A Convenient Bride by Cheryl Ann Smith

Author:Cheryl Ann Smith [Smith, Cheryl Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9780425260654
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 2012-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Mother, I do not know what you mean.” Brenna tried to keep her eyes level but found her gaze drifting downward to the floor. She really needed to practice the art of dodging Mother’s truth-detecting stare.

Kathleen made a small triumphant sound. “I knew that story was rubbish. The only thing missing from this Shakespearean farce was a funny neck collar for Richard and a lute strumming in the background.”

Warmth crept up Brenna’s neck. She nodded. “There are some issues we have yet to resolve.” Insurmountable issues. But her marriage was a private matter. And she had Richard’s continued good health in her hands. Father needed to think she was happy.

“Would you like to embellish on that comment?”

“Mother, nothing is so serious that it cannot be resolved. Neither myself nor Richard were prepared for this marriage. We were strangers. I suspect over the next few months, we will settle in to a contented life.”

“A contented life? That sounds perfectly dismal. You could have married that milksop, Abbot, and had ‘contented.’ What about passion?” Mother darted a glance at Father. “Your father and I are still passionate about each other. And it has been thirty years.”

Brenna drew in a deep breath. “There is more to a marriage than passion, Mother.” She held back regret. Looking at Richard dressed in gray, his hair slightly mussed and his damaged eye almost completely closed, she couldn’t think of anything more appealing than dragging him upstairs to bed. “What about companionship, or a shared love of books?”

Even to her ears, the argument fell flat.

Mother stared, aghast. “You cannot look forward to discussing books for the next forty years over bedding the handsome man you married?” Her eyes widened. “Has Richard suffered a malady that makes him no longer capable of performing his husbandly duties?”

“What? Mother, no!” The two men glanced over. Brenna lowered her voice. “Richard is perfectly capable of…Lud, must we discuss this? I am content with my position here. Can we not leave it at that?”

Even as she pleaded for understanding, she knew her mother would not leave the issue alone. Mother was happy with Father and wanted the same for her children.

Despite Father and Simon threatening her with an unwanted marriage, Mother would never have allowed them to marry Brenna off to Chester Abbot.

After adding another sugar to her tea, Mother finally broke the silence. “You have several months before the baby is born to make Richard fall in love with you. After you have recovered from the birth, I expect you to drag him into your bed and solidify your place as his cherished wife.”

Brenna’s flush deepened. It was impossible to speak so frankly with her mother without blushing. She knew her parents had a loving marriage; it was the idea of two people their age still sharing intimacies in bed that was, well, unseemly.

“Can we not talk about the weather?” Brenna begged. “I think the sky is threatening rain.”

Mother frowned. “Just remember what I said. If a man loves his wife, he is less likely to stray.

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