Authors: Ellen Gable
Caroline
blushed. “You haven’t yet asked me to dance.”
David looked at
the girl, who appeared to be waiting on his next word, then, glancing back at
Caroline, said, “No, I have not. But I would be honored to dance with you,
Mrs. O’Donovan.”
He whispered
something in the girl’s ear, she nodded, then he held out his arm to Caroline.
“Shall we?”
The small
orchestra was playing a slow waltz and they began to dance.
“You must pardon
me, David, as I am not a skilled dancer. I just learned a few months ago.”
“Allow me to lead
and you shall have no problem.” As he spoke, Caroline could smell liquor of
some sort on his breath.
As they danced,
Caroline found herself admiring David’s grace and competence as a dancer. He
began humming along with the band’s song, “Oft in the Stilly Night.” At the
refrain, he sang along, “Thus, in the stilly night, ‘ere slumbers’ chain hath
bound me, sad memory brings the light, of other days around me.” He sounded
very much like Liam with a singing voice as good, if not better, than her
husband’s. When he finished, she said, “That was beautiful.”
“Our mother used
to sing that song to us when Liam and I were small boys. That’s how she would
put us to sleep,” he said, his voice louder than usual amidst the sounds of the
musicians as they began a lively waltz.
“Your mother
sounds like she was a wonderful woman.”
“She was.” David
nodded. He then eyed her up and down. “I must say, Caroline, you look
especially beautiful today.”
“Thank you.”
I suppose
getting along with David won’t be as difficult as I. . .
“Almost as lovely
as the day you spied on me in the henhouse.”
Caroline gasped, stopped
dancing and pulled her hands away from him. “That was almost nice. Why did
you have to ruin it?”
“I couldn’t help
it.” His tone was playful. “The sight of you, flushed and embarrassed was. .
.”
“Stop. I will
not allow you to talk to me in that manner. I will get along with you despite
your crass behavior.” Caroline held up her hands to begin dancing again, then
made eye contact with him.
“Miss Caroline,
you are certainly made of fine stock,” he said in a mock southern accent.
They continued
dancing, this time with no dialogue. Caroline now avoided looking at David,
instead following his lead. When the waltz finished, she stepped back and
curtsied.
“Thank you for
the somewhat pleasant dance,” she said. His head was lowered. She remained in
front of him until he glanced up at her.
“Listen,
Caroline, I apologize for the comment about. . .”
“Your apology is
accepted.” When he leaned in to kiss the side of her face, she pulled away,
then reconsidered and offered her cheek to him. He kissed it so lightly that
she could barely feel his lips.
She began to walk
away, so he stepped beside her and the two continued across the room.
“I really am
incorrigible. Mother, God rest her soul, said so.”
“Mothers are
wise, aren’t they?”
“And your mother,
Caroline?”
“She died a few
months after I was born. I never knew her.”
“A shame. Our
mother died two years ago. Our father died a few years before that. It’s been
more difficult for Liam. He hasn’t been indulging in the, shall we say,
pleasurable distractions that I have been.”
“And I’m very
thankful for that. It’s a pity the manner with which you treat women.”
“I treat women
better than most men treat them. I have never harmed a woman. And I don’t
hear any of them complaining and there’s always someone who is willing.”
Caroline stopped
walking and faced him. “Selly is dead so she cannot complain.”
He stepped back,
his smile fading. “Touché. You do seem to be able to respond to my, say,
incorrigibility.”
“Thank you again
for the somewhat pleasant dance. I must be returning to my husband.”
When Caroline
looked back at him, he was gazing at her, smiling, but with a peculiar look on
his face, one that seemed to be studying her. She couldn’t quite explain why,
but his expression made her feel awkward and anxious.
* * *
When they returned
from the Martin house, David quickly excused himself and retired to his
bedroom. Liam watched as Jane and Hallie urged Caroline upstairs. With a flush
on her face, she glanced at Liam, then avoided eye contact with him. Liam
guessed that Caroline might be attempting to postpone their intimate time
together. If so, he hoped that putting it off would calm her somewhat, if she
were at all nervous. He had wished that she had consumed some wine during the
wedding festivities, but each time he placed a glass in her hand, she refused
it. He was feeling a bit tipsy now, mainly because he downed each glass he
tried to coax her to drink. Liam’s own inhibitions were dissolving and his
excitement was increasing.
He hoped that she
wasn’t too disappointed that they wouldn’t be embarking on a formal honeymoon
but, as he explained to her several weeks ago, it would not be prudent to take
any sort of holiday during one of the busiest times of the year for the
business.
Caroline remained
beside the servants, conversing with them and recalling moments from the day.
Liam wondered if she had any idea how much he loved her. She laughed out loud
at a comment from Jane and his heart began to pound. Caroline was a naturally
beautiful woman, yet she had a sweet innocence and a non-worldly way about her,
not to mention a somewhat rebellious spirit, which he hoped he would be able to
tame.
“Miss Caroline,
your bath is ready in your room. . .whenever you’re ready.” Jane proceeded up
the staircase, Hallie following.
Liam studied his
young wife’s face. It was flushed and she was clearly embarrassed. “Caroline,
would you like some wine?”
She glanced at
Liam. “I don’t drink alcohol.”
“I know you
don’t, but. . .”
“I’ll be fine.” She
was nervously rubbing her lace-covered arms.
“Are you cold?”
“Somewhat.”
“Well, then, a
nice hot bath is just what you need.”
Although she
nodded, she remained standing beside Liam. When she glanced at him, he
regarded her with an expression of tenderness and understanding.
