Page 61 of The Earl's Bluestocking Bride
Her stomach flipped over, and the strength of her emotions made it difficult to speak. She hadn’t dared to dream he would react so positively. Was this how it felt to be supported wholeheartedly?
It seemed she had gotten luckier in the marriage game than she ever could have imagined.
The following morning,Andrew shared a pleasant breakfast with his new wife in the morning room. She served him tea, adding sugar just as he liked, and in return, he filled a plate for her with egg, toast, and sausage.
He was more at ease than he had been in weeks as he snuck glances at her across the table. Everything was comingtogether. Her dowry had been transferred to his account, and he could already tell that they would be well suited together. She was intelligent and ambitious—two things he admired even if he didn’t share the same traits.
She was also rather pretty.
He’d always thought her nice to look at even though she didn’t meet the ton’s typical standards of beauty, but as she cut her toast with a secret smile on her lips and a flush on her cheeks, he’d challenge any man not to find her attractive.
“What do you intend to do today?” he asked.
Her knife chinked against the plate. “The past few days have been overwhelming, so today I intend to do nothing but read.”
He chuckled. He ought to have expected as much. “You should explore the library.”
Her eyes lit up. “I will. Are there any sections you would particularly recommend?”
He squinted, envisioning the library. “The fiction books are mostly along the side wall. The others are arranged by subject. They aren’t labeled, but it won’t take you long to work out what’s what.”
“Excellent. Not that I would mind the opportunity to explore anyway.”
He almost laughed. Of course she wouldn’t. He’d married a woman who was perfectly capable of entertaining herself. She had her own interests. Her own hobbies.
While that may make some gentlemen feel superfluous, he found it freeing because it meant her happiness wasn’t dependent on him. There was no pressure on him to keep her occupied.
They chatted as they finished breakfast, and then Andrew took a carriage to Ashford House. The duke received him in his office, where they were both more comfortable than in the drawing room.
“How is married life treating you?” Ashford asked as his housekeeper poured them each a cup of tea.
“So far, so good.” Andrew took the teacup and blew across the surface. “My wife is quite an unusual woman, but I like that about her.”
Ashford set his teacup on the desk to cool. “I get the impression that she and Emma would get along well. I was sincere about my invitation. When you leave London, you should consider visiting Ashford Hall. I’m sure Emma would appreciate having another woman to spend some time with.”
“We’ll do that.” He didn’t know whether Amelia had any friends within the ton. He’d never seen her speaking with any other young ladies in particular, nor had she mentioned anyone during their acquaintance. “Thank you for coming. I know it must have been difficult for you to leave home again so soon.”
Ashford glanced away, no doubt uncomfortable talking about anything that might be termed emotional. “I wouldn’t have missed it. I can’t deny that I’m eager to return, though.”
“I’m glad you’ve found someone who makes you happy,” Andrew said. His friend had spent too many years lonely. He deserved better. “Before you leave, may I ask your opinion on a few matters of business?”
Ashford leaned back in his chair and crossed his ankles. “Of course.”
Andrew sipped his tea and winced. Still hot. He placed it on the desk and rested his forearms on his thighs. “I will be speaking with Amelia’s father about hiring someone to manage our money, but I’d like to take some ideas to him when I do. I don’t want to just take Amelia’s dowry and live off it. I want to grow it.”
Ashford inclined his head. “You want investment advice?”
Andrew waved his hand back and forth. “Possibly. I have some ideas I’d like to run past you. To be honest, I feel guilty at the idea of spending money that is effectively my wife’s,and I want to do everything I can to make sure I don’t lose it. I refuse to be a bad husband to her.”
“That makes sense.” Ashford eyed him in a way that made Andrew nervous. “I can understand your concern, given what happened with Mr. Smith. What are you thinking of?”
Andrew set forth his plans, beginning with the safest option: mining. Mr. Hart had made much of his own fortune from mining; ergo, it stood to reason that he would approve an investment in that area.
But Andrew was less sure whether he’d consider his second investment idea to be sensible. An inventor was working on a mechanical plow that would not require a horse to pull it. If his work was successful, it could revolutionize cropping in England. But it was a big “if.”
In the end, Ashford didn’t have any useful perspective to offer on the matter beyond the possible benefits and concerns that Andrew had already thought of himself. He supposed he would simply have to ask for Mr. Hart’s thoughts on the matter.
He drained his tea in a few gulps and refilled his now empty teacup with lukewarm tea. “I also want to do something to show Amelia how much I appreciate her. Something that’s just for her.”
