Gentleman's Guide 02 - His Contrary Bride) (31 page)

Marius made love to Sabrina slowly this last
time. Never had any woman been more perfect for him and their fit
only confirmed that he had found his life love.

*

The room was bright with sunlight when
Sabrina finally awoke to find herself alone in the bed. She knew
she should get up and begin the day, but couldn’t bring herself to
move. Stretching, she smiled up at the ceiling. Who would have
thought that the pleasures of the marriage bed would be so
incredibly pleasurable? Her face heated when she recalled her
screams from the night before. Surely she hadn’t screamed. If she
had, surely it wasn’t proper. She would have to try to control that
particular outburst she supposed. Especially after there were
servants in the house.

Marius opened the door and paused just
inside. “That is how a bride should look after her wedding
night.”

Still blushing at her thoughts, she smiled
to Marius. “How?”

“Content and happy.”

“Oh, I am very much both, though I can’t
seem to will myself from this bed.”

He grinned as he walked across the room, two
cups in his hands, and settled beside her. “Perhaps you need
nourishment after all that strenuous activity.”

Sabrina refrained from comment and took the
cup of coffee from him. Her stomach grumbled, announcing how hungry
she truly was.

“Why don’t you get dressed and we’ll go to
the kitchen for some breakfast.”

“That would be lovely.” Sometime during the
night her robe had disappeared and she couldn’t bring herself to
rise, in broad daylight, and expose her nakedness to him. Finally,
because of necessary needs, Sabrina drew the sheet around her,
pulling it from the bed as she got up and walked across the
room.

Marius laughed at her. “You no longer have
anything to hide from me, love.”

Sabrina wondered if the warmth of her
embarrassment was permanent at this point. What he said was true.
“I am sure it isn’t proper to be parading around without clothes in
broad daylight.”

“You would be surprised at what I would like
to do in broad daylight.”

Just the thought of being exposed in such a
way, sunlight on their bodies sent her flying into the next room.
She wasn’t ready for such exposure without the blanket of
night.

He waited for her to emerge and together
they descended the back stairs servants would normally use, but
stopped as they came closer to the kitchen when they heard
voices.

Sabrina turned to Marius. He motioned for
her to be still and disappeared back up the stairs. Sabrina
strained to listen. She and Marius were positive they had a few
more days before they were found.

Marius returned a moment later, pistol in
hand.

Marius slipped past Sabrina and quietly made
his way toward the kitchen, pausing to listen. Sabrina followed
behind and listened. She didn’t recognize the voices, but they were
all women.

The scent of warm, fresh bread wafted to her
nose and Sabrina walked around her husband, ignoring his silent
protest. She was hungry and certainly not worried about a bunch of
women. Her uncle would employ seeder characters to harm them.

“Good morning, Lady Sabrina.” A cheery voice
greeted her. Eight women sat around a large table at the center of
the room, drinking coffee or tea.

She sensed Marius behind her and glanced
down. The gun was still in his hand. “I don’t think you need
that.”

He shoved it in his pocket and drew up
beside her.

Sabrina glided to the table and indicated to
the bread. “May I?”

“Oh, of course, my lady.” The woman who
greeted her stood. “Have a seat and we will have something for you
to eat shortly.”

Sabrina sank into the chair and Marius took
another empty seat.

“Mary Louise, put some water onto boil. Mary
Elaine, slice some bread for the Mr. Parker and her ladyship.” The
first woman began to order the others about.

“What are you ladies are doing here?” Marius
finally asked.

“T’s cleaning time.” Another woman
answered.

“We come in to clean every two months. It
takes a week, but we get the job done. Lord Chesterfield only
wanted the house maintained.” The answer came from the woman called
Mary Louise.

“The men will come by on Saturday to check
the roof and see if any repairs are necessary.” This answer came
from Mary Elaine.

“You didn’t seem surprised at our
appearance. If you knew we were here, then everyone knows.” Marius
observed, his posture still tense.

