Winning My Wife: Most Imprudent Matches - Book Three by Ally Hudson

Author:Ally Hudson [Hudson, Ally]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798988218135
Publisher: Busy Nothings Books
Published: 2024-01-01T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Six

THORNTON HALL, KENT – APRIL 15, 1814

KATE

They were at it again. Michael and Juliet, heads bent together over a card table, murmuring softly.

I had never, not once in our lives, seen her so happy. Even worse, now that I knew what her joy looked like, I realized that I had never seen it on her. Gone was that way she had about her, the one I always assumed was just Juliet. The perpetual tension in her muscles, prepared to spring into action in any second, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was a new languidness to her movements.

She and Michael were feigning some sort of gaming lesson. There was little in the way of teaching going on. That seemed to be the usual case. Michael, a seasoned gambler, should have found the entire thing dreadfully dull. Instead, he looked at her as though she held the answer to every one of life’s questions.

My favorite moments were the ones I caught when he thought no one was looking. The naked love in his eyes, and it could only be love, was unbearably heartbreaking and sweet to see. He looked at her the way I always wanted a husband to look at me. To see that expression on his usually guarded face… There were times it was all I could do to refrain from squealing in delight.

It was love.

There was no doubt in my mind that both of them were desperately in love. I had seen it on Lizzie’s face and on her husband Sydney’s face. Mother and Father, too, wore that expression often.

I was thrilled for my friend, unbearably thrilled. The only problem was their affection and consideration for each other threw my own marriage into sharp contrast.

Hugh did nothing but hide in his study, day in and day out. It was as though he could not stand the sight of me. Except at night, at night he came with more and more demanding, provocative touches.

I managed the disappointment well enough, visiting the vicarage and seeing to the tenants, making improvements to the estate.

It was true that I would never have the kind of life I had dreamed of, with a husband who looked at me with a fraction of the adoration Michael wore, but I was carving out a life here.

There was a satisfaction that came with running a household. Each incremental improvement brought with it more pride and a sense of belonging.

I had developed something like a friendship with several of the tenants. True, it was not a real friendship because they were too deferential of my rank for me to truly confide in them. But I enjoyed their company, and they enjoyed mine. And I did count Anna amongst my real friends. Michael, too, would soon join those ranks, I was certain of it.

It was different from the life I envisioned, but that need not mean it was a bad life. And, once we were blessed with children, I need not feel quite so lonely.

A giddy part

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