Sapphire and Silk by Leslie O'Grady

Author:Leslie O'Grady [O'Grady, Leslie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 2017-09-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Aurora stood before the open armoire and tried to decide which one of her many beautiful gowns she was going to wear today. But her attention kept wandering to the closed door that separated her suite from her husband’s. It took all the strength of will she possessed to keep from crossing the room, opening that door, and enticing him into bed.

She chuckled to herself as she rang for her maid to help her dress. As Nicholas had pointed out this morning, they had spent the first week of their marriage in bed and had to face the world sometime. He had an estate to run, and she the household. Besides, he had whispered against her hair before she reluctantly rose to return to her own bedchamber, nightfall would come soon enough.

Aurora poured herself a cup of hot chocolate and walked over to the tall window overlooking the rolling front lawn and the park beyond. She shook her head and laughed at herself. She had been so foolish—so childish—to fear her physical union with Nicholas. No woman could have asked for such a gentle, considerate bridegroom.

Yet as she sipped her chocolate, fresh doubts began to creep across her thoughts like the clouds stealing across the clear blue sky. True, when she and Nicholas were in bed together, locked in each other’s fervent embrace, Aurora felt as though she had known him all her life. But by the harsh light of day she wondered if he would become a different person, someone difficult to know.

The knock on her door reminded Aurora that the real world was about to intrude with its demands and responsibilities. She set her cup down and crossed the room to admit her maid.

After luncheon, Nicholas had an appointment with his estate agent, so Aurora was left to her own devices. She decided it was time to call upon her mother-in-law.

Aurora knocked on the double doors leading to Lady Mary’s rooms and waited.

Since the afternoon of that disastrous introduction, Aurora had made up her mind that she was going to do everything in her power to win over the withdrawn, reclusive woman. Even if she couldn’t persuade her to leave her rooms and take her rightful place with the family, Aurora was determined to elicit some sort of response from her.

Now the door swung open to reveal the dour Rose.

“Yes, madam?” Rose said in an unenthusiastic voice.

Aurora smiled brightly. “Good afternoon. Rose. I would like to see Lady Mary.”

“I’m afraid that is quite impossible, madam,” the maid replied, trying to bar the way with her slight form. “Her ladyship is having one of her megrims and doesn’t wish to be disturbed.”

“I am very disappointed to hear that,” Aurora said. “Tell her that I shall call upon her tomorrow to see how she is faring.”

“Her ladyship might still be ill. Her megrims often come upon her swiftly and last for several days.”

Aurora looked the maid squarely in the eye and said, “In that case, I shall call the day after tomorrow, and every day after that until she is feeling well enough to receive me.

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