Never Marry a Stranger (6 page)

E
mily looked between Mr. Derby and Matthew. She knew they’d grown up together, had been friends for many years, but now things were…different. She’d been politely trying to dissuade Mr. Derby’s interest in her since she first emerged from mourning, but he always implied he knew what was best for her. Eager, arrogant man. He’d gone from claiming two dances at every party, to “accidentally” meeting her on a country lane, to recently calling on her—to the Leland family’s surprised pleasure.

“Matthew?” Mr. Derby said, his eyes wide in his pale face.

Gradually, the man began to smile, but he wasn’t quite able to conceal his…disappointment? But he and Matthew had been good friends.

And yet he’d been making his intentions toward her very clear, and now Matthew’s presence would obviously put an end to that.

Smiling, Matthew put his arm around Emily’s shoulders. “Peter, it is good to see you.”

So he remembered his friend, at least. But she hadn’t thought he would be the sort who needed such a masculine display.

Something within Peter seemed to ease, and his smile became more genuine. “How did this miracle occur?”

Between Rebecca and Lady Rosa, the entire story tumbled out.

“That is incredible,” Peter concluded. “I will write to my family about your good news.”

“Do have luncheon with us, Mr. Derby,” Lady Rosa said, taking his arm and steering him into the dining room. “Are your mother and brother in London?”

Her voice and his answer faded away.

Emily was surprised by Lady Rosa’s invitation, considering that Mr. Derby could no longer court her, and it might be rather awkward now that Matthew was home. But then she noticed that Susanna had gone into the dining room ahead of them, saying nothing. Did Susanna think her mother now meant to steer Mr. Derby’s attention toward her?

Matthew kept his arm about her. “We’ll join you in a moment, Father.”

The professor, trailing his wife, gave Emily a sympathetic nod. Reggie offered a casual salute as he passed by.

When they were alone, Matthew guided her away from the open door. “So, you and Peter?”
His voice was calm, almost speculative, as he released her.

She lifted her chin. “I was a widow out of mourning; he was persistent. I did not encourage him.”

“Why not? I would not fault you for that.”

“Then you are an incredibly understanding husband. I guess I should have realized that, by your tight arm around my shoulder.”

He continued to study her, laughter in his hazel eyes. “Sarcasm. Faint, but noticeable.”

“If it’s called for.”

He chuckled. “I like you, Emily Leland.”

“So I assumed when you married me.”

His voice became deeper, rougher. “I guess marriage meant that I more than liked you.”

She looked away.

“Does that hurt you?”

“No. It is simply still difficult to remember that I thought all of this”—she gestured toward him with both hands—“with you, was gone.”

“So you will not mourn whatever relationship you had with Peter?”

She smiled and lowered her voice. “He tried to make it more than it was, but I felt nothing.” She looked over her shoulder toward the entrance to the dining room. “It seems we will continue to see much of him.”

“He is an eligible man, and my mother has two single daughters.”

“But did you see Susanna’s reaction to him?”

“Perhaps she is hiding an interest she doesn’t know how to express. After all, Peter was here to see you—and has been seeing you. I’m not used to finding my wife being courted by another man.”

“How do you know?” she teased him, hoping it was the right tactic.

His eyes seemed to sharpen, making her hold her breath, but he continued smiling. “Because I’m far too confident in my abilities to keep a wife satisfied.”

The shot of heat was startling, surprising. Just his words could make her react to him? “Oh, my,” she murmured, fanning her face.

His eyes widened, then crinkled with amusement. He looked past her toward the dining room and sighed. “Speaking of things you’re not telling me, what is this about you and Susanna in the laboratory today, right after we discussed bringing her back into the folds of Society?”

She frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“I assumed we were of one mind, that she needs to give a woman’s daily routine a try.”

“So you do not want her to pursue the things she loves?”

He hesitated. “I was hoping to convince her to find other, more feminine pursuits.”

“You didn’t make that clear to me. I think painting is a very typical pursuit for a young lady.”

He put his hands on his hips as he stared down at her, saying nothing.