“Oh, not everyone.” Mary Louise rushed to
assure him. “Only those of us who will not betray you and so are
thankful for your arrival.”

Sabrina concentrated on her bread. Her
husband worried more than she. Her uncle was a threat and he would
find them sooner or later, but you couldn’t go around not trusting
everyone.

“Here, let me help with the food.” Marius
stood and walked toward the counter.

“The master of the house cooking? Have you
ever heard the likes of it?” Mary Elaine directed her question to
woman next to her with a laugh. “You just sit yourself down and we
will have something for you in a bit.”

“Shouldn’t they actually be in the breakfast
room?” A woman whispered to Mary Elaine.

“We are quite content and happy in the
kitchen,” Sabrina assured them. In fact, she felt more comfortable
eating in here than in any dining room she’d been in since leaving
the school.

More coffee had been made and a simple meal
of bread, eggs, and cheese was placed before them.

“Since you are here, I supposed now is as
good a time as any to discuss the needs of the house.”

Sabrina relaxed. “And gardens.” She had been
afraid Marius wouldn’t hire any help until after Chesterfield had
been dealt with.

“You just tell us what you need and we will
have people here before the day is done.” Mary Louise grinned.

*

Marius and Sabrina left the ladies with the
task of returning to town to hire the help they would need. He
hoped to have permanent employees established by the end of the
week. Together they settled behind the desk and opened the
ledgers.

“Your uncle was robbing them and you
blind.”

“I can see that.” She ran her finger down
the list of those who worked in the mine.

Marius was most troubled to see so many
names and ages of women and children. “I can fix what is wrong with
the rent, land and those issues, but I know nothing about running a
mine.” He sat back and ran his fingers through his hair. They had
been looking at the books for well over three hours.

Sabrina moved to stand behind him and began
rubbing his shoulders. “Do you know anyone you could ask?” She
leaned forward and placed a kiss on his temple.

Marius reached up and squeezed her hand.
“Richard.”

“Write him.”

“I will in a day or two.” He stood and
pulled her into his arms. “Let’s go outside and walk around for a
bit and see your land.”

“Our land,” Sabrina correct.

*

Marius put off writing the letter for three
days. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Richard; he didn’t trust that
the letter would not find its way into the wrong hands. He and
Sabrina were living peacefully at the manor and he was putting off
dealing with those matters that would most attract Chesterfield’s
attention. He knew that he couldn’t wait any longer and promised
himself to write to his friend this afternoon when they returned
from their ride.

The sun was just setting when he and Sabrina
wandered back inside.

“It’s about time you returned home,” Richard
greeted they walked in the room.

“Actually Richard, you are just the person I
wanted to talk to. In fact, I had planned on sending off a note. So
good of you to save me the trouble.” Marius poured a brandy for the
both of them.

“How can I be of assistance?” Richard asked
curiously.

“That can wait.” Turning, he approached
Simone. Bending he lifted her hand to his lips. “Forgive me for not
greeting you first, Simone. You are looking as beautiful as
ever.”

“Thank you Marius, though I’m sure it is
blatant flattery. Then again, I am not exactly in a position to
argue and will have to trust what you see.”

Marius relaxed on the settee next to
Sabrina. “So, what brings you to our small part of England?” He
straightened suddenly. “We have only been here a few days
ourselves. How did you find us, and why so soon?”

Richard sobered. “We thought it best you
knew what was happening in London.”

“Go on.” Marius encouraged.

“Chesterfield visited Mr. Jacobs the day
following the fire. He wanted to draw up the necessary documents to
transfer everything to him with Ramsey as his heir.”

“So much for mourning my demise.” Sabrina
grumbled.

“Of course, Mr. Jacobs refused. He argued
that without proof of death he could not in good conscious proceed
in that manner.”

“Good man.” Marius approved.

“He then visited your parents, Marius. He
wanted to discuss funeral arrangements. From what I heard, your
mother carried on, incoherently, and refused to discuss anything
until her son’s body was discovered.”

