Gentleman's Guide 02 - His Contrary Bride) (29 page)

She turned red and turned to look away from
him. What was so embarrassing about a few dresses?

Turning off the road and onto the tree lined
drive, Marius drove the wagon another distance until the house came
into view. Once they had finally emerged from the trees they
stopped, gasping as they took in the structure. Together their eyes
took in the front, main floor, noting how long the house was before
their eyes traveled up the structure, stopping after four stories
and a number of chimneys. The house was of a reddish stone and the
design seemed to date back to the Elizabethan Era.

Lawns and gardens spread out, surrounding
the house, completely overgrown.

“This isn’t exactly what I was expecting.”
Marius stated.

“I had visited on occasion as a child and
remember thinking the house was huge. I just assumed that it was a
child’s perspective and it was actually an ordinary house.”

“My dear, this is far from an ordinary
country house.” Marius chuckled.

Sabrina turned toward him with searching
eyes. “Are you disappointed? I know it needs a lot of work and
nobody has lived here for years.”

Marius reached over and squeezed her hand.
“I am far from disappointed. Before us is a very grand old house
and it will be grand once we bring it back to its former
beauty.”

Sabrina turned back to survey the house and
lawn once again. “That could be years. I’m afraid even this house
is beyond me.”

Marius laughed and set the horses to motion.
“Never fear, dear. I’m sure I can afford a few servants to help
you.”

“A few? More like an army.” Sabrina stated
as they stopped at the front door and Marius helped her down.

He was in good spirits. They had finally
arrived at their destination and still had at least a few days
before they had to begin worrying about Chesterfield. What he said
was the truth. The house was far grander than he had expected and
the lands surrounding it were fertile. Marius could envision how it
would appear when the work was completed. “I recall you
specifically telling me that you didn’t want to be an ordinary wife
but needed a purpose.”

Sabrina stared at him. “I don’t mind the
work but even this is much more of a purpose than I need.”

Marius pulled her to the door. “I’m teasing
wife. This house will require dozens of servants just to get it in
order and keep it that way.” He unlocked the door with the key he’d
been given by the solicitor and opened the door into a dark foyer.
Sabrina allowed him to pull her inside. It was too dark to see
anything as all the draperies had been closed. Lighting the candle,
which sat inside the door, Marius wandered into the rooms directly
off the main hall and Sabrina opened the curtains to let the day
light in.

All the furniture had been draped with
cloth, as had what they assumed were art work on the walls. They
wandered to the next room, to what Marius assumed was the library.
The shelves that lined the room were empty but dozens of sealed
crates were stacked in the room. For the most part, the rooms were
no worse than dusty and nothing appeared to be in disrepair. If all
the rooms had been preserved this way, perhaps the task would not
be so difficult.

The second floor contained bedrooms and
sitting rooms. The third floor contained more bedrooms and the
school room. The fourth floor obviously contained the servants’
rooms because they were smaller and the furniture, far from grand,
had not been covered.

Returning to the second floor Marius pulled
Sabrina along as he inspected the bedrooms a second time, finally
entering the one at the end of the hall. “This is it.” He stepped
into the room. It was by far the largest with four doors leading
off it. Opening the door separate from the others revealed a
private study. The only access to this room was through the
bedroom. The three doors on the opposite wall led to a bathing
chamber, a dressing closet, and the adjoining room, which they
inspected next. This chamber was large as well, but not nearly as
large as the room they had just left. It also had a bathing
chamber, and its own private sitting room that over-looked the
gardens. Sabrina was quite happy with their suite of rooms.

“These are obviously yours.” Marius stated,
“But you can get rid of the bed for more room if you like. You
won’t be sleeping here.”

Sabrina refrained from speaking. Even if she
didn’t sleep in here it would be practical to keep her things here
so she and Marius weren’t crowded in the master chamber, if that
were possible.

Pausing at the top of the stairs Marius
turned toward his wife. “Do you have a plan of action?”

