Page 54 of Crying Wolfe
Morley’s blush advertised that it had. “Oh, well, erm. Pru and Emmaline should be home in an hour or so, should I send them over?”
“That isn’t necessary. Now that I remember where Eli has gone, I think I’m going to have an early night.” Shoulders drooping with a heavy sigh, she picked up the corner of her skirt to turn and show herself out.
“Rosaline.”
“Hmmm?”
She glanced back to find Morley regarding her with undue vigilance. “When I spoke with Eli at our last family dinner here, he was unlike I’d ever seen him. Content. Relaxed. Dare I say, happy. You are better for him than I could have ever imagined.”
“I—I’m glad you think so.” Rosaline did her best to swallow her anxiety. What would he say when Eli spoke to him next? How would she explain her theft to a man of the law?
“What about you?” he asked, uncurling himself from the floor to stand. “Marriage often favors the man and can be—unduly challenging for a woman. How is Eli treating you? Tell me he’s behaving himself.”
“He has been nothing but…deferential with me,” she answered honestly.
“Glad to hear it.” He relaxed into a winsome smile. “He’s a good man, regardless of what he may claim. I know he’s something of a philistine compared to the sort of society you’re used to, but I hope you don’t judge him too harshly for that.”
Rosaline traced the grooves carved into the back of particularly ornate chair. “It’s part of what endears him to me, actually. I find that in each other’s company, it is easy to be…ourselves.”
Or at least most of herself.
If only she could cut that one part out. If she could go to Titus Conleith and submit to his knife and be rid of her demon once and for all.
What she probably needed was an exorcist.
“Are you content with him? Fond of him?” Morley did his best to hide his particular interest in the matters of his friend and his sister-in-law, but he was terrible at doing so.
Rosaline flinched at the question, feeling as if she’d swallowed an entire hive of bees.
“I’m delighted with him.”
“You don’t look delighted,” he noted with skepticism.
“I’m feeling poorly, is all. And…Eli has been gone a few days. I suppose I’m fighting a touch of melancholy.”
He gave a grunt of commiseration. “I am a terrible grouse whenever Pru and I are parted too long. She is the keeper of my happiness, and takes it with her when she goes.”
“That must be how I feel.” Her smile was so brittle, she feared he could see right through it.
“It vexes me that he let you worry.” Morley frowned. “That wasn’t well done of him.”
“Don’t mention it to him,” she requested, putting a beseeching hand on his arm. “He’s not a man accustomed to marriage or family. It’s made him remarkably independent, and I imagine that isn’t an easy tendency to break.”
Carlton patted her hand. “You’re better than he deserves. I think he’ll spend an entire lifetime realizing all the ways. I know I certainly do.”
“Nonsense.” Lifting on her tiptoes, she pressed a kiss to his sharp jaw, unable to help but notice the difference in aromas from her husband. The textures of their skin. The hues of their countenance.
She’d always secretly thought Morley was handsome, and hoped to have such a dignified, golden-haired husband someday.
Now, her preferences leaned in exactly the opposite direction. Her lips preferred a rough cheek to his smooth. A headier fragrance than his fresh one. And glinting dark eyes to his iridescent blue.
“Our entire family is unceasingly aware of how lucky we are to have you in our lives,” she assured him. “Have a lovely evening with your girls.”
“Get some rest, Rosaline.” He led her to the door and opened it, ever the unfailing gentleman. “If you’re not feeling better tomorrow, we’ll have a doctor out to look at you.”
“Thank you.”
Rosaline fled back to Hespera House, calling for Hildie as she climbed the steps two at a time… She’d a golden ballgown she’d not yet worn, and Hildie had her in it and worked some magic with her hair in under an hour.