She sighed. “Very well, painting musculature for an anatomist is not very typical. Do you really think she should give it up?” She let her voice express her doubt, but did not contradict him. How could she, in her role as his wife?

“Perhaps there are men who think it unseemly—if they even know about it.”

“A few may,” she mused.

“Which means they told a few more.”

“I see. What would prompt Susanna to give up something she loves, for a future that might never happen?”

To her surprise, he stepped closer to her. “We can show her what a happy marriage can be like. You know, she grew up with only our parents’ strained relationship to emulate.”

Emily licked her suddenly dry lips, his chest so broad before her. “Our happy marriage you cannot even remember?”

He touched her chin, lifting it. “I want to remember. I
will
remember. You captivate me, Emily.”

For a moment she thought he might kiss her, right in the corridor while his family waited luncheon for them. She wanted him to. She needed him to be captivated.

But she didn’t want him to remember.

She smiled and touched his chest. “I am beside
myself with curiosity. Did you find answers to all your questions when you spoke to your father? Or am I still a mystery to you?”

He smiled. “My parents are very fond of you. But I hear they weren’t totally surprised when you showed up on their doorstep. They said they had received a letter from your parish vicar in anticipation of your arrival last year.”

Tension contracted her stomach, chasing away all the pleasurable feelings he’d inspired. “Yes, I hadn’t known the dear man was sending it.”

“Was he the man who married us? I could not remember his name, and neither could my parents.”

“He was.” She wanted to stroll to the windows, try to find air to breathe, but didn’t dare give evidence of retreat. “Mr. Tillman. He’s dead now,” she said impassively, and she saw the flash of memory as a pillow was held over his face. She could not control her shudder.

“I am sorry to remind you of such sad tidings,” Matthew said, putting his hand on her shoulder.

“You couldn’t have known.”

“Was I supposed to remember?”

The faint pain in his voice made her look at him again. “No, this is nothing you’ve forgotten. He died just before I arrived here.”

He held out his arm to her. “Let’s put such sadness behind us. Shall we rejoin my family?”

She nodded, hiding her relief.

During luncheon, Matthew found himself watching Peter Derby, who did his best to not even glance at Emily, and any time Peter looked at him, it was a tentative glance. Matthew made it a point to smile at him, to let him know that his past behavior toward Emily was understandable.

“What have you been doing with yourself these past few years, Peter?” he asked.

“The usual social engagements, of course. I accompany my mother when she needs me, and assist my brother with the management of our lands. Although right now, as I explained earlier to Lady Rosa, I am more idle than usual, as my mother and brother have gone north to visit her sick aunt. I stayed behind on my brother’s behalf.”

Lady Rosa inclined her head to Peter. “And so I told him he should not stay at home alone. He should spend several days here with us.”

She was not very good at hiding the look she gave each of her daughters. Both of them smiled politely.

“This is very gracious of you, Lady Rosa,” Peter said, his eyes bright. “Matthew, I would enjoy hearing all about your time in India.”

Matthew smiled. “Of course.”

Peter turned to the Leland sisters and opened his mouth as if to speak, but Rebecca interrupted.

“Did you see the abundance of mail we received
today?” she asked, too brightly, of the entire room.

Lady Rosa smiled. “Did you receive any special correspondence, Rebecca?”

She blushed. “Nothing unusual, Mama. Just an invitation to tea with Lady Brumley.”

“Ah, and isn’t her son handsome?”

Matthew watched his sister smile and shrug, and it could have been a coy move, but…it wasn’t. For a brief moment he thought she seemed uninterested. Wasn’t she supposed to be the sister eager for marriage? What had been going on here the last two years? he wondered with mild disbelief.

Rebecca continued, “Emily, I set your letter beside your plate.”

Matthew’s gaze shot to Emily, who only smiled.

“All of the newest invitations also included Matthew in the address,” Rebecca added.

“Then the whirlwind has begun,” the professor said dryly.

Matthew smiled at Rebecca. “Who are they from?”