There were only two immediate needs. Food
and sleep. “I suggest we get the kitchen in order and then our
bedroom. The rest can be decided tomorrow.”

Marius grinned at her. “I certainly agree.”
Turning he began down the stairs. Personally he could care less
about the kitchen. It was the chamber he was interested in. They
had been married a week and nothing was going to prevent him from
making Sabrina his own, tonight.

The kitchen itself was not in bad shape
either. With some dusting and scrubbing he would be able to cook in
here. To speed matters up, he suggested Sabrina clean the chamber
while he saw to the kitchen.

“The kitchen is your domain more than
mine.”

Marius grinned at her. “Does that mean the
bedroom is your domain, dear wife?”

Flustered at what he could be suggesting,
Sabrina quickly gathered the cleaning items and left while Marius
chuckled behind her.

Sabrina surveyed their chamber. Each piece
of furniture was draped with cloths as they had been on the first
floor of the house and the curtains were closed to the sunlight.
The first thing she did was remove the curtains. This let sunlight
in and she no longer needed the lamp. Carrying them down the back
servant stairs she took them outside to hang over a line and began
beating the dust out of them. Leaving them hanging, Sabrina
returned to the chamber where she began meticulously cleaned from
the ceiling to the floor. Within three hours, all dust had been
removed, the walls had been washed and she proceeded to uncover the
furniture.

For five hours she scrubbed and dusted their
chamber while Marius worked in the kitchen. In end, with a sense of
satisfaction she made her way back downstairs. Marius had just
finished cleaning the kitchen when Sabrina appeared. They were both
dirty and dusty from their labors. Darkness was beginning to fall
and Marius retrieved the food he would prepare for dinner.

“The first improvement I am going to make to
this house is pumped in water.” He announced.

“I am in full agreement. As much as I would
like a bath, I don’t relish carrying buckets of water up those
stairs.” She sank onto a stool.

“For tonight we will use this one.” Marius
opened the door of a small room off of the kitchen.

Sabrina stood to peer in. A larger than
normal tub sat in front of a stove in the corner.

“Water is heating. Why don’t you take your
bath while I cook dinner.” Marius suggested.

“Wouldn’t you like my help?” She wasn’t
going to relax in a bath while he worked.

“The kitchen is clean enough and as much as
I love you, I think we can both agree that it is a task I should
see to on my own.”

Sabrina was still embarrassed at her lack of
culinary skills.

“You go ahead. I’ll bathe after we eat.”

Sabrina didn’t have to be told a second time
and she left the kitchen to retrieve a clean set of clothing for
herself and Marius, along with towels and the soap he had
purchased. By the time she returned, Marius had already filled the
bath with the hot water and Sabrina couldn’t wait to sink into
it.

*

While Marius prepared their simple meal he
tried to ignore the sounds from the other room. Each splash or
movement of water reminded him that his wife was in that room,
completely naked. It took all of his self-control not to forget
dinner and join her. He had to keep reminding himself that they had
all night and he shouldn’t rush their joining. Still the simple
thought of her in the water caused him to harden. Dinner would be a
very long affair.

Their meal was not finished cooking when
Sabrina emerged from the room dressed in new, soft muslin gown and
her hair wrapped in a towel. Smiling and glowing from scrubbing
herself clean she approached the table. “The tub is drained. Have
you put on more water or would you like me to do that?”

Marius tried not to look at her. His wife
was more desirable by the moment. They had just gone through a
hellish four days but not once had she complained. The house was
filthy and she set to work in cleaning it so they could sleep that
night. He knew no other woman of his acquaintance who would accept
the situation as Sabrina had. In fact, he knew no woman who would
have lasted even a few hours on the coach without voicing her
discomfort. Sabrina, his wife, a rare beauty, a rare treasure and
he was blessed that she was his.

“The water is on and I’ll fill the tub when
I am ready. Why don’t you set by the fire and dry your hair while I
finish.”

