Embracing Ashberry (21 page)

Ashberry’s three brothers immediately froze
when the music began to drift into the room.

Sebastian’s eyes flew to his older
brother’s, his mouth turning to a grin at his sibling’s expression.
“Go ahead, man,” he teased, “Spend some time with your bride.”

The marquess did not need to be told twice.
Without a word, he left the room, hardly a word passing his lips.
Sebastian leaned back in his chair and met the eyes of his two
younger brothers. “That, dear brothers, is the look of a man
infatuated.” He sighed and rose, the two brothers following in his
wake as they made their way into the library. “Chess, cards, or
billiards?”

Across the corridor, Ashberry closed the
doors behind him and took his seat by the fire, his eyes already
fixated on Ellie. She did not acknowledge him but continued to play
until the piece ended, the notes ending softly and soothingly. When
she looked to him, his words were quiet. “Come here.”

She did, of course. Ellie was rarely
confrontational and she had no reason to disobey him. When she
stood before him, he took her hands in his and spread her arms
wide, his face impassive as he examined her from head to toe. “You
know you look fabulous in this gown,” he finally sighed.

“Why?” she asked, her skin tingling at the
intense focus of his eyes as they settled on the curves of her
torso and hips.

“Why do you look fabulous?” he mused. “I
suppose because you are a beautiful woman in a gown that
complements—”

“That’s not what I meant,” she stopped him,
her cheeks reddening. Even then, the words were not accusing,
simply flustered.

He knew quite well what she was asking, so
he drew her to his side, pushing her down to sit on the end of his
knees. “I couldn’t bear the thought of you facing your dreams
alone,” he admitted. “I let you fall asleep before I came in—I
believed it would be easier for you that way.”

She looked to her lap, nodding. “I suppose
it was—easier, I mean.”

“Are you angry?” he asked softly.

Ellie looked at him, surprise on her face.
“Why would I be?” she asked.

He tilted her head. “It wasn’t your
choice.”

She nodded, agreeing with him, but then
shocked him with, “I wasn’t upset at all. I was surprised at first,
but there isn’t anything improper in it, you know.”

The marquess nearly laughed at the color in
her cheeks before he turned the top of her body to face him and
took both of her hands in his. The feel of her thighs and bottom on
his knees, not to mention the sweet smell of her hair and body, was
having an unanticipated impact on his senses and he needed to
finish the discussion quickly. “It is tonight, Ellie. If you would
rather me not share your bed, I will stay in my own chamber.”

Ellie looked adorably uncertain and the
marquess was pleased that she didn’t refuse him immediately. He
watched the changing emotions on her face for several minutes
before she admitted, “I suppose I did sleep very well last night
but it must be less restful for you. Your bed is so much
bigger.”

The marquess smiled. He didn’t dare tell her
at that moment that the sleepy Ellie who had curled against him in
the night had alternately stirred his instincts to nurture and his
riotous imagination. “I sleep very little these days even in my own
bed, Ellie, and would rest better if I knew you were content. The
size of the bed shouldn’t influence your decision.”

“What should influence me then?” she asked
quite seriously. Ashberry’s brow quirked in question until she
explained, “This isn’t a decision I’ve been trained to make, my
lord.” She paused for a moment. “What would you advise?”

The marquess couldn’t help but to smile at
her earnestness. Ashberry had discovered something new about his
wife this day: she made her decisions carefully, considering all
arguments and not simply her instincts or emotions. “It’s your
decision, Ellie.”

She sighed, a bit of frustration in her
voice. “I’m used to having the advice of my parents and siblings,
you know, when I’m unsure of what to do.”

Ashberry couldn’t help but grin before he
teased, “I suppose you could call upon your mother if you really
wanted—”

“Ashberry!” Ellie’s cheeks brightened
considerably. “I only wanted to consider your opinions too, since
my answer affects you.”

