn’t he? He saved you from being committed.” She approached her and placed a hand on Elinor’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go eat something from the kitchen? I asked Mrs. Beaton to leave a plate out for you.”

Elinor’s stomach rumbled again. “I could eat.”

Her aunt laughed. “I can always eat. It is a terrible curse, really.”

Turning towards her aunt, Elinor said, “Thank you.”

“For what, my dear?”

Elinor grew solemn. “For speaking about your husband,” she replied. “I know how much it pains you to speak of Uncle John.”

Her aunt withdrew her hand, and her eyes grew sad. “I miss John. Every single day. We may have only had a short time together, but what we did have will last forever.”

“I hope to love Alden as much as you loved John,” Elinor said.

“You will,” her aunt replied. “Opening your heart is scary, but sometimes the only way to protect it is to open it.”

Elinor knew her aunt was only trying to help but surely it couldn’t be that simple. What if she loved Alden and he never returned that love? The uncertainty gnawed at her, but she knew she had to take one step at a time. For now, she would go eat something.

“I suppose I should eat before it gets too late,” Elinor said, trying to push aside her worries.

Her aunt glanced out the darkened window. “I think that ship has sailed since it is almost midnight,” she joked. “But come, I will walk you down to the kitchen.”

“There is no need. I can go on my own,” Elinor insisted, noticing the yawn that had just escaped her aunt’s lips.

“I am rather tired,” her aunt admitted.

“Then you should go to bed,” Elinor encouraged gently.

“Very well,” her aunt said, walking over to the door. She stopped and turned back, her face softening with a look of regret. “I’m sorry your uncle ruined Christmas for you.”

As Elinor approached her, she responded, “I will admit that it made for a very interesting Christmas this year.”

“Interesting?” her aunt asked, opening the door. “That is not the word I would have used.”

Elinor followed her aunt into the darkened corridor and said, “Goodnight, Aunt Cecilia.”

“Goodnight, my dearest,” her aunt said before she disappeared into her own bedchamber, leaving Elinor alone with her thoughts.

Elinor made her way to the kitchen, her steps echoing softly in the quiet manor. She carefully descended the servants’ stairs, the cool stone underfoot adding to her awareness of the late hour.

As she reached the kitchen, she realized she was not alone. A shadowed figure was moving about, making an absurd amount of noise. Her heart skipped a beat until the moonlight streaming through the windows revealed Alden’s face. Relief washed over her at his presence.

“Alden,” she said softly.

He turned towards her, surprise evident on his face. “Elinor? What are you doing awake?”

She moved closer, standing beside him. “I could ask you the same thing.”

He gave her a sheepish grin. “I’m afraid I am rather famished, and I was looking for something to eat. ”

“Did you check the table?” she asked, pointing to the plate with a white linen napkin draped over it.

Alden shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. “That would have been far too simple.”

“Would you care to join me in seeing what Mrs. Beaton left us to eat?” Elinor asked.

He gestured towards the table with a flourish. “After you,” he replied.

Elinor took a seat, waiting until Alden settled beside her before reaching for the napkin. With an exaggerated motion, she pulled it off, revealing a modest spread of bread, cheese and meat.

“Ladies first,” he said.

She reached for a piece of bread and began to eat. After a long moment of comfortable silence, she decided to speak up. “Will you tell me about yourself?”

Alden plopped a piece of cheese into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “What would you like to know?”

“I suppose we should start from the beginning,” Elinor replied. “What were you like as a child?”

“I was the handsomest of children,” Alden said with a grin.

Elinor laughed. “Of course you were,” she responded. “But I am more curious as to what you were like growing up.”

Alden leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “Well, I was always getting into trouble. My brother and I had quite the rivalry, always trying to outdo each other. I suppose it made me who I am today.”

“Tell me more. What kind of trouble did you get into?”

He chuckled. “Oh, where to start? There was a time we tried to build a raft to sail down the river. It fell apart almost immediately, and we ended up soaked and covered in mud. Mother was furious.”

Elinor smiled, imagining a younger Alden covered in mud. “That sounds like quite the adventure. ”

“It was,” Alden agreed. “But enough about me. I want to learn more about you.”

“I am not that interesting,” Elinor attempted.

Alden leaned forward in his seat, his gaze unwavering. “I disagree,” he said. “I find you to be utterly fascinating.”

The intensity of Alden’s gaze made a blush form on Elinor’s cheeks. She struggled to keep her voice steady, feeling the warmth of his presence. “You are kind.”

“It is merely the truth, Elinor,” Alden said, moving closer. “I wouldn’t have married you otherwise.”

Alden was so close now that she could catch the faint, tantalizing scent of orange wafting from his person. It was intoxicating. She wanted to close the distance between them, to give in to the urge to kiss him. But she held herself back. If she kissed him now, there would be no going back, and she wasn’t ready to risk her heart just yet.