Page 41 of The Rules of Matrimony
Amie winced. “Yes.”
Ian sighed. “I suppose they must share the other spare room, then.”
Amie shook her head. “I thought to prepare it for my mother. I had the bedding donated and the drapes burned.”
Ian’s mouth fell open. “Good grief.”
Amie was reluctant to continue, but she had to explain. “We spent all morning pushing the furniture to the middle of the room and covering it so we might paint.”
Ian pinched his nose with his hand. “Stop, please stop.”
She held her tongue, though her mind raced for a solution. Surely they could find more bedding, though it would take time to put the furniture back. They couldn’t order new drapes fast enough, but maybe they could tack blankets to the wall? What was shethinking? When had tacked blankets been acceptable for an earl and a countess?
“They’ll have to have my room,” Ian finally said, dropping his hand with a long, weary sigh.
Amie frowned. It didn’t seem fair that he should give up his room when she had created the bedchamber dilemma to begin with. “But where will you sleep?”
His brow rose, and he gave her a pointed stare.
She scrunched her nose. “In the library?”
He shook his head.
She thought again. “The sitting room?”
He shook his head again.
There was no room in his small office. Not for a man as tall as him. Then it dawned on her. “Wait.” Her eyes widened. “With ... me?”
Ian gave her a concise nod, his face grim.
Her mouth formed the shape of anO.
Ian stepped back from her and took a seat on the sofa, facing the fireplace. “I never imagined I would put you in this situation, but you did agree to help my father believe our marriage is legitimate. I would not ask if I knew a better alternative.”
She forced her gaping mouth to close. She couldn’t just stare dumbly at him all night. He deserved an answer. “I suppose it is a fair solution. It’s not like we haven’t spent the night together in the same room before.” Heat filled her cheeks as she added, “You can depend upon my help.”
“Thank you,” Ian said. “I shall speak to the housekeeper about the arrangements, if you can inform the cook.”
She nodded, clasping her hands together like the brave little viscountess she wasn’t. Ian pushed away from the sofa and made to leave, but she wasn’t ready for him to abandon her. Not yet. Before he could grasp the door handle she blurted, “Were you able to finish your business in London?”
He looked at her over his shoulder, his frown deepening. “No, but I am more anxious than ever to see it through.” He did not expound, but she could see that whatever it was that he was working on weighed heavily on him. She filled in his unsaid words: When his parents left, he would leave again too.
Once he vacated the room, her shoulders slumped. She rubbed her forehead with one hand and hugged her waist with the other. Why had she immediately assumed he had returned to confess his love to her? She was an idiot. She would play the part of a dutiful wife, but she would not grow any more attached. There was no reason to miss someone who did not miss her in return.
Chapter 20
If his wedding had beenawkward, dinner with Amie and his parents was far worse.
“We must apologize again for coming unannounced,” Mama said to Amie across the table. Amie had dressed the part with a pretty pale-yellow gown and her hair pinned neatly to her head. Too neatly. He suddenly wished it were down, which would be, of course, completely inappropriate. His tired mind was abusing him again.
“You are always welcome,” Amie said. She met Ian’s gaze, almost as if she sought approval of her statement.
He smiled at her and gave a small nod. She had done exceedingly well for her first time hosting. He knew she had little experience with gatherings to the level his family was used to, but no one would know it by how she performed her role. She carried herself with an air of grace and said all the right things.
Was it wrong of him that he was half afraid of another unexpected occurrence? Something like finding a maid convalescing in the family rooms. He still couldn’t believe how the house had been turned upside-down in the mere two days of his absence.
After dinner, his mother took Amie’s arm, and the two of them left to the sitting room together. He heard Amie whisper an apology about missing the wedding breakfast. He cringed inwardly. He should have been the one to apologize for it, but he was grateful she had done it for them. He tried to relax back in his seat, but his muscles were stretched taut. It was just him and his father now, and Ian wasn’t prepared for it.