“Caroline?”
“Yes.”
“When you’re
finished your bath, come to my room.”
“Very well.”
He kissed her
forehead. “See you soon.”
Chapter 15
Caroline listened
to her husband’s quiet breathing. Liam was deep in slumber and she wished that
she could fall asleep as easily. The soft glow of the hearth gave faint light
to the room.
She wasn’t sure
whether she ought to be disappointed or relieved. Patsie was right when she
said that wives had to endure the marriage bed and that the pleasures were for
the husband alone.
She had hoped
that it would be a warmer evening. As it was last night, the fireplace lit the
room as bright as early morning; the full moon added to her embarrassment. Of
course, all she could do was to be as still as possible. The floor and bed
creaked with every movement. Liam murmured tender words and kissed her in
peculiar places. When it came time for the actual. . .moment, her body tensed,
her fists clenched and her eyes squeezed shut. During the whole experience,
which thankfully lasted but a few minutes, she was nervous and embarrassed.
Immediately
afterwards, Liam had gotten up and proceeded to relieve himself in the chamber
pot. Caroline had shuddered and turned away. Could he not have done that in
the necessary room down the hall? She had heard him slide it back under the
bed then slip beside her. She remained facing away from him. “Are you all
right, Caroline?”
When she had
hesitated, he whispered, “I’m sorry, Caroline. I shouldn’t have done that
here. I wasn’t thinking. I’m not accustomed to drinking so much.”
“No, Liam.” She
had turned to face him. “You ought to be able to do what you wish in your
bedroom.” In actuality, she had wanted to grab her robe and leave his room as
soon as possible.
When he had laid
down, he had pulled the coverlet over them then had cradled her to his chest.
He had whispered his love for her, then soon fell asleep. She concluded that lying
intimately beside her new husband was her favorite moment of the whole evening.
Caroline was of
the opinion that what needed to be accomplished in the marriage bed seemed ridiculous
and she became fully convinced why this was an activity done in private. As
one who had watched another couple engage in this act, albeit mistakenly,
Caroline found herself wondering what in the world was in God’s almighty mind
when He created male and female and why this was all so necessary in marriage?
Couldn’t He have simply had the husband shake the wife’s hand or some other
sort of polite gesture and accomplished the deed in that manner?
Her hand now lay
on Liam’s smooth chest and she could feel the slight vibration of his beating
heart. Caressing his chest, she found a series of small thin scars that ran
from his rib cage downward and she purposefully traced the tiny lines. She
made a mental note to ask her husband what had caused such strange markings.
There was so much more to discover and Caroline wanted to know everything she
could about him, his deepest feelings, his childhood memories. As she
continued to touch him, he stirred, but did not waken. Despite the
awkwardness, she had no doubt that Liam loved her and that she loved him. With
those thoughts, she began to drift off.
Caroline woke
with a start.
What a horrible nightmare
. She slowly sat up, not
wanting to wake her husband, then gazed down at his sleeping face.
Thank
heavens that was just a dream.
Her heart was pounding and she took a few
deep breaths. She turned and faced the fireplace, which now consisted of
smoldering coals.
“What’s wrong?”
Liam sat up and she felt his hand gently rubbing her back.
“Nothing. Only a
nightmare.”
“Well, you’re
safe here with me.” He lay down and pulled her close to him.
* * *
The next morning
Liam, having risen and breakfasted early, met his brother at the top of the
staircase. David was smiling from ear to ear, his eyebrows raised. “So, Lee?”
“David.” Liam was
certain his entire body was blushing.
“How are we
feeling this morning?”
“We?”
“You know,” David
whispered, “The two of you weren’t quiet.”
“What?” Liam
bellowed.
“Be quiet. I’m
jesting. Didn’t hear a sound.”
“David, really,
you have no couth.”
“Brothers don’t
need to have couth, now, do they?” He poked the side of Liam’s arm.
* * *
Caroline sat in
her robe at the vanity and brushed her hair.
There was a knock
at the door. “Miss Caroline?”
“Come in, Jane.”
The servant
closed the door behind her. “How are you feeling this morning?”
“I suppose I’m
well.”
“You look rested
and none the worse for wear.”
“I slept fine,
except for the nightmare I had.”
“A nightmare,
Miss?”
“I dreamt that I
was married to David! Honestly, Jane, it was horrible. My heart was thundering
in my chest when I woke up. It’s difficult enough to tolerate him and try to
get along. I wouldn’t want to imagine what it would be like to be married to
someone like him.”
“Now, now, Mr.
David’s a good man.” Jane tied the back of Caroline’s corset.
“I wonder whether
you harbor some deep romantic notion for David.”
“It’s not like
that. I think Mr. David is particular about who he. . .let’s just say that
with my unpleasant face and round body, I’m not the most likely candidate to
be the object of his affections.”
“What is this
nonsense, Jane? Unpleasant face?”
“You only need to
look at me to see that I am not beautiful.”
“That’s absurd.
You have a very friendly face. I think you are really too hard on yourself.
That constant smile you wear makes you a most pleasant-looking girl.”
“You are too
kind, Ma’am. Anyway, what I was saying about Mr. David, he’s done some very
thoughtful things. Last year, there was a family in the city whose house burnt
down. Mr. David personally brought them clothes and gave them money and found
them a place to stay.”
“Well, I suppose
that even he has some positive attributes. Jane, perhaps your standards are
just too low.”
Caroline pulled
her dress on and the servant buttoned it up.