Sabrina obliged and set to combing her hair.
They talked of the town and the people. Marius was as disturbed as
she that matters were bad for the people and agreed to go over the
books tomorrow to see what could be set to rights.

During the meal, Sabrina’s hair finally
dried as she ate and drank one and a half glasses of wine, often
commenting on how delicious the food was. Marius politely thanked
her though he suspected she liked the simple meal because she was
famished and they hadn’t eaten anything decent since the night of
the fire. Though he knew she enjoyed wine, she had previously
savored her glasses, tonight it was as if she were nervous.

Of course. She was nervous. By all accounts
this would be their wedding night. If the wine helped her relax it
was all the better for both of them.

Sabrina washed the dishes while Marius
prepared his bath. Sabrina heard his sigh as he sank into the warm
water. Unlike her, he had left the door open and she wondered if it
was his intention that she visit him there. Just the thought sent
her cheeks flaming and she poured another glass of wine. Soon he
would be emerging from the tub and putting on the clothes she had
laid out for him and then he would take her upstairs. No. She
didn’t want it that way. Shouldn’t a bride await her husband in the
chamber? If so, then she should be ready for him and had better go
upstairs soon before she lost her nerve.

Marius’s glass sat empty on the table.
Pouring the wine until it was half full Sabrina took a deep breath
and approached the bathing chamber. She could feel her hands begin
to shake and concentrated on trying to keep them still as she
approached the tub. Thankfully it was deep and long so she couldn’t
see any part of his anatomy. Regardless, she concentrated on his
face. “Here.” She held the glass out to him.

Marius looked up at her with a lazy smile
and took the glass, transferring it to the hand farthest from her.
“Have you come to keep me company?” His other hand reached out,
touching her thigh through her dress. The action startled her as
did the quickening of her pulse. He slowly ran his thumb back and
forth, very close to her most private areas.

“No. I thought you would like this as you
soaked. I am going to go upstairs and ready myself for bed.”

Marius gave her a lopsided grin. “I’ll hurry
to join you.”

“No,” she answered a little too anxiously.
“Take your time.”

“Very well, I’ll be up shortly.”

Nodding her head she pulled away from him.
Grabbing the bottle and her own glass she practically ran up the
stairs. After another fortifying drink she finally put on the gown
she had purchased earlier that day. Studying her appearance she was
shocked at how much was revealed yet surprised at what wasn’t.

With each minute that passed, Sabrina began
to lose her nerve. Had she assumed too much? Perhaps Marius wasn’t
interested in seeing her like this tonight. What if he were too
tired to even consider consummating the marriage. What if he didn’t
like how she looked? Swallowing more wine, she left the master
chamber, deciding she had made a huge mistake and began searching
for a decent night rail.

Marius wasn’t sure what to expect when he
entered the chamber but he was immensely pleased. The room smelled
of lavender and roses and cleaner than his own home had been.
However, he didn’t expect his wife to be missing. Sounds from the
adjoining chamber drew him in that direction when he realized
Sabrina was talking to herself.

“Phoebe was completely wrong. Wine doesn’t
help.”

“What doesn’t wine help?” He stopped just
inside the door. He still could not see her, but knew she was in
the closet.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped back into
the room. “Nerves!”

Marius stopped in his tracks at the sight of
her. His mouth went dry, jolted by what he was seeing. Sabrina was
wearing the most seductive night rail he had ever seen in his life.
Stepping back he studied her and it. Thin silk straps were all that
held it on her body. The silk continued over her bodice, revealing
only a hint of her breasts above. The entire gown had embroidered
flowers from top to bottom except the embroidery was very thick
across the breasts, preventing him from seeing how they really
look. Only a glimpse of the underside of the right breast could be
seen as the embroidery thinned out to a spattering of flowers
across her mid-section only to become thick again at her hips,
completely hiding her womanhood before thinning out again from the
top of her thighs to the floor. The gown, in essence revealed all
except that which a man would most desired to see. Whoever had
designed the garment had known exactly what she was doing to entice
a man.