Page 35 of The Rules of Matrimony
He looked up into the tree and bent to reach for a rock. No, this was going too far. “Forgive me,” he said, straightening. “It’s not a sight for a lady.”
“I suppose not.” She relaxed her grip on her basket, letting it fall to her side. “I suppose we will have squirrel for dinner. I willcongratulate you then. If you will excuse me, I will continue on my walk.”
He nodded and waved her forward, his smile dropping when she was too far to see. Squirrel? Really? Was he ten years old again? Even then, that was the last thing he wanted to eat for dinner. But neither was he going to disappoint her. He had too much pride for that. He looked around, not seeing a rodent in sight. With a sigh, he went in search of the gamekeeper.
Once he finally returned to the house, it was already dark, and storm clouds gathered overhead. Eager to change and forget about his tiresome afternoon, he hurried inside. Mr. Hamburg met him at the door with a letter. Ian accepted it, broke the seal, and scanned the contents.
By Jove! This was exactly what he’d been hoping for. The new home secretary, Robert Peel, was intrigued about Ian’s ideas for reform and wanted to meet. The House of Commons currently possessed more power than the House of Lords. He could almost taste the change on his lips.
How soon could he arrange to leave? The fortnight had not passed, but surely Amie would not begrudge having the house to herself sooner than planned. He committed to telling her at the first opportunity and leaving after breakfast.
He dressed for dinner and, once seated, grimaced at his plate. The small squirrel the gamekeeper had miraculously managed to catch lay cooked on his plate and sprinkled with herbs. Glancing at Amie, he caught her smile.
“I cannot wait to try it,” she said.
Good. The squirrel had been worth the long afternoon if it meant pleasing her, especially since he meant to leave in the morning. He hoped to part on amicable terms.
If he had learned one thing about Amie in their week together, it was that she deserved to be happy, and she would be much happier when she could finally rid herself of him. Independence would finally be hers.
Her dream come true.
Whereas, he was oddly reluctant for dinner to end, despite the eagerness his earlier letter had lent him. Even if he did not plan on touching the main course, let alone tasting it, he had grown used to seeing Amie at this hour every night.
Perhaps that was why he needed to hasten his departure. No more habits like this needed to be formed before he returned.
Chapter 15
Amie did not consider herselfto have a picky palate, but no matter how she tried, she could not bring herself to eat more than a single bite of squirrel. It was ... disgusting. She poked at the white meat on her plate, and when Ian bent to take a bite of his own dinner, she lifted a bare fork to her lips and pretended to chew. “Delicious, Ian.”
He looked up at her. “I’m glad you enjoy it.”
She couldn’t even force a smile. The nutty taste of her first bite still tempted her to gag.
Instead, she nodded.
Vigorously.
They had had such strained interactions all week, and today was the first sign that Ian was no longer angry with her. He had followed her all morning, after all. She did not know whether his hunting had had any part of it, but she did know that she had caught sight of him several times while meeting with the neighbors. His large body wasn’t terribly capable of masking his heavy footfalls either. Then Edna had told her that the gamekeeper had delivered squirrel for dinner but had stayed a half hour to complain about how his lordship had been so insistent that the gamekeeper had lost half a day’s work chasing down the little varmint.
Amie wanted to smile thinking about it. Had Ian gone to such efforts because she had said she expected him to catch one? How strange and amusing. She wanted to encourage this camaraderie, whatever his motivations. It had seemed foolish to ever hope for love after their wedding. But friendship? Surely they could find some semblance of it. And there were the flowers too. Edna had saidIan had insisted Amie have fresh wildflowers brought to her room regularly and that he had prepared the first bouquet himself. His thoughtfulness had touched her. Could they not find some way to get to know each other better?
“Amie,” Ian said.
She stopped her fake chewing. “Yes?”
“I’m leaving for London tomorrow.”
Her fork dropped, clanging against her plate. Leave? Now? Had he not promised another week with her? She fought down her surprise and tempered her voice. “So soon?”
He frowned. “I promised you independence, and I see no reason to prolong my stay. There will be a carriage here at your disposal for any trips you should take to the shops in town or to visit friends. You have already done an admirable job at acquainting yourself with the house and the neighborhood. I hope you will be comfortable here.”
Is that why he had followed her? Not because of any curiosity on his part or desire to know her better but because he’d wanted to see if she was capable of being left behind?
“Yes,” she said quickly. “I want my independence.” Her dream now felt like a lie on her lips. She felt compelled to say something more, even if she could not admit the truth to her changeable heart. “Please, don’t rush out the door on my account. This is your home too. I can distract myself whether you are here or not. I hardly notice your presence.” Another lie. It tasted worse than the squirrel. Of course she noticed Ian in the house. She sensed his movements almost before she heard him. It had been the same today on her walk.
She might be married to him, but admitting her strange feelings was unfathomable. Not after how he’d reacted to her kiss. She knew the difference between blind faith and sheer stupidity, and hoping for Ian to see her as anything more than a wife of convenience was clearly the latter.
Let him leave her. Then she might finally rid her thoughts of him.
