The Maiden Bride by Becnel Rexanne

Author:Becnel, Rexanne [Becnel, Rexanne]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 1996-09-14T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Linnea sent an army of workers in ahead of her. Axton would be annoyed, she feared. But the infusion would appease him. And mayhap he would begin to see her as more than merely a convenient female body.

But why should she have such a foolish notion? she asked herself. Why should she care that he appreciate her housewifely skills? If her grandmother’s plan came to pass, he would soon be gone from Maidenstone, replaced by her sister’s husband, whoever he might be. How Axton felt about her wifely skills would be completely buried beneath the pure hatred he would feel for her deception.

Unfortunately, that bit of logic did her no good at all. The fact was, there were those aspects of Axton de la Manse that appealed to her. He might be a fierce warrior and possessed of a lethal temper, but he was still better tempered than her brother, Maynard. Even ignoring the incredible intimacies they’d shared, she could not entirely hate him. For the most part he treated her decently and she, perversely, wanted him to appreciate her.

Of course, he thought she was Beatrix, she reminded herself. Even Maynard treated Beatrix decently. If Axton knew she was not Beatrix, he would not be nearly so decent. Indeed, his temper would very likely become uncontrollable.

He had not struck her last night, but when he learned the truth … She shuddered to even think of his reaction.

But that day was a long way off, she told herself. A long way. Meanwhile, whether she liked him or hated him, she must play the part given to her. She must appear to be a dutiful and loving wife to him, and thereby prove her worth to her family.

“Does Ida go to Romsey with the Lady Harriet?” she asked Norma as they started up the stairs.

“Yes, milady. They depart very soon with a small guard to escort them.”

Linnea grimaced. Truth be told, a part of her was relieved to have her grandmother’s dour presence gone. But it created problems as well. “I pray her absence does not hasten my father’s decline.”

Norma shook her head. “’Tis a sad thing, but not unknown. His father was the same. One day a strong man; the next crushed by adversity and robbed of his senses.”

“Did he never recover?”

Norma’s answer was a grim shake of the head.

Linnea digested that in silence. She’d known her father would offer her little help. To know he could offer her none, however, was bitter indeed. She sighed. “I hope my grandmother does not have to endure the journey to Romsey on horseback.”

“She travels in a horse litter. Milord Axton did order it so.”

Linnea paused on the steps and stared at Norma. A horse litter? Her husband had ordered a horse litter to make the journey easier for an old woman who did hate him and conspire against him? Not that he knew she conspired. But he did know she hated him. No one could mistake that. Even so, he’d ordered a horse litter for her.

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