“One consideration might be this
information, which I haven’t shared with you. During our trip
north, the first night will be spent at Harlan Chase, which has
just the one master bedchamber in our apartment. Even though I am
quite confident that we will have no problems, for your protection
we will be sharing a room on the following nights, even if you
condemn me to sleeping on the rug.” He watched fascinated as she
absorbed his words, her eyes seeming to reflect everything she
heard. “You do understand, Ellie, that my opinions are biased by my
less than honorable intentions toward you?”

Her eyes clouded in confusion even as she
blushed. “We’re married, my lord. What intentions could you have
that are dishonorable?”

Ashberry shook his head ruefully before
silencing her with a finger across her lips. “My pardon, Ella dear.
I am simply stating for the record that I wish for you to sleep
every night in my bed,” he said firmly, “And that has an obvious
effect on my opinions about our sleeping arrangements now.”

“Perhaps I should sleep in your bed then,”
she suggested.

The innocence of her offer nearly stopped
his heart. He groaned, his hands cupping her face. “You have no
idea how badly I desire you, do you?” he asked roughly, pulling her
head down to his. The kiss, though her mouth was over his, was
forceful against her lips. She opened her mouth in response,
causing a deeper groan to come out of his throat and rumble into
her mouth, meeting her gasp just behind her teeth.

Ashberry was breathing heavily when he
released her mouth and head but was hardly surprised when she
scrambled to her feet and stepped back from him. Her eyes were wide
but she was not intimidated. In fact, she determined quickly as her
breath slowed, she was almost sorry he had released her. When his
mouth was against hers, she found it impossible to think but the
sensations that sizzled through her blood from head to foot were a
more than adequate substitution for rational thought. Even now that
it was over, she was having trouble focusing on what exactly they
were discussing.

The answer came to her after almost a minute
of eye contact between them, Ellie’s wide and flustered, and her
husband’s gleaming with an expression she knew would be important
to translate. It only came when the two were in close physical
contact and Ellie’s best guess was that it had to be connected to
his desire to further the intimacy between them. “You equate your
bed with consummating our marriage,” she said, as if amazed by the
realization.

Ashberry shifted in his chair, hardly daring
to breathe lest he feed his body any more of the fragrant fuel that
seemed to turn his mind to clay. “I fantasize about it almost
constantly Ella,” he finally admitted. “More specifically, I equate
you in my bed with the pleasures of marital connubiality, not just
the first night but all the nights and mornings after. But I
control myself by setting those fantasies outside of your room. I
doubt I could keep any promises should I find you in my own bed. It
would be the invitation I spoke of that first night. Either when
you came to me or when we arrived at Ashberry Park.”

His voice was rougher, deeper as he added,
“Rest assured, if you feel deprived that I am denying you my bed,
after we arrive at Ashberry Park I will recompense you. I am quite
confident that you will be spending a goodly amount of time in it,
not even including the time you are sleeping.”

Ellie had no response to his gruff words and
Ashberry watched the bright color on her cheeks and neck spread
down onto her shoulders. Finally granting her a little mercy from
his passionate gaze, he rose from the chair and turned away from
her. “You know,” he changed the subject, “There is one other
individual in this house who can play the pianoforte, although not
nearly as well as you.”

His wife took a moment to answer, as she
drew several deep breaths. “Who is that?”

Ashberry did not answer immediately, but
went to the door, calling for a servant. After he spoke to the man,
he moved to the two sets of doors that opened the music room to the
large assembly room. The room was rarely used and quite bare,
except for its elegant wood floors and sumptuous golden wallpapers,
for its function was primarily dancing when large events were held
in the house. Ellie smiled as she followed him into the room,
looking up to the high ceiling with its rich, detailed murals and
crystal chandeliers.

“Actually,” he told her as he took her arm,
“It’s my valet, Griffin. His father was a poor musician in London
but before he died, he would take Griffin to the assembly halls
where he worked and taught him to play the harpsichord, as well as
several other instruments. My grandfather took in Griffin when he
was just a boy, his mother dead of smallpox and his father
starving, and put him to work carrying water and running
errands.”

“He’s been with you your entire life?” Ellie
was astonished.

Ashberry shrugged. “There was a period when
I was an adolescent when he stayed in London with my father and
stepmother, while I was at Eton. After my step-mother died and I
returned to Ashberry Park, he became my valet.” He cleared his
throat then continued, “In any event, we occasionally use his
talents, particularly the villagers at Ashberry Park. Even the
chaplain drafts him occasionally.” He drew her deeper into the
room, taking her by the hands. “He was a tremendous help when the
six of us had to learn to dance. The instructor thought he was the
most amazing thing since the
valse
.”

Ellie laughed. “Really, that’s a very new
dance. I hadn’t realized that it was accepted in London already,”
she returned smartly.

TEN

From the other room, strains from the daring
dance began softly, the pulsating rhythm unmistakable. “Not to the
ballrooms, not yet,” he admitted, “But it will, of course.” He
bowed to her. “I did not,” Ashberry told her, “Dance with my bride
before we married. Now, though, would you do me the honor of
dancing with me?”

He held out his arm in a gracious way that
Ellie thought was exceptionally polished. “You see, at one time I
thought I might be required to succumb to the pressures of Society
to search out a compatible wife and so I took the time necessary to
make sure I did not make a fool of myself in anyone’s ballroom,
particularly my own.”

Ellie said nothing but curtsied prettily and
took his arm. Together they whirled through the room, Ellie’s
movements slightly rusty through the first few moments. Quickly,
though, she picked up confidence. The dance was nearly halfway
complete before she said, “Ashberry, I don’t believe anything could
make a fool of you.”

His brows rose and he smiled. “On the
contrary, my dear, it is quite possible. You could. And have for
that matter.” He leaned closer, kissing her quickly on the forehead
before continuing the dance.

“How?” she demanded when she next had
breath. Their movements together pleased her, for they complemented
each other in an easy, upbeat tempo that she enjoyed. He ignored
her question though, only whirled them more quickly through the
room until she struggled to find her breath. When he slowed, she
said instead, “I’m not very experienced with this.”

Ashberry smiled. On the contrary, he told
himself, she was perfectly experienced for him. “I shall try to
manage,” he teased, adding more seriously, “You dance very well, as
I’m sure you know.”

“I am much better at the minuet and the
quadrille. Mama told our dancing instructor in Germany that she
sincerely hoped this thing did not become the rage back in England,
but of course it will eventually because of the privacy of the
partners, despite the dangers of it. In Europe, she allowed me to
dance it only with Edward,” she added belatedly. “For it was much
too quick for me to dance it with a stranger. The boys weren’t
allowed to go at all, being quite too young.” Ellie smiled at him.
“I am glad now that I learned, so I could dance it with you.”

Ashberry caught his breath at her pleased
smile and quickened the pace so that she could not say anything
else that would affect him. The day had tried his senses nearly to
the breaking point, so when the music ended, he stepped back and
bowed to her. “Thank you for the dance, my beautiful Ella.”

“My lord,” she curtsied in return. “It was
an honor.”

Ashberry’s eyes flashed for a moment.
“That’s twice in just the last hour, you know,” he said
conversationally. “I shall endeavor to forgive you just this once,
in return for a small favor.”

Ellie’s cheeks turned pink even as she
asked, “Yes?”

“I want to hear my name—my Christian
name—pass those very kissable lips of yours.” He waited
nonchalantly, touching his thumb to her cheek.

Ellie didn’t point out to him that her
response was considered the appropriate one by all of English
society. Instead, she bit her lip, considering for a moment before
replying with an amused twist to her lips, “All right then. I
expect you will want to meet me downstairs before Edward and
Charlotte arrive for dinner tonight. I need to confer with Banning
before I bathe and dress for dinner. You, Shane Stephen Trinity,
stay out of my dressing room for the rest of the afternoon or I
shall make certain you live to regret it.” Without another word,
she turned and breezed from the room, abandoning Ashberry to the
emptiness of the vast cold room. When she was gone, he grinned and
followed her from the room.