Anticipation danced along her flesh as she realized the stakes had changed. She wanted much more than just a child. She wanted a real marriage.
Chapter 13
“Do you approve, my lord?” Haddock asked from the other side of the dining room table.
Twelve wine glasses stood in two rows on the table at his chair and Sabrina’s. Each glass held a small amount of a different wine. In the front row were three claret wines and three hock, while the rear glasses contained fortified wines. The type of wine and the year it was produced had been written on small pieces of parchment, which were placed at the base of Sabrina’s glasses—because this was for her education.
“I do. You’ve outdone yourself, thank you.”
Haddock smiled. He’d seemed to show a…livelier side since the incident with the cat. “It was my pleasure to arrange for this tasting. What a wonderful idea to introduce her ladyship to wine.”
Constantine hoped it would be more than that. After last night’s meeting with the tutor, he was committed to doing what he’d said. He meant to seduce his wife and not just in the bedchamber. That was why he hadn’t visited her last night. They needed to establish a relationship if they meant to carry on.
Mrs. Haddock strode into the dining room. “Her ladyship will be down presently. I will fetch the accompaniments.” She’d looked at Constantine as she’d spoken, but before she went to the door to the backstairs to the kitchen, she sent a glance toward her husband who reacted very slightly. Still, Constantine noticed. There was a lightening to Haddock’s expression, an answering glow in his eyes.
Constantine wondered if he and Sabrina would ever exchange such looks.
He moved to the doorway to await his wife. A moment later, she appeared, as breathtakingly lovely as always. Her honey-gold hair was worked into a simple style, but a pearl comb nestled amongst the curls. It matched the pearls at her throat, which in turn complimented her rose and ivory floral gown. She looked fresh and alluring, as if she’d just walked in from outside and brought the sun with her.
Her slender brows arched, and her eyes widened as she took in the table. “My goodness, that’s a great many wineglasses.”
“It is indeed. Today, you’re going to taste a variety of wines so that you may decide what you prefer.”
“You planned this?” She stared at him in wonder.
“Mostly Haddock did, but at my request.” He dashed a grateful glance toward the butler.
“This is…marvelous.” She shook her head, then pivoted to face him. “I am reminded that I didn’t properly thank you for your other thoughtfulness—the red book from Repton. I still can’t quite believe you had that done. I can’t possibly express my gratitude. Or my delight.” Her blue gaze met his with an openness he didn’t think they’d ever held in his presence.
A surprising burst of joy spread through him, a splendid heat that made him want to smile. So he did. “It was my pleasure to commission it. Did you like his design?”
“Very much. It’s exactly what I would have wanted to do, but then I deeply admire Capability Brown’s landscapes, which seems to have been the primary influence.”
His brow puckered. “Would have wanted… Would you not like to have the work completed?
Her eyes goggled even wider this time. “You would support that?”
“Of course. Why have him make the book if we didn’t plan to complete the work?”
“Oh.” She pressed her lips together, and for a moment he was uncertain. She appeared agitated. Then her face lit with a smile, as if she were indeed carrying the sun in her pocket. “I would love to see it done. I am overwhelmed by your generosity.”
That word—generosity—made him think of the tutor. She’d said something similar last night…
Mrs. Haddock came in bearing a tray of food to be sampled with the wine. There were biscuits, breads, and cheeses, as well as some fruit. As she set the tray down and began to arrange the dishes, Sabrina moved toward the table.
“This is enough food for a group,” she noted.
“Perhaps we should invite the Haddocks to join us,” Constantine offered genially.
Both the butler and the housekeeper stared at him, freezing in place for a moment.
“I am content to pour for you and her ladyship,” Haddock said carefully.
Constantine hadn’t meant to make them uncomfortable. “Yes, of course.” He moved to Sabrina’s chair and held it for her.
She murmured her thanks as she sat. Then she lifted her gaze to Mrs. Haddock. “How is Grayson?”
“He’s quite well, my lady”
“Naughty as ever?” Sabrina asked with a smile that captivated Constantine’s attention as he took his chair.
Mrs. Haddock chuckled. “He’s slightly improved, as evidenced by his lack of gallivanting about the house.” She grimaced toward Constantine. “I’m still so mortified by his behavior that day, my lord.”
“I would say it’s been forgotten, but I fear that’s impossible. There is, however, nothing for you to feel mortified about. Now, please tell us about what you’ve arranged on the table.”
As the housekeeper reviewed the cheeses in particular, Constantine watched the slope of his wife’s neck as she nodded in response, the flutter of her lashes against her cheeks. He heard none of what was said as he lost himself in the simple beauty of the woman seated beside him.
“I thought you might begin with the red wines, my lord.” Haddock’s deep baritone pushed Constantine from his reverie.
“Very good.”
“I’ve provided information about each wine for Lady Aldington.” He looked toward Sabrina expectantly. “Perhaps you’d like to set aside the cards for your favorites so that we may take note. I can also communicate your preferences to Dagnall so that you may request specific wines at Hampton Lodge.”
“What a brilliant idea. Thank you, Haddock.”
The butler inclined his head. “Mrs. Haddock and I shall leave you to it.”
The housekeeper started to turn as her husband came abreast of her, and it would have been easy, second nature even, for Haddock to gently touch her back as they departed. However, he didn’t do that, nor did she move close enough to invite his attention. Because they couldn’t, not while they were working. Why had Constantine never wondered about their marriage and how it might converge with their posts before?
“Haddock,” Constantine called before they left.
The butler pivoted. “My lord?”
“When you and Mrs. Haddock have your next afternoon off, I want you to have your own wine tasting.”
Haddock looked mildly horrified. “We could not.”
“I insist. With the cheeses too.” He smiled at Mrs. Haddock who looked completely bemused.
“Thank you, my lord,” Haddock said, and this time they left without interruption.
Sabrina slid him a glance that was not unlike Mrs. Haddock’s expression. “I think you shocked them.”
“Did I surprise you too?”
“Yes. With the Repton book and now this.”
“I am also surprising myself,” he murmured. “Shall we sample the first claret?” He picked up his glass.