Page 10 of A Gentleman's Wife

“And I always will be, madam.” Eliza winked, then turned Marianne and faced her toward the door. “Off you go, then. Breakfast room is down the large staircase and to the left.”

Eliza opened the bedroom door, and then Marianne found herself alone in the corridor, sunlight pouring through the tall windows above. She eyed the door down a ways, the one that belonged to her husband, and she wondered how he spent his mornings. Did he often go walking or riding in the country? Would he expect her at certain hours of the day? He’d been very generous in allowing her time alone yesterday to rest and get settled, but what would their normal lives look like?

Tucking her right hand beneath her left hand out of habit, Marianne slowly made her way through the house as Eliza had instructed, taking in all the sights of the grand estate. Where the house had been full of guests and conversation at the wedding breakfast the day before, it was now empty and quiet. She walked past mirrors and portraits, statues and vases, until her feet led her to an ornate doorway manned by the elderly butler.

“Good morning, madam,” he greeted with a bow.

“Good morning. Collins, is it?”

He nodded. “At your service. Anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask. Even something as simple as sneaking a chocolate before bed.” The man gave her a wink, which made her smile and helped to ease her nerves. He pulled on the gilded handle and opened the door for her.

The breakfast room, in comparison to the rest of the house, was small. It felt simple and comfortable, which she preferred. Until she spotted her husband at the end of the table, which brought the return of her racing heart and heated cheeks.

Thomas. His name was Thomas. She would have to become more familiar with using his Christian name.

“Good morning,” he greeted, standing to bow.

Marianne bobbed in a curtsy. “Good morning.”

“Please, come have a seat, and I will ready you a plate.” He held out his hand for her, which she hesitantly took, and he led her to the table, seeing her seated.

“Thank you.”

“How did you sleep?” he asked as he filled her plate.

“Very well, thank you.” The spread of food boasted various options and delicious smells, and a curl in her stomach reminded her how little she’d eaten the day before.

“And your parents have gone?”

Marianne nodded. “Yes. They left after the festivities and have returned home.”

“Well, I’m grateful they brought you here and wish them safe travels.” Then he returned to her side. “A little of everything?” He held out the plate with a smile and set it before her, and Marianne’s face drained of any warmth. She would be able to eat most of what he’d chosen for her breakfast, fruits and eggs and pastries, but there was a piece of ham that would require cutting with a knife. A job for two hands that Marianne was often unable to do alone.

How she wished everything in her life didn’t go back to her restricted hand. She wished to be seen as a normal, capable woman who could take care of her own meal, as well as the estate she now called home. What staff would respect her if she couldn’t manage eating breakfast on her own?

“Is something the matter?” Thomas asked, not returning to his seat. “Is the food not to your liking?”

Marianne took a deep breath, hoping to calm her heartbeat before speaking. “It is lovely, only I… the meat might be a bit too large for my one functioning hand.”

Immediately his eyes turned soft and repentant. “Oh, of course. Please forgive my thoughtlessness.” Leaning closer and motioning toward her table setting, he said, “May I?”

She nodded numbly, even though she felt frozen in shock, as he reached for her fork and knife, and began cutting the ham himself. It was something the cook and the servants in her father’s home had long known and had always prepared meals for her that were simple enough to eat with one hand. But it had slipped Marianne’s mind to incorporate such things in her new home. And she certainly hadn’t expected her husband to so readily deign to assist. Her father or brother would never have acted so graciously.

“If you’d like, I can inform Cook to have things prepared more suitably for you in the future.”

Marianne swallowed. “Yes, thank you. That would be nice. I’m sorry for the imposition…”

“Nonsense,” he said, his smile uncomfortably close to her face. “What good am I if I can’t be of service to my wife? Isn’t that what I swore to just yesterday?”

Marianne found herself returning his smile as he finished cutting the ham and then returned to his seat. His ability and desire to make her feel comfortable was proving quite effective. “Thank you, Thomas.”

“You’re welcome, Marianne.”

“Will we be dining together often?” she asked.

He gave her a questioning look. “I suppose you’re welcome to dine in your room whenever you see fit, or I might have other business that keeps me, but as a rule, I imagine we will eat together here or in the dining room. Are you more accustomed to another form of taking meals?”

Marianne stiffened. Only honesty would make sense in this scenario. “I only ask because my parents preferred to dine alone, and I would eat after they’d finished. I simply inquired after what the normal schedule would be here.”

Thomas did not respond right away. He settled his gaze on her, and Marianne couldn’t tell if she was being judged or pitied or appraised in some other way. But finally, he gave her a small smile. “Well, I, for one, did not marry to continue being alone. It may take some time for us to get used to one another, but I look forward to your company.”

His words mirrored her own emotions, and again she relaxed into the chair. The more time she spent in Thomas’s presence, the more she was convinced that he was a good man and her life would be very different from the life she’d endured in her parents’ home.

Marianne nodded. “Thank you. I feel the same.”

“I’m glad.” He picked up his fork and turned to his plate. “Now, if you’re feeling up to it, I was thinking it would be a good time to finish a tour of the grounds. And then we could take a turn around the village, so I can introduce you to the tenant farmers and their wives. It’s been many years since this estate had a mistress, and they’re all excited to meet you.”

The thought of being presented as a mistress of a house in a region she didn’t know returned the tumble of nerves in her stomach, but she did want to see more of her new surroundings, so she knew she needed to be brave. “I’d like that very much.”

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