But then she lifted her head and looked at him. There was such a longing in her gaze, but he realized it wasn’t something sexual. That desire had been sated, at least for a little while. It was a longing for something more. The same thing he wanted. And it gave him even more hope, because if even some small part of her desired to be more than merely lovers and friends in this marriage, then he could get there. He could earn her trust and her love.
She pressed a kiss to his mouth gently and then got out of the bed. He longed to grab her hand, ask her to stay, but he recalled Pippa’s admonishment to go slowly. So he simply allowed her to gather up her things in an awkward pile. She smiled at him once more and then slipped from his room without further comment.
He rolled over on his side, breathing in the scent of her that had been left behind. This was going to be work, but it was worth it. She was worth it. And so was the future he was beginning to build in his mind.
Chapter 21
Abigail placed another book on her shelf and stepped back to enjoy her handiwork. The room was coming together. She had taken her time deciding how she wished to organize things, and now she had her books separated by subject and then alphabetical by the author. It was the first time they were so organized, and she thrilled that the next time she needed information, it would be easy to find.
She sighed as she moved to the window and looked out over the garden behind the house. Servants buzzed around, doing their duties and talking to each other. She knew it was the same all over the house. It had been three days since the argument with Nathan, and things had gone back to normal. Better, actually. They made love every night…and some long and lovely afternoons…and he often spoke to her about what she was working on.
They had even come to terms about the ball he desired to hold. A few more days and she would be hostess for the first time as Duchess of Gilmore.
Ophelia had become more kind, as well, though Abigail did sometimes catch her sister-in-law watching her with an odd expression. Still, she felt more comfortable in her role as duchess and in the vast and intimidating halls of this home.
There was a light knock on the open door behind her, and she turned to find Nathan standing there. Her breath caught, just as it seemed to always catch when he had been away from her for more than an hour. It was so very unfair that he was so handsome.
He smiled. “It looks marvelous, Abigail.”
Her cheeks heated at his compliment and she looked around. “It does. It feels like my room now.”
“I’m glad,” he said softly. For a moment they just looked at each other, but then he shook his head. “I seem to be losing myself in thought. I have a surprise for you, which is why I came. Will you come with me?”
She blinked at the twinkle that had entered his eye. “A surprise? What is it?”
He laughed. “If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise.” He held out a hand. “Please.”
The please was what got her, said in that rough tone he sometimes got. The one that seemed to dance up her spine. She took his hand and followed him down the hall to one of the many parlors. He opened the door and revealed a very pretty woman sitting on the settee. She rose as they entered, and smiled broadly at Abigail.
“Abigail, may I present the Duchess of Willowby. Your Grace, this is my wife, the Duchess of Gilmore.”
Abigail was so shocked she couldn’t move for a fraction of a moment. She had heard of the Duchess of Willowby before. She had married the mysterious Duke of Willowby a few years prior and it was well-known that she dabbled in the same healing arts as had caught Abigail’s fancy. Abigail had always been fascinated by her, but had never felt comfortable reaching out to her. Their positions had always felt too disparate.
She rushed forward to take the hand the woman offered. “Your Grace,” she gushed. “How lovely it is to meet you. I have heard so much about you.”
The duchess smiled. “And I you, from my very good friend the Duchess of Abernathe. When Emma speaks highly of someone, all of our group must listen.”
Abigail’s cheeks heated, for the Duchess of Abernathe had been one of the people who caught her and Nathan in this very parlor that night of his ball all those weeks ago. And while Emma had been very kind since, Abigail had to wonder if that fact had come up in whatever she said to her friends.
“She is a lovely woman,” Abigail said as she motioned the duchess back to her seat. “And so kind to mention me to you. Will you have tea?”
Nathan held up a hand and waved her to her seat. “I will fetch it.”
Abigail’s eyes went wide. Nathan fetch her tea? That certainly wasn’t what gentlemen usually did. And yet he did it without complaint so that her conversation with her guest did not have to be interrupted.
“Your Grace—” she and the duchess both began, and then they laughed together.
“Honestly, it is always impossible when you get more than one duchess in a room,” the Duchess of Willowby said. “Why don’t you just call me Diana? And I will call you Abigail, if it is not too forward.”
“It isn’t at all,” Abigail said with a sigh of relief. “I admit, I am not entirely accustomed to the title. When people say Your Grace, I automatically look behind me to see what fine duchess has entered the room.”
Nathan handed over a cup to Diana and the other to Abigail. Then he leaned down and squeezed her shoulder. It was like he deposited all his strength into her with that brief touch and she took it eagerly. “I will leave you two to get to know each other.”
She glanced up and found him smiling down at her with such an expression of joy. As if her happiness and excitement gave him the same feeling. Her heart lurched at the sight, and she watched him go before she refocused on Diana, who was now observing her closely.
“He is besotted,” she said with a smile. “Just as all the stories say.”
Abigail caught her breath. Yes, the stories. All those stories of their great love that weren’t true. Only they sometimes felt like they weren’t a lie, either. It was confusing and a little terrifying.
She smiled nervously and changed the subject. “I admit I am so happy to meet you. I don’t know if you knew that I share your interest in herbal remedy and progressive healing.”
Diana nodded. “Gilmore said as much in his letter to me when he asked me here. I was thrilled to hear it. I adore my friends beyond reason, but none of them have the same obsession I do with such things. I am excited to be able to talk with a fellow healer.”
Abigail smiled. She was bubbling with excitement as the two of them dove into a far deeper conversation on the topic. But even as she and Diana became fast friends, she couldn’t help but think of Nathan and his expression when he left them alone.
The idea that he could be happy just by making her happy was…intoxicating. And she feared she could too easily be drunk on it and forget her senses if she was not careful.
Nathan was sitting at his desk a few hours after he had left Abigail with the Duchess of Willowby. A line of figures down his ledger was what he was supposed to be focusing on, but instead he kept thinking of Abigail and hoping she was having a good time.
As if conjured by his thoughts of her, the door to his study opened and she stepped into the room. Her face was lit up like a thousand candles and her eyes danced as she shut the door behind herself and leaned against it.