She listed the invitations from various families to breakfasts, dinners, and even a ball there in the country. He recognized all the names as friends or relatives, and although he smiled and made the right responses, even frowned as if his memory failed him once or twice, he continued to watch Emily. She had received a single letter, and for a moment betrayed
confusion as she looked at the name affixed to it. Did she not receive many letters? Or just not recognize the name? She didn’t open it at the table.

Lady Rosa cleared her throat, and the table became silent. “To celebrate your homecoming, Matthew, I propose that we invite the entire family to come at the end of the week, and that during their visit, we host a ball for all of our neighbors.”

“That sounds fine,” he said. He could confide in his cousins, Daniel and Christopher. The three of them had always been able to solve a problem together.

After a long conversation about who they would invite to the ball, Lady Rosa asked, “And what are you doing this afternoon, Matthew?”

“Emily and I are going riding.”

Susanna brightened. “Can I c—”

She broke off as Rebecca elbowed her.

When Lady Rosa stood up, everyone else joined her. “Mr. Derby, do send for your things. I was very serious about you joining us. You young people will have so much to do together.”

“I’ll journey home this afternoon, my lady,” Peter said. “I have correspondence to take care of before returning.”

As everyone left the dining room, Matthew didn’t realize that Emily was gone until he turned around. If she was simply changing into her riding clothes, why not say so?

He caught Reggie’s arm. “Did you see which way Emily went?” he asked in a low voice.

“Sorry, I thought you were keeping close tabs on your wife.”

He laughed. “I don’t have time right now. Susanna?” he called, seeing his sister reach the end of the corridor.

She turned back to him, and when she saw Peter going a different way, smiled and approached Matthew.

“I have something to discuss with you,” he said, ignoring her reaction to Peter—for now. “Reggie, what are you doing today?” he asked as his friend moved away.

Reggie turned around but kept walking. “Obviously not riding with you,” he said, and waved.

By then Susanna stood next to Matthew, who took her arm and led her into a smaller drawing room across the corridor from the dining room. Lady Rosa hesitated, her expression concerned. He smiled as he closed the door without inviting her inside.

When he turned around, Susanna’s arms were folded over her chest, her chin lifted, spectacles glittering on her nose.

Matthew blinked at her. “Is something wrong?”

“It depends what you mean to say,” she answered coolly.

“Very well, I’ll come right to the point. I’m worried about you.”

She sighed loudly and threw her arms wide. “You’ve been talking to Mama and Papa about my spinsterhood, haven’t you?”

“You speak like it’s a foregone conclusion.”

“I am twenty-six years old, Matthew. Let me be. My life is as I wish it, and I am happy. Even Mama has accepted it.”

“I haven’t. And Emily hasn’t.”

Susanna looked briefly stricken. “Emily? But she and I—”

“She did not betray any confidences, let me make that clear. But she is a woman who has known what it is like to feel alone in the world. She is worried about that happening to you.”

“Alone? But I have all of you, my aunts, and my cousins. How could I be alone?”

“Emily thought she had a large family to protect her, and they were all taken from her in one moment of heartbreak.” He raised both hands. “I know you have extended family, and such a tragedy is highly unlikely, but we’re both concerned that you will end up feeling alone, when everyone has their own family but you.”

“I like being alone.”

But she spoke too quickly.

“That may be. But much as we hate to consider it, someday our parents will be gone, and Rebecca and I will have our own households. I do not think
your inheritance will be enough for you to live very comfortably alone.”

“So I’ll live with you.”

“And you can do so forever. But…Emily and I plan to have many children.” A small lie to persuade his sister.

“I can help her.”

“But will it be easy to watch, knowing you’ll never have any of your own?”

Susanna swallowed, saying nothing for a moment. “I will take my life as God sees fit to grant me.”

“Then do me a favor. Give me the next few weeks. I want you to accompany me to every event I attend. I want to show off my accomplished little sister.”

“Accomplished?” She gave an awkward laugh. “Will you hide my bluestocking ways?”

“Not hide, no,” he said gently. “But I’ll ask you to refrain from them for just a while. This isn’t about appeasing Mother—it’s about making sure there is not a man out there for you to love, one who would accept you in every way, if given a chance.”