Marius tried to imagine his mother in
hysterics but couldn’t begin to picture it. “I am assuming he
didn’t stop there.”

“No, next he visited with Ramsey, who
informed him that Juliet had taken the news so badly that the
doctor had ordered her to her bed indefinitely. Ramsey told his
uncle that he was too worried about his wife and unborn child to
discuss arrangements and felt they could wait a few days.”

“Juliet knows the truth doesn’t she?”
Sabrina sat forward; her face pale with what Marius assumed was
worry.

Richard waved his hand in dismissal. “Yes,
she is fine but feared facing Chesterfield. She was afraid she
would give the truth away.”

Sabrina relaxed again.

“Surely by now Chesterfield realizes we
escaped?” Marius asked.

“Yes and no. It was two days before anyone
could get into the house to begin searching. It was another before
those investigating could positively say there were no bodies, or
remains to be found.”

“What did my uncle say?”

“He argued that it was impossible and I
believe he even had his own people search. Of course, this was all
done behind the persona of distraught uncle.”

Sabrina snorted in an unladylike manner.

“Everyone has been speculating on where you
had taken your wife off to so secretively. None of us knew and
could honestly tell Chesterfield we knew nothing.”

“What did he do next?” Marius asked.

“He visited Mr. Jacobs, asking where your
properties were and if you and Sabrina knew where all of her family
properties lie. Mr. Jacobs could honestly answer that he had not
had the opportunity to discuss any inheritance with you as you were
married so quickly.”

“Then how did you know where to find
us?”

“Ramsey told a few of us about this property
and we assumed this is where you had gone.”

“You were elected to track me down. Or, did
you lose the bet?”

“”I volunteered,” Richard assured him. “As
soon as I learned Sabrina had inherited a mine, I knew
you
would be at a loss with what to do with it.” Richard stood to
refill his glass.

Though the conversation had been
enlightening and he was glad to have Richard here, Marius also knew
they were running out of time before Chesterfield located them.

Marius awoke early. Instead of lying in bed
with his wife, as he usually did, he rose to dress. If Richard
hadn’t been there, no doubt he would have awakened Sabrina in the
most delicious way but, he knew Richard was an earlier riser. He
had always been regardless of what the man had done the night
before or how late he had gotten to bed. Sure enough, he found his
friend in the library drinking coffee and looking out the
window.

“I thought I would find you here. I’m glad
we have this time. I need your advice.”

Richard turned and grew interested. “Go
on.”

“This property is much like your own estate.
Most of the income comes from the mine and there are a number of
tenants. And, as you pointed out, I have no knowledge of how a mine
is run, or wages to be paid. Plus, the solicitor has me concerned
because from what he has been told, the mines are no longer safe. I
believe five men have died in the past year, if not more.”

“We can inspect if you like,” Richard
offered.

“That is why I was going to send for you.
I’m not sure what to look for. Besides, Chesterfield’s men run the
mine and I didn’t want to make my presence known.”

That had been the main reason Marius had put
off visiting the place. He wanted to keep his wife safe for as long
as possible.

Richard leaned against the wall in thought.
Slowly a smile came to his face. “I have a plan and they will never
know who we are.”

Intrigued, Marius sat to listened to
Richard’s proposal and knew it was worth a try in order to keep
their identities a secret for a bit longer.

“Inspectors used the same method on me some
months back.”

“What if they have already been here?”

“If the mine is as dangerous as you believe,
it would have been shut down.”

As the morning grew, Marius liked the plan
more and more. This gave him an opportunity to inspect the rest of
the estate and identify the men in Chesterfield’s employ. While
they waited for the ladies to rise, he showed Richard the books.
His suspicions had been correct. The men were grossly under paid
and now he knew how much they should be earning and how much was
owed in past wages. The only thing he couldn’t understand was why
so many had stayed. Family roots had to be the only thing keeping